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Jeong, a tech consultant from Korea who now lives in London, spends her days surrounded by screens in her small, quiet flat.
Her home feels calm, filled with greenery, art, and the soft morning light that moves across the room.
When December comes, she never thinks about getting a Christmas tree or decorating much at all.
“I used to feel extra lonely about it,” she says. “Everyone else was putting up lights and going to parties, and I thought maybe I should too. But after a few years, I realised I don’t need all that. I’d rather spend money on things that make my home feel alive and cook myself a good dinner whenever I want.”
For her, the essentials are simple: books, paintings, plants, and fragrance.
“I guess those are my version of decorations,” she laughs. “They last longer, and they feel more like me.”
Fragrance has always been part of her home. “I’m obsessed with diffusers,” she says. “You can see them everywhere in my flat.” She’s tried many brands over the years, usually simple ones from Muji.
Last winter, she discovered Airy Fragrances, another Japanese brand she found online. “The bottles looked so beautiful and minimal,” she recalls.
She laughs. “At first, I hesitated to order because most of the diffusers I’d used before didn’t last long, or I couldn’t smell much after a while. I wanted something strong that I could really feel in the air. So I messaged Gini, the founder.
“She told me, ‘That’s actually common. It’s because you keep your diffusers on the floor. Try placing them around chest height, maybe on a shelf.’ She also said it’s normal to get used to your own scent. ‘Your visitors will smell it much more than you do. Flip the reeds from time to time to refresh it.’
“I felt stupid,” Jeong says, laughing. “She was right. I’d had most of the diffusers on the floor the whole time. Once I moved it to the shelf, it really changed something.”
After that, she ordered two diffusers, one large and one small. “Both shapes looked beautiful, so I got one for the living room and another for the shelf. They just looked so elegant.”
Her favourite is Elegant Harmony 優. “It’s musky, a bit like perfume but softer. Not sharp, just balanced. I used to buy big brands, but I like this one because it doesn’t smell like everyone else’s home.”
By the holidays, her flat already felt festive, even without a classic Christmas tree.
“When my friends came over, they loved how I’d styled my home and kept asking what the scent was,” she smiles. “I was proud. It finally felt like mine.”
Jeong keeps her home simple but full of small details, books stacked neatly, plants she changes every few months, and a few diffusers that make the air feel alive. “When you live alone, these little things matter,” she says. “They change how you feel about your space.”
If you’re spending the season on your own, Jeong says there’s no reason to be afraid of it. “It’s not about who’s with you. It’s about how you lift yourself up.”
Before I left, she shared a few advice for anyone spending Christmas solo.
“Be brave and invite some friends over, go to a spa or buy yourself something nice. Treat yourself like someone worth celebrating,” she says. “That’s how I do it now. I book a spa day, buy new fragrances, pour a glass of wine, and just enjoy the night.”
If you’re spending Christmas on your own, this is your reminder that solitude isn’t failure. It’s freedom. You don’t need anyone’s permission to enjoy the season.
Your home, your rhythm, that’s enough.
Note:
This story is based on a real Airy Fragrances customer interview and was photographed at their actual home. Names have been changed for privacy.
Read more real holiday stories at Airy Lounge.
