Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think air fresheners are unpleasant?

62 replies

Panamanian · 26/05/2025 09:27

We have come away for half term and the house we are staying in has one of those plug in air-fresheners in every room. I’ve turned them off but they still smell so strong. I genuinely can’t understand how anyone thinks they smell nice. Also (and I have no evidence for this so feel free to correct me) I can’t believe it’s good for you to be breathing those chemicals every day.
AIBU - they make a home smell lovely
AINBU - they are horrible and make me feel ill.

OP posts:
DissDissOrDiss · 26/05/2025 09:36

Awful things. They make a house smell of horrible, fake ‘perfume’ and chemicals. They also give me headache.

KimberleyClark · 26/05/2025 09:36

They smell horrible and are a fire hazard. What’s to like?

stayathomegardener · 26/05/2025 09:36

Revolting and toxic.

Always make me think there’s something to hide too.

TorchSong · 26/05/2025 09:34

I’d assume that in the case you mention, they’re covering up a smell of damp, or drains or something. Yes, they’re unspeakably awful, and give a fairly significant minority of people violent headaches or trigger actual migraines.

I mean, just open the window, for God’s sake. Even if you live in the middle of air pollution central, or among fields where slurry is being spread, it will still smell better than air freshener.

Sahara123 · 26/05/2025 09:33

Yes, I hate them too! So strong and fake smelling .
I also hate it when I go away and the bedding smells strongly of fabric conditioner. I understand it’s personal taste but in a holiday let it’s not my taste, it’s too strong !

FloraBotticelli · 26/05/2025 09:32

They’re awful, so artificial. I prefer burning natural essential oils in an oil burner if anything, but really a clean house and open windows is the best thing

Tooearlytothink · 26/05/2025 09:32

Can’t stand them - so overpowering and never particularly pleasant scents. Much prefer good quality reed diffusers but even then, only in the hall & bathrooms.

Bumblebee413 · 26/05/2025 09:31

I unplug them then replace them before we leave. They’re so overpowering.

MindlessDaydream · 26/05/2025 09:31

I think people who have them in every possible space are nose blind to them. But if you aren't used to them they are completely overpowering and unpleasant.

Less is more with those things.

cliffdiver · 26/05/2025 09:30

I agree, they’re awful.

We’ve tried them on two separate occasions, both times the smell made me feel nauseous.

Newyearnewmewoooop · 26/05/2025 09:30

I love them

Iwontlethtesungodownonme · 26/05/2025 09:29

They give me migraines. I unplug and move them outside if I rent a cottage. Then replace them at the end of the stay.