How to have a nice smelling house?

[Biancadelrioisback]

My house smells like nothing. I'm sure it will have a smell (all houses do) but I just want it to smell nice.
I have tried candles (hate having them lit though) and reed diffusers, I have a plug in in now and it all still smells like nothing.

What do you use?

Health wise plants are a good option.

I'm in the "open windows" camp myself. I occasionally use an essential oil diffuser - grapefruit is very refreshing bright oil.

I find artificial scents dreadful - I can't go into overly scented spaces. Though Ironically, i am a perfume fan but I suspect perfumes might be more regulated than disinfectants.

I asked my cleaner for her honest view on whether the house smells of dog the other day. She has a group of about 20 houses that she cleans.

She said every single house has a smell. Apparently mine just smells of an older house. I'm not sure entirely what she means by that but I have interpreted it as a bit musty and am now on a mission to try to deal with it. Today curtains are getting washed in the hallway and the shoe cupboard is getting a deep clean.

My issue is that my house stunk when we bought it last year. It was owned by a very old lady who had it from new in 1950.

Hardly anything had been changed in many, many years (carpets were threadbare and grey but when you moved furniture you could see they used to be bright blue or pink) the family all smoked in here so it stank when we got it. We had to remove several layers of wallpaper and wood chip (all of which had several more layers of white paint ontop) from every room and ceiling. We obviously ripped out all the carpets and got rid of everything in here. Did a very deep clean, had some rooms replastered, lots of decorating, changed skirting boards, radiators, pipe work etc.

I kept piece of furniture, a French dresser which I sanded down and repainted but eventually chucked because it still smelled.

The fact that I can smell nothing worries me, because I worry that Im now just used to the smell of the house. When we go away and come back it just doesn't smell.
I've asked friends and family who all said that they can't smell anything but I do think they're just trying to be nice.

I'm not sure there is a magic solution.

Here it is:

doors and windows open most of the day every day
loads of house plants plus scented plants on the front door step
religiously use the extractor fan when cooking and clean pans immediately
clean oven regularly
clean dishwasher and washing machine regularly
empty bins every two days max
empty u bend form kitchen sink every now and again
don't leave shoes and sports kit lying around
empty laundry basket regularly
change brand of fabric conditioner and washing powder regularly so that you notice the smell
clean with very dilute zoflora (I like the christmas cinnamon one or the green apple one)
if anyone is coming to the house pour a kettle of boiling water plus 2-3 drops of zoflora into the sink and let it stand
clean throws/cushion covers etc regularly.

I also like scented candles and we generally have one burning. Wax melts are better value but DS2 is an expert at knocking the burner and spilling wax.

I buy wax melts on eBay that smell like certain perfumes/aftershaves, if that’s your thing. I love using the ‘chanel’ and ‘tom ford’ scents. Too strong for some but I personally love it!

I agree that the best thing is opening windows regularly. Apart from that I like reed diffusers and the occasional scented candle or wax melt. But there is no substitute for fresh air.

These are nice, very good value. They throw out a lot of scent and last a long time.

valentte.com/organic/mix-and-match-gift-box/#configuration

There aren't any house plants that give off a fragrance (apart from some scented geraniums). Citrus trees only smell nice when in flower (and its divine!) but they don't flower all the time.

A couple of instant fixes, with nice lingering effects:

• Hang some eucalyptus off-cuts (local nursery or florist) near your shower/bath.

The hot steam activates the oils, fragrancing your bathroom and immediate area in a natural, really clean way.

[Extra nice if you add a sprig or two of mint straight from a windowsill pot/out the garden to a net bag and a crushed juicy slice of ginger root. Rosemary ditto.]

• Speedy 'freshly-baked cookies' aroma 5 minute fakery:

add a few drops of good vanilla extract to a small ceramic dish of warmed coconut oil. Delicious!

Hate synthetic, overpowering perfumes.
A lot of us here are lucky and can just open windows as often, and for as long, as possible...but that's not always possible or safe to do so for many.
Heavy traffic fumes/ urban ground floor flat security risk etc.

The other easy standby to natural fragrance is simmering a shallow pan of citrus peel, with cinnamon/star anise etc. Basically mulled wine minus the fun part.

campfirezen what lovely ideas. We sometimes forget the natural way ! Go flora, eh ?

although don't do what I did last week and leave the pan of water vanilla essence lemon peel and rosemary on the hob and forget about it. That has the opposite effect and ruins your pan...

Can I ask why people would be concerned about what their houses smell like?

As long as you don't smoke indoors surely it's fine. If is is damp, mouldy, or unclean, well that's another story that won't be masked by anything.

Open windows a crack every single day. Let in the air (well that's what my Mum told me)

Maybe making a pungent dinner could be a problem, but with an open window it will all dissipate eventually. There is no house that I know of that doesn't have cooking aromas for a little while.

Just live and enjoy. There seems to be a lot of pursuit of perfection around now.

I love our Wellbeing Pod. Basically an essential oil diffuser, fill it up and add your oils an it can be on for hours. Also use Lenor Unstoppables in the washing - you don't need many. I air fabrics as much as possible and we have removable covers on the sofas; definitely don't wash them as regularly as I should!

We have three boys and a Labrador so this thread is definitely of interest!

Ooo, and second the rhubarb Method disinfectant smells amazing! And, Aldi's English Pear and Fresia is incredible.

Aldi's handwash

I use scentsy warmers around the house. I have clean breeze at the minute and it just smells like fresh washing. I have lavender ones upstairs in the DC bedrooms and it helps them relax and sleep.

Some people like scents, Out, that can't be that hard to understand. So live and let live right back at you.

I don't like plug in air fresheners or sprays or even candles anymore as they tend to be very strong and set my migraine off. I think a bit of fabric conditioner watered down on a cloth and used to wipe the hard surfaces down leaves a lovely fresh smell. Or a few drops of essential oil on a bit of kitchen roll tucked out the way in a room. And I have my windows open all the time all year round!

*What is Zoflora?

Please hand in your MN membership.
Security will escort you from the building*......

Thank you for making my day!
😂

I thought it was a Mumsnet rule that you could open windows and use fresh flowers only? Possibly supplemented with Zoflora?

I constantly have one of the Aldi (rip off Jo Malone) candles burning and they smell gorgeous My sMil always comments on how nice our house smells x

What is Zoflora?

Please hand in your MN membership.
Security will escort you from the building.

It's astounding how people can type a reply asking what Zoflora is but apparently don't have access to Google!

Oh I get it now, doggie and moggie smells and hairs and stuff. Boak.

Humans are not so worrisome really. Well a minority can be admittedly.

But if you have pets, that's really your problem indoors. I love animals but would never have them in my house EVER. Too much noise, barking, hairs, shit, walking twice a day even if YOU are not inclined, and cleaning up and all that jazz, and I can tell the minute I enter a house that there is a dog/cat there. Good smellers on me maybe!

But there we are. Each to their own.

I am obsessed with opening windows all year.

Open windows. Wash curtains/cushion covers/bedding regularly. House plants might not smell themselves but help keep the air fresh. I sprinkle bicarb on carpets overnight and hoover in the morning, gets rid of any smells. I wipe down surfaces with pine oil after cleaning too.

I have already said that I open the windows whenever I can.
The house is empty from 7:30am until 6pm and the windows are open from the moment I get home.
Thanks to where I live, that doesn't after help!