Adding Atmosphere to the Tom Petty Estate
When the Malibu home of Tom and Dana Petty was preparing to come to market, Halsonus was invited by the listing team to contribute something unexpected. My role wasn’t to add furniture or décor in the traditional sense of staging, but to shape something much more subtle, and often more powerful: atmosphere.
I was given the opportunity to thoughtfully place our Brain Wave candles and essential oils throughout the property. The intention wasn’t to draw attention to the candles themselves, but to create a quiet, felt experience for visitors, realtors, and potential buyers as they toured the home.
Pulling up the long driveway, you immediately sense the charge of the ocean air and the deep peace of the property. Gardens, shaded patios, and countless windows give the impression of a house that truly breathes. My work was to walk the home and studio and consider how fragrance could support the function and feeling of each room.
The Brain Wave Collection is built on the idea that scent can do more than smell beautiful. It can shape experience itself. At the Petty estate, this meant weaving in quiet moments that aligned with the natural flow of the house, honoring its soul while inviting visitors to step fully into the feeling of home.
A Tour in Scent
The Entryway | ALPHA
In the large entryway, I chose ALPHA, our greenest and most daydreamy blend. It’s the perfect note for arrival: fresh, open, and full of possibility, mirroring the lush driveway that guides you into the home.
The Music Room & Main Living Room | THETA
Just off the entry is a music room with seating and a piano, which opens into the main living room. In both spaces, I placed THETA, a complex and sophisticated blend I also use in my own home. THETA creates an atmosphere that invites conversation, relaxed creativity, and unwinding—the kind of energy that feels natural in rooms meant for gathering and music.
The Kitchen | GAMMA
In the kitchen, I chose GAMMA. Bright rosemary, lemon, and palo santo make this blend herbaceous and lively. It’s a natural fit for a room where mornings begin and days take shape.
The Master Suite | THETA + DELTA
The master bedroom is stunning: a grand fireplace, built-in bookcases, a patio with a fountain, and space that feels both expansive and intimate. Bedrooms, to me, are sacred places of rest and vulnerability. Here, I leaned toward THETA and DELTA, the most tranquil blends, to honor the restorative nature of the room.
The Bath and Adjoining Spaces | BETA
Off the master, the en suite bathroom and adjoining spaces are filled with light: a soaking tub, steam shower, and skylit rooms for yoga or massage. For these spaces, I placed BETA, a bright and energizing blend that evokes daytime rhythm and supports the transition into activity. BETA also works beautifully in guest rooms, where visitors might pause to rest, recharge, or even get some work done. Clean, fresh, and inviting, it’s a scent that encourages presence and momentum.
The Studio | GAMMA, ALPHA, THETA
A short walk from the main house is Tom’s personal music studio, now a guesthouse but still wired for Rock and Roll should the next homeowner be musically inclined. Here, I placed GAMMA, ALPHA, and THETA throughout the rooms. Each is suited to different phases of creativity, and I thought it would be nice for someone to have the option of setting their own intentions. Musicians often tell me they love GAMMA for songwriting and producing because it helps the mind feel clear and focused. I’ve also heard that ALPHA and THETA offer softer, more expansive feelings that can open a different kind of generative flow in the creative process.
Closing Reflection
This project reminded me that atmosphere is its own kind of architecture. It’s the air, the light, the sounds, and the scents that shape how we experience our homes and, by extension, our lives.
Whether you live in one room or many, subtle shifts in scent can define how a space supports you—and how you feel within it. GAMMA can brighten your morning and clear your mind. BETA can spark energy and focus. ALPHA invites ease and flow. THETA offers peace and introspection. DELTA welcomes deep rest. Seemingly small but intentional choices, like selecting a fragrance to align with a room, a space, or a moment, can have a profound impact on the rhythm of daily life.
Brain Wave is here to help you tune into yours.