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 ))

I’m not remotely posh but my house smells lovely

I'm not posh, but my house smells divine this week because we got a new extractor fan in the kitchen (hurray!) and I got a lovely candle in M&S (the Warmth one) which smells gorgeous. 😄

This, I love the smell in my bedroom when I get round to Bri-waxing the furniture which isn't often sadly.

I can boil it down to:
Open windows and no bloody zoflora/febreeze/disgusting smelling shite.

my own house smells really nice, I had people commenting, too - but its definitely doesn't smell "posh"

@mantyzer

''You are right posh people don't say posh, they say high net worth individual or household.''

What you are describing is being wealthy, which is not necessarily equals 'posh' (ie aristocrats/upper class...).

Im afraid my poshest friend from my schooldays had a house that smelled of manky carpet and cat piss.

You beat me to it!

Money.

Very good quality furniture and fabrics. A cleaner who uses proper wood and leather polish and not just Pledge. Carpets shampooed frequently (also any dog/s regularly bathed and groomed).

The things that makes a house and clothes smell the quickest are cooking and animals. All the lovely smelling houses I have been into, dont have cooking/greasy smells. Indeed, the lady of one of said houses could smell grease on other people a mile away. Also when I worked in 5star hotels, we used to put expensive oils in burners and that gave off such a luxurious smell, I still do it at home.

regular replacement of the fabrics and furniture, so you get nice new stuff smell

You're not Alan Clarke then who famously wrote disparagingly of Michael Heseltine that he was the sort of person who bought his own furniture, ie not posh enough to have lovely inherited pieces.

Ooh thanks for your research on the Diptyque candles Undercover 5 ! I'm not 100 % convinced I would ever spend hundreds on candles even so!
Am enjoying reading the latest posts describing the home habits of the wealthy while lying in bed ill 🤕

This. It's amazing how much better a house can smell when it's being properly cleaned on a regular basis.

Also, money just helps. You can buy flowers, scented candles, nice fabric softener.. it's not one single thing that makes a house smell nice, more a collection of small luxuries that those without money wouldn't buy.

There's no evidence either way about which is better when you really look into it away from blogs and marketing spiel. Even if you try to look at it from a sustainability angle it gets messy. All I think can really be said is that burning anything to a high temperature and inhaling it cannot be good for our lungs. I still like candles but I view them as a treat and use them in well-ventilated areas. Same with wax melts and incense.

All my friend with naice houses use Scentsy wax melts. I’ve recently started using them and there are so many lush frangrances - ones that smell like spas, fresh linen etc. really fills the whole house but it’s not overpowering.

Not having fitted carpets or regular carpet deep clean and maintenance if you can afford it.

Floor polish is another thing that adds to a lovely smell in a home. Don't use on laminate though unless you want to be slipping all over the place 😂

Regular cleaning with natural smelling products, heating and fresh air.

Naice < Haven't spotted one of these out in the MN wild for some time. Retro.

I thought Scentsy was MLM?

It's their contented pheromones.

I am really aware of smells too OP. People sometimes say my house smells nice. We have a dog :) The things I do that probably contribute are:

Method cleaning products - lavender or clementine for surfaces in particular, and almond floor cleaner

Real Beeswax polish for kitchen table

Candles - can't afford Jo Malone or Diptyque but have found that Fired Earth/John Lewis own/M&S Apothecary range are good 'middle priced' and worth the bit extra over supermarket. Not loads and not always lit, but one kitchen and one in downstairs loo. I avoid sweet fragrances like Vanilla or Rose and go more for either warm smells like Fig, Ylang or Amber in winter or heady florals like Lavender and Jasmine in Summer. Loo is usually Eucalyptus or another clean smell.

Baking

Always taking frying/griddle pans straight outside and pouring water on them straight after use. So the big blast of hissing air as the hot water hits the pan takes most of the scent away before it goes in sink or dishwasher

Is it the smell of space?

Thank you!

I could remember that quotation, but couldn't recall who said it, or who they said it about.

I had a very posh boss once, and he actually inherited his father's tweed suits (which he had tailored to fit) among other stuff. They weren't to my taste (a lot were what I would call "bookie's check") but obviously very good quality.

A big culprit to ‘bad’ smelling homes is the oils used for cooking.

Agree with this list. Would add wooden furniture.

😂