You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to host a successful dinner party. Sure, it helps to know your way around the kitchen—but a great dinner party isn’t just about good recipes. It’s about creating a pleasant sensory experience for your guests. And with a few science-backed strategies, you can do exactly that.

Start with the guest list

When it comes to the number of guests, the sweet spot is somewhere between five and eight, according to the 2022 Canadian Social Connection…