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Original poster

Light-hearted! Anyone noticed how posh people's homes smell really nice inside? Not perfume, just generally. What is it?

334 replies

localnotail · 07/12/2023 10:36

This, basically! Something I've been wondering idly for a long time, since I was a kid. I remember going to my wealthy middle class friend's houses and wondering how they smell so nice - I cant explain it, general very nice, clean, warm smell, like maybe so many nice new thing? Like maybe you get inside an expensive furniture store, plus something else I cant quite explain. But its definitely there! I can always tell if someone "posh" or not (in my head) depending on how their house smells. I never mentioned this to anyone up until now as I think its a bit weird, sniffing around people's homes ))

I would add that I have been to posh homes - mainly big old houses - that totally stank of cat wee, mouldy dust and boiled veg, but its still different somehow, still mixed up with that nice affluent smell. The smell is also there even if the house is filled with old tat or ordinary IKEA furniture. Also, when I say "posh" - I mean middle class, kind of very comfortable wealthy lifestyle but not aristocracy, obv.

So would like to know if I'm a bit mental or is there anyone else who noticed that? What is it? Your thoughts ))

OP posts:
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newnamethanks · 08/12/2023 11:59

This flat is in a 300 year-old house. Countless pipes and cigarettes were smoked in here over the years. When I come home on a rainy day, the ghost of all that tobacco is still hanging around in the air no matter how many diffusers, candles, open windows etc.

Tiny2018 · 08/12/2023 12:01

I always thought it was just the smell of good quality items, ie carpets, solid wood furniture etc

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 08/12/2023 12:03

I would say the furniture wax or leather sofa wax. Maybe wooden flooring that needs waxing too now and again. That’s what I smell.

Nineandahalfonabadday · 08/12/2023 12:05

user701 · 08/12/2023 06:16

interesting theory. I wonder.

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I wonder too. About the poster's ability to tell the time. 3.63am? When AI goes wrong I think!😆

Nineandahalfonabadday · 08/12/2023 12:18

aiaiaioh · 08/12/2023 07:30

On a related note, I’ve been researching heat pumps and one of the things that puts me off is the focus on insulation and ventilation rather than fresh air. Like a PP I was raised to throw open all the windows during the day to air the house, and I still do that now, regardless of the weather. I think it’s the single thing that most improves the smell and air quality in a house. Can anyone who has a heat pump and highly insulated comment? Are you still ok to open all the windows daily?

We have a GSHP and good insulation etc. But we also have a MVHR system too which pumps fresh air around the house on a continuous basis. I don't feel the need to open the windows in the winter. Bathrooms are cleared of any steam pretty much instantly, so seems to work quite efficiently. Hope my house doesn't smell and I haven't just gone nose blind!

aiaiaioh · 08/12/2023 12:45

Ah that’s interesting about heat pumps, thanks. I would really miss opening windows, the modern ventilation technology wouldn’t make up for it as it’s not the smell I’m worried about so much as I love a breeze literally blowing through the house, it feels good for the soul. I’ve just had all the windows open here and it’s a very windy day so the fresh air is being blown right through the house, I would hate not to be able to do that. It’s an old house anyway so probably not suitable for a retrofit.

Returning to smells, I would love to know the name of the very nice laundry detergent mentioned upthread…

Cosywintertime · 08/12/2023 13:17

Um I guess I have what would be called a posh house, and people always comment on how nice it smells.

it is cleaned properly, from soft furnishings to the varnished floors. I’m a little obsessed and spray an anti bacterial deoderiser on the soft furnishings every few days, I guess it is like fabreeze but with no scent at all. It just stops any odours.

the main thing though is I have three electronic diffusers discreetly placed throughout , and I use natural essential or fragrance oils only, just now as it’s winter I am going through a bit of a caramel/ vanilla phase, which is a warm comforting smell. In summer I use things like jasmine, ylang ylang, amber etc.

the smell isn’t strong, it’s definetly not like air freshener, as I react to them, I get headaches, the smell isn’t artificial as such, so it’s just a subtle scent in the air, but people always comment it smells lovely when they come in.

we have a strong extractor hood, so cooking smells go quite quickly and we don’t leave dirty dishes laying around.

in the evenings I switch the diffusers off, and light scented candles, but won’t lie they are expensive. Jo malone, diptyque, and the white company. Generally just downstairs, one in the living room and one in the hall.

i suffer from hyper smell that’s why i. am really obsessed with smell and am getting one of those large tower diffusers for Xmas😳

Itwasafterallallaboutme · 08/12/2023 13:42

Nineandahalfonabadday · 08/12/2023 12:05

I wonder too. About the poster's ability to tell the time. 3.63am? When AI goes wrong I think!😆

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@Nineandahalfonabadday

It was 3.36am, I just got my last two numbers the wrong way round. I think I did say that I was tired!

By the way, there is nothing A about my intelligence, I manage to be thick all on my own - would you like me to tell you how many American traffic lights are in the 6 photos to prove it?

2 of the photos haven't got any; 3 are very obvious; but in the last photo you can only see half of the hanging down traffic lights as there is a big lorry hiding the view of the rest of them.

I will now go and enjoy my (late for some) breakfast of porridge made with oat milk. Please enjoy the rest of your day.

ArsenicInTheAppleTart · 08/12/2023 13:45

shreddednips · 07/12/2023 23:14

It's the washing detergent I think. We stayed at an air BnB recently and as soon as I walked in, I thought this smells like rich people.

I had a good sniff of their cleaning products and it was the washing detergent that was producing the scent, it smelled significantly better than the cheap Tesco stuff I always use. Came home, splashed out on the same detergent and fabric conditioner and now my house also smells like rich people- although I am now even less rich because it's pricey 😫

Babes, you need to share with the group.

GoodlifeGlow · 08/12/2023 13:47

My favourite laundry scent is the Jasmine one from Wilton London. It’s expensive but one of those little luxuries. I love going into our laundry room and being hit by the scent it does spread through the house too. I think there is a lot to be said for the fresh laundry smell. I have diffusers which I can’t personally smell but the laundry smell always hits me.

ihatethecold · 08/12/2023 19:47

How much does Wilton London cost?

FindingMeno · 08/12/2023 21:03

Warmth, mellowness, beeswax and definitely no artificial air fresheners.

LightDrizzle · 08/12/2023 21:58

Honestly I think most of this is bollocks. The very few very posh people I know do not have houses that smell of diffusers or candles.

The houses have very high ceilings and wooden sash windows so plenty of air circulation, there are open fires in winter and often fresh flowers. But as I mentioned before, the house of an indisputably posh (noble) family, smelt of cat piss. I can’t identify a common smell to the others; there wasn’t a dominant smell. I love Dyptique candles myself so I’m not snotty about artificial smells but I think scented candles and diffusers and the like are more middle class, luxury hotel territory than upper class. There may have been upward creep I suppose.

Cosywintertime · 08/12/2023 22:01

LightDrizzle · 08/12/2023 21:58

Honestly I think most of this is bollocks. The very few very posh people I know do not have houses that smell of diffusers or candles.

The houses have very high ceilings and wooden sash windows so plenty of air circulation, there are open fires in winter and often fresh flowers. But as I mentioned before, the house of an indisputably posh (noble) family, smelt of cat piss. I can’t identify a common smell to the others; there wasn’t a dominant smell. I love Dyptique candles myself so I’m not snotty about artificial smells but I think scented candles and diffusers and the like are more middle class, luxury hotel territory than upper class. There may have been upward creep I suppose.

The op was very clea she wasn’t talking aristocracy. And said they smelled of cat piss, she specifically said she meant middle class.

tell us you didn’t bother to read the op, without telling us you didn’t bother to read the op,,😂

RoseHarper · 08/12/2023 22:05

Dont think this was the intention of the thread but I have scrubbed my house today, had all the windows open, washed everything in sight, and it definitely smells better. I've stayed in luxurious holiday rentals and they smell lovely, not artificial candles/air fresheners but as others have said, clean, regularly replaced soft furnishings/carpets, open fires, no smoking, no greasy smells. I think the single best thing you can do is air the house every day, swap all the old fousty air for clean fresh air. Only takes 10 minutes by makes a big difference.

LightDrizzle · 08/12/2023 22:37

Cosywintertime · 08/12/2023 22:01

The op was very clea she wasn’t talking aristocracy. And said they smelled of cat piss, she specifically said she meant middle class.

tell us you didn’t bother to read the op, without telling us you didn’t bother to read the op,,😂

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Reread the OP. Fair point!

Thingscanonlygetbetterfucovid · 09/12/2023 01:49

What did you use to recreate this smell please?

BetsyBobbins · 09/12/2023 14:53

@shreddednips will you ever com back and tell us the name of this mythical washing powder from heaven or are you still enjoying torturing us over the lack of information about it?

startquitting · 09/12/2023 16:48

Not that is has a lot to do with this thread, but it’s easy to forget to clean the hood filters in the kitchen. They collect grease and can absolutely stink. I just wash mine in sink with boiling water and de-greasing dish soap once a week or so.

Wolvesart · 09/12/2023 16:52

I thought they usually smelled of dog or waxed Barbour jackets

startquitting · 09/12/2023 16:52

Anyone know of the nicest smelling wood wax? 😅

feralunderclass · 09/12/2023 17:05

Wolvesart · 09/12/2023 16:52

I thought they usually smelled of dog or waxed Barbour jackets

I think that's the UC. When the OP said posh, it seems she just means wealthy.

Wolvesart · 09/12/2023 18:35

feralunderclass · 09/12/2023 17:05

I think that's the UC. When the OP said posh, it seems she just means wealthy.

Show quote history

Ahh, nouveau riche 😉 - city 4x4 and the gym, son’s sports bags.

EtiennePalmiere · 10/12/2023 04:44

Itwasafterallallaboutme · 08/12/2023 04:48

Sorry @localnotail I haven't read much of the thread as it is late (3.63am), and I am late to the thread. So I'm sorry if someone else has already said this:

Hormones. I think the smell is of hormones.

I think that these days most of us lead such stressful and busy lives that we exude a lot of stress hormones. I think that all of our sensory hormones probably give off a smell, the ones most of us have heard of are Pheromones, to do with sexual desire and maybe love as well. We don't, or can't usually, consciously, detect them, but they do apparently give of certain smells.

I can't believe that there are many people who however busy, complicated, or just exhausting their lives are, still manage to drench the air that they breathe and move through, with the smell of relaxing and soothing hormones. So I think that those stress hormones are what we smell most of the time, and like any repetitive smell or sound (like a ticking clock), we just stop consciously noticing it.

Then very occassionally we may go into a home whose occupants are mainly very content with their daily lives (I am not talking about the people who are overly energetic and extremely happy, as I think that their hormones would not be particularly relaxing and welcoming). I think it is the very fact that the emotions of those who do not stress easily, who are not up and down all over the place, but instead are usually calm and pleasant, and who often live in very comfortable homes, that have enough space to move about in, and enough clean air to breathe, and who have plenty of soft furnishings to absorb the scent of their placid and pleasant hormones into the deepest fibres of the furnishings, which makes their homes feel and smell so warm and welcoming. 💐🥰

Wtf

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