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

[localnotail]

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 ))

Smokers buy them. And those with smelly pets. And those on low incomes. They are a cheap way of scenting a house compared to fresh flowers or expensive candles and room sprays. But the scents are usually awful!

I know exactly what smell you mean - I think it could be a few things - regularly painted walls - not the smell of paint but the smell after they’ve died down along with new furniture which hasn’t picked up any must. Walls actually can hold smells and I think regular painting makes a real difference. A ‘fancy’ house for me just smells so new, warm and somehow there’s a hint of fresh sawdust - for me anyway.

The stock isn’t the problem. In Muji they have a long line of different scent emitting devices (I don’t actually know what they are) that creates a corridor of visible fug that smells really strongly, you have to walk through it going in and out, and the whole shop reeks of it.

White company had something similar belching out scented vapour.

In both cases staff spoke to me in a ‘did you find what you were looking for / can we help you’ sort of way. In a friendly and relaxed manner I said I would look online as the scented air was too much.

What is the matter with giving feedback to shops that are desperate for custom?

No not all at the same time. The plug ins are in the hallways always on low. Insense things are sitting in the bathrooms/kitchen windows. The sprays are in the hallway/utility/ back door where shoes etc are kept.

As for candles I only really burn them occasionally but I do have them sitting open.

I usually go for subtle scents that compliment each other.

I’ve never had anyone say they are too strong, only comments on how nice my home smells. Obviously if they were causing allergies or problems I would happily turn them off etc.

Im not a huge fan of air wick etc but do use Yankee candle plug ins

I am the same with all these diffusers, smelly candles and other household scents - they all make me sneeze and I start wheezing after I have been near them for a while. I would politely make an excuse to leave if it was someone's own home and avoid shops like Lush and the perfume counters at big stores. Most wealthy people I know have dogs and horses and don't care about how their house smells, but they do contain a lot of wood furniture and have larger rooms, plus they tend to cook good smelling food, eat fresh bread and make real coffee.

I don't think these have been mentioned: Papier d'Arménie - UK - The French Pharmacy They're heavily scented little strips of paper that you burn, then leave to smoke (they don't smell of smoke). They're really effective at leaving a gorgeous scent in the air.

Could you please say what brand and scents those oils wer?

Lush is practically a health hazard. I have to cross to the other side of the road if there's one on the street and can still smell it. And I'm not that sensitive.

😂

We used to live in Chelsea and our street came out right next to the Lush on Kings Road and the stink, walking by, literally made my eyes burn. DD went through a phase of buying birthday gifts for friends there and I always felt like I was an accessory to a crime against the parents.