It is amazing how a virus that caused a pandemic can turn the notion of luxury upside-down. The difference between necessities and desires are so acutely defined at the moment that it creates anxiety almost immediately. For this, I will attempt to blur the lines between necessity and desire to give some hope for practical luxuries, or simply, allow you to buy without guilt. One major thing which comes to mind is quite simple—the luxury of air.  

Some tests suggest that the most famous virus, COVID-19, is airborne and lingers for a period of time. Therefore, breathing clean air is one luxury that is both a necessity and a desire. I can feel your eyes rolling at me and mentally telling me that this is not a novel idea, I am simply finding a common ground for you to be able to click on your favorite e-commerce site after you read this.  

Let’s get to it then and direct you to what I believe you need to charge on that platinum card. Purifying the air around you starts with purchasing a good ionizer that is appropriate for the size of your common and personal spaces, but what does an ionizer/purifier really do? 

An air ionizer (also known and an Ionic air purifier) operates by emitting negatively charged ions into the air. These ions are effective by attracting positively charged ions, which include things like allergens, dust, and bacteria, and causes a bond to form between them. Since the size of my pied-à-terre is modest, I acquired two different types of ionizers to suit my needs. The first area I need to address is the bedroom where I spend at least eight hours a day. I discovered the Cherry Air Purifier with a Humidifier that is compact enough to put on my bed stand, which means I can bring it along on trips without taking precious luggage space for my hotel toiletries hoarding tendencies. What I prefer about this compact Ionizer/Humidifier is that I can point it directly towards my head preventing a pesky dry throat.   

Another benefit I discovered is that when placed in a resort villa room it helps remove that cloistered odor one is subjected to sometimes. Since it humidifies, there must be a way to put it near my shoe closet to prevent leather and glue from drying up—stay tuned for this. 

My common areas are pretty much one large room, which includes the living, dining, and kitchen. For these areas, I prefer a medium-size Ozein Ozonator that has amazing features like a germicidal lamp and changeable odor filters. Its size is perfect enough not to be an obstruction and has a quiet humming sound when in operation. What makes it luxe is that not only does it purify the air, it can also sterilize the food you eat, such as seafood, meat, fruits, and vegetables. It’s like the Issey Miyake of air purifiers!

To aid in purifying your air and space, I found a smoke disinfectant that keeps your space and all surfaces and ducts safe for a maximum of two weeks. Sanivir Fumigeno is an Italian made air disinfectant that has bactericide, fungicide, and viricide properties that once lit ensure all surfaces, air-conditioning, and your air purifiers doubly safe for you and your loved ones.

How it works is it sends a plume of smoke in the air. The plume then slowly descends on your surfaces for eight hours. Don’t fret it does not smell like regular smoke and my Frette sheets do not have a tinge of smoke scent like the ones you get from the Burning Man festival. So, if it’s good enough for the home it is good enough for cars as well.  

Since I have cleared the air (pun intended), there is one last touch you need to ensure that your place is civilized to live in and that would be scented candles! I have been obsessed with fragrant candles for quite some time now because they really set my mood. It has been proven that scents actually alter your mood and sparks joy–hope Ms. Kondo doesn’t mind. Although the best scented candles can conjure a debate between purchasing one or paying for your mobile roaming bills. I do assure you that the benefits outweigh their price. At the moment, I simply cannot imagine being quarantined in my flat without the following candles and scents. 

On the top of my list is the iconic Italian label Fornasetti Profumi that does not only have amazing scents, but they come in gorgeous vessels that you can use as home accessories after the candle has been used up. My scent du jour is Otto that has a dusky earth fragrance that is perfect for rainy evenings. When I feel like a lighter scent during a sunny day, I light up a Cartier Panthere candle that has a light freesia scent that is unique and adds a spring to my step. Another favorite of mine when I practice yoga is Christian Dior’s Ambre Nuit. It helps center my mind and assists me to focus on my meditation. Imagine a crisp autumn evening with a faint fireplace scent playing with your senses.

True luxury should elicit joy and splendor inside you during times like these. Practical luxuries that help your mind, body, and soul in any form benefits us all by allowing us to escape for a few moments to help us through the day.