Scent Style: Meredith Gillies, Senior Marketing Manager at Bumble Canada

Just like your fashion sense, your scent preferences can say so much about who you are. So we decided to ask inspiring people in our network to come up with a unique diffuser cocktail—something that showcases their personalities and makes them feel amazing in their spaces.

I’ve had the pleasure of being friends with Meredith Gillies for more than a decade, and have watched her career blossom from being an intern at Fashion magazine to now running the show as senior marketing manager at Bumble Canada in Toronto. She’s driven, bold, brave, whip-smart, and just the right amount of spunky (most of the time).

She’s also always loved making her house feel like home (I can say this with authority because I used to be her roommate), and scent is an important part of that. She got so into this assignment, in fact, that she made not one, but two diffuser cocktails—which she puts on at different times of the day, and which represent different aspects of her very lovable character.

Scent is so personal. What does it mean to you?

I connect scents with different moments in my life, whether that’s the smell of the “fancy” lotion I wear to weddings or the perfume I add for an important work event. I love having different smells for different occasions—I am not one of those people who has a signature scent, but I feel it’s a good goal to add to my five-year plan.

Describe your personality in three to five words.

Sassy, laid-back, perfectionist, sarcastic.

With those words in mind, tell us about the diffuser cocktail that you’ve created to represent your scent style.

I feel like I came up with two combos that reflect the laid-back and perfectionist parts of my personality. I placed the diffuser in my bedroom, which is also my office right now, so in the mornings my perfectionist self loves to have an energizing mix of Retreat and Spruce, plus more Grapefruit and Eucalyptus (two of the oils found in Retreat). I love it to be extra strong.

At night, I have really enjoyed learning to relax by doing Sky Ting yoga and then winding down with a scent while I listen to Who? Weekly. This is the chill/laid-back part of me. I use Nightcap, Eucalyptus, and Spruce—I think it’s funky and now I associate it with relaxing.

Why did you choose each of these oils and how do they work together? What do the final aromas smell like or remind you of?

I started knowing I wanted something bright and citrusy. When we were in the Bumble office, I turned our diffuser on every day and added Boost. I loved that little morning ritual, so wanted to bring that into my new home-office-bedroom.

My AM scent reminds me of being somewhere tropical and bright like Palm Springs (my fave place).

My PM scent reminds me of a cool cocktail bar or something mysterious. Is it because one of the ingredients is literally called Nightcap? Maybe!

What room do you diffuse these scents in and when do you diffuse them?

In my bedroom office! Every morning, I turn the diffuser on, hoping there’s still water and oils inside, before I’ve even stood up. I continue to top it up all day since I love the scent and the soft sound of the diffuser.

Aside from scent, what else makes you feel truly at home in your space?

Right now, my variety of Aritzia sweatsuits and Ugg slippers that I have worn throughout quarantine. They have made me feel comfortable and somehow pulled together (perhaps because they match). They are one thing that is consistent in my life right now!

What’s your favourite thing about your home?

Our view! It will never get old to wake up and see the full Toronto skyline. I am grateful for our patio as well, where we get morning sun. Coffee plus the views plus our outdoor couch equals perfection.

Update, May 2021: Meredith Gillies is now the director of brand marketing at Kotn.