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The story behind our Hong Kong-inspired Leather & Oud home fragrance

In the series, Scent Stories, we visit locations that have inspired our Soho Home collections, bringing their unique atmosphere to life with local members
Oct 21, 2021 Ideas
A man sits at a round wooden table, reading a newspaper. He is in a cozy, sunlit room with a plant, a round lamp, and cityscape view through the window.

By Megan Murray

'This city is charming, distinctive and dynamic - it's a place of high contrast,' describes Soho House Hong Kong Founder member, Randy Lai.

Set among a warren of spice shops and markets, with views of an impressive skyline, our House in the neighbourhood of Sheung Wan indulges many of the senses. The way this space comes alive at night provided inspiration for our Leather & Oud home fragrance range.

Large incense coils hang, emitting smoke in a dimly lit space, with paper tags attached. Text reads "SOHO HOME" in the center.
Play
Tall buildings stand still, packed closely together in a dense urban cityscape during sunset, with soft light casting a warm glow over the scene, framed by dark vertical structures.
Lit white candles labeled "SOHO HOUSE LEATHER & OUD scented candle" rest on a wooden and marble surface in a cozy room with warm brown tones, a plant, and a leather chair.

Deeply aromatic, this scent features a base of rich sandalwood, and heady notes of oud and patchouli. Together, they create a warming evening mood - much like those at Soho House Hong Kong, which Lai can attest to.

For those who haven't visited the House, Lai describes his perfect night there: 'It begins with a cocktail and admiring the vertical density of the city as the sky turns golden and bleeds into night.'

Dried tea leaves and twig fragments fill a round metal bowl, resting on a warm brown textured surface.
Two people playing cards at a dimly lit wooden table; scattered cards, a cocktail, and a candle create a cozy atmosphere.

A freelance writer, Lai has lived in Hong Kong since 2017, working with a mixture of fashion clients such as A Collected Man, which specialises in historic and independent watches. Just a few minutes' walk from the House, he shares an apartment with his wife which showcases their widespread candle collection.

'There's something romantic about a candle's power to take you somewhere else, and we particularly like scents that are based on places,' he explains. 'It's like revisiting that location from home, which is what Soho Home has done with Leather & Oud.'

Watch the video above to be transported to Hong Kong and see the inspiration behind our Leather & Oud home fragrance.

Credits:

Randy Lai wears Glencheck sportcoat by Ring Jacket for The Armoury; long-sleeve polo by Ascot Chang for The Armoury; bespoke trousers by The Anthology.

A boat sails in a wide harbor filled with scattered ships, while a helicopter flies above during sunset. In the background, a city skyline with mountains and a bridge is visible.
A man in glasses and a blazer sits on a sofa, smiling, in a warmly lit, plant-filled living room. A person’s hand holding a drink appears in the foreground. A table features an open book and a closed book titled "DUNHUANG."
Candles burning with two flickering flames in bronze holders sit on a wooden table, accompanied by a matching candle lid and a drink in a glass on the right edge.

Learn how you can become a Soho House member and discover more from our Soho Houses around the world.

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