HOURGLASS FIGURE

If you’re partial to a bit of haute perfumery, you probably want your surroundings to smell as good as your skin. And unless you’ve got the time, staff or patience to have fresh cut flowers in every room (we’re looking at you, Elton) it’s a toss up between the sickly scent of cheap air fresheners or paraffin-based candles filled with inflammatory agents, carcinogens and teratogens.

Fortunately, there are a number of more appealing solutions for fusty flats – the most innovative (and low-maintenance) of which comes from Diptyque. The hourglass-shaped diffuser launches at this week's designjunction (part of the London Design Festival) and will appeal to artsy types with penchant for function and form as well as fragrance enthusiasts.

The innovative diffuser contains no buttons or breakable mechanisms. Like a traditional hourglass, it simply requires the user to turn the objet upside down. The juice then drips from one end of the container to the other while the scent  (new classic 34 boulevard saint germain) diffuses through the porous wick in the middle. A stylish and fantastic way to upgrade your habitat without triggering an asthma attack in the process.

34 boulevard saint germain Diffuser; £100 from Diptyque. Refills for £34