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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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8
babyproblems · 07/12/2023 15:16

ChevyCamaro · 07/12/2023 12:46

Why are Diptyqye candles not "fake scents?" I just checked their website, they cost over 50 quid and they are made of paraffin wax...?
I buy good quality quite subtle 100% beeswax/Coconut wax/ soy wax candles from TK Maxx for about 8 quid! I would have thought natural wax would be better for you anyway, maybe I'm wrong?

@ChevyCamaro they are worth every penny… once you’ve had one you won’t go back to 8 quid at TK Max! I can smell them in our house before I even unbox them. The Reed diffusers and hand soap also epically good.

ConsistentlyElectrifiedElves · 07/12/2023 15:19

NChance · 07/12/2023 10:39

I'm not posh but always get comments on how nice my home smells
My friend says she can tell something is mine (book, present, card) by the way it smells Grin

Can we ask what your secret is?!

I'm glad a PP mentioned Purdy & Figg not lasting long, scent wise. I'd almost fallen in to the trap of buying that.

If it is "naice" diffusers or plug ins, what are they? I have an obviously not posh £10 Asda diffuser that's lovely, but not a "posh" scent. I also have a £25 Next diffuser that smells of nothing. I don't mind spending money on a decent diffuser, but I'd rather be recommended than spend a fortune on ones that are only detectable from 6 inches away!

I am definitely nose blind to my own house though, so I could really do with two or three scents on rotation so I don't get too used to them.

Onedayatatime1 · 07/12/2023 15:25

A conversation I’ve had before, essentially my house doesn’t smell of anything. I would never use anything scented as these are heavily polluting with chemicals and can trigger allergic reactions. If they are covering smells then it’s an even worse combination. I have no carpets downstairs at all, minimal upholstered furniture, a couple of rugs, this and no clutter any more makes cleaning much easier. I am a great believer in ‘airing’ rooms so there will be a top window or two open even in the coldest weather. Washing dried outside most of the year or on an airer if weather is terrible. No scented products in the washing. Freshly cooked food mainly and again window open while cooking as well as fan. Regular thorough cleaning throughout. And yes I work full time, have children and don’t have ‘help’.

NChance · 07/12/2023 15:25

@ConsistentlyElectrifiedElves I use valentte, the rosemary and lemongrass diffuser. Really fresh scent

ChungkingPineapple · 07/12/2023 15:26

I had a friend who's home always smelled amazing when I was a kid, Standard council house. I always put it down to her mum being a SAHM and spending lots of time cleaning (she really did clean a lot). Certainly no fancy furniture or expensive candles, anyway.

tomatoontoast · 07/12/2023 15:26

People who truly have money have filthy homes.

ChungkingPineapple · 07/12/2023 15:26

Oh and they had lots of dogs too, which made it even more impressive.

EandKDJ · 07/12/2023 15:35

I am unsure what the "posh" smell actually smells like, but our house is a reasonably sized detached and always smells nice despite having a dog that likes to get mucky outside. I just keep on top of the cleaning every day, don't have clutter in the house (keep the kids toys tidy and put away) and clean the carpets and the soft furnishings every couple of months so smells don't linger. I also put on the extractor when I'm cooking and have a few scented candles dotted about.

NChance · 07/12/2023 15:36

And for what I do
Clean regularly
Open windows
Keep myself really clean
Nice perfume/bars of soap
Essential oils in the shower tray
Reed diffusers that are natural scents
Wax melts
Nice laundry stuff - persil bio mostly
Don't have a kitchen bin, everything goes straight out (or in a small bag to take out end of the day)

YireosDodeAver · 07/12/2023 15:56

I don't know the smell you mean, most of the poshest houses I go to regularly smell of wet labrador/wet boxer/ wet other expensive breed of dog mainly. Posher people tend to be more likely to have dogs than cats. Furniture polish is in there too.

Turfwars · 07/12/2023 15:56

Back in the 80s my friend's family had a lovely smelling home. There were no indoor pets and no indoor smoking. Farming clothes and wellies stayed in the garage.
They had their old gas cooker in the garage as well where they cooked everything that was whiffy - anything fried or fish for example. While it was likely just a smell thing, it was also a safety thing given we had adverts on how to put out grease fires on the TV at the time.

Marionberry · 07/12/2023 16:00

What @IHS wrote.

I have a portable filter fan thing to get rid of smells as well. I don’t use any scented candles or fresheners as I am allergic to perfume. I cut lemons and leave them on the kitchen window sills occasionally.

inapickle2300 · 07/12/2023 16:19

Somebody asked this question years ago, and somebody replied with a Neom diffuser. I bought one and now I’m £100 worse off and my house still smells.
The gingerbread candle £3.99 from home bargains does the trick though.

WingingItSince1973 · 07/12/2023 16:20

My dh wealthy relatives had a lovely home that alway smelled faintly of filter coffee and something else that I could never work out. They used expensive soaps etc so it all must be a combination of everything they owned.

SpringleDingle · 07/12/2023 16:21

Zoflora!!

WingingItSince1973 · 07/12/2023 16:23

I've started using purdy and fig cleaning products as I love the smell but I usually make similar scents with my essential oils and some other ingredients. I do obsess over our house smell especially with 2 dogs and 3 cats! I think every home has their unique smell. Some nice and some not so nice.

RosaMoline · 07/12/2023 16:27

Not sure if this is a posh smell, but ever since I purchased this kit I have had so many compliments! Even my Sainsburys Delivery man bought one (as well as many friends who after visiting my place) - it’s not pricey either. I also bought another for upstairs. 100% recommend!

Light-hearted! Anyone noticed how posh people's homes smell really nice inside? Not perfume, just generally. What is it?
Taurusandvirgo · 07/12/2023 16:30

AutumnFroglets · 07/12/2023 12:33

I have always assumed it's due to cleaning properly. Usually by a paid cleaner. This means the beds are changed frequently, the floors are mopped/hoovered several times a week, the laundry is kept on top of. Most of us are working long hours, or juggling too much, or have I'll health, and just can't keep up with it all so take short cuts. If you do it properly the windows are usually opened whilst cleaning so that adds to the freshness.

In short, having the ability/money to clean properly.

EDIT - I also thought OP had nicked a fist sized rock 😂

Edited

You've made me realise how much I prioritise this. As I said on my last post, I'm not posh. I earn minimum wage and live in a rental flat. I can't stand smelly or dirty homes though, I can't relax there, so I've subconsciously prioritised cleaning.

OP, if you're interested, this is how I manage it.

A pile of clothes laundry is done and dried daily so it never builds up. I haven't always had a tumble drier so if I've had to put the radiators on to dry it, then open the windows wide to let the damp air out after, that's what I do. Rooms aired each morning even if it's minus degrees outside. Liberal use of the power boost feature on kitchen and bathroom fan, after rooms have been used (window will be open too). I'll air the living room (where we eat) while bath time happens before bed, to get rid of lingering food smells. Countertops wiped down after food prep every time. Washing up done each night.

I allocate one of my days off to clean and I clean everything. I don't go out that day, I'm unavailable same as if I was at work. Beds stripped, aired, fresh bedding on. Bedding washed and either line or tumble dried. Towels washed and dried. All hard floors swept and mopped. All bins emptied, cleaned and new bin bag in, even if they're not full. Door knobs, handles, rails, skirting boards and all flat surfaces - including the bottom ledge bit on window frames, the recessed square pattern on the front door and the tops/bottoms of picture frames - wiped. Everywhere hoovered. I have either furniture raised off the floor that's easy to hoover under or furniture that comes down to the floor so no dust can get under it. Everything wiped down in kitchen and bathroom including tiles, appliances and cupboard fronts. Fridge cleaned out inside, no mouldy things left festering.

We live in a spacious flat by choice because it's smaller so is quicker and easier to clean. I can do it even with regular short breaks and interruptions without feeling like I'm busting a gut to get it all done, which is what it felt like when I lived in a 3 bed semi-detached house. No gardening here either.

We don't have pets because I can't see how to fit in looking after them properly and keeping their stuff clean, I believe the home needs hoovering every day when you have pets too. I did share a horse for a while. The coat and boots I wore at the stables stayed there and never came home. I had a coat and shoes for driving to/from and they weren't used for anything else, staying in the entrance porch cupboard and never coming further into the flat unless it was to go in the washing machine. My regular clothes/coats/shoes didn't go to the stables, I kept old tatty clothes for that. They were removed on coming home, went into the laundry basket and I'd go straight into the shower, so home never smelled of horses.

Now I think about it I suppose it is a lot of effort. Many people would rather live somewhere bigger or use their time/money for nicer things than cleaning and it's more important to them to have pets than a pristine home, that's fine, but it's not for me. My home being properly clean gives me peace.

justasking111 · 07/12/2023 16:33

I remember as a teenager I and friends burnt joss sticks we bought from a local hippy shop. Now they impregnated everything in a nice way I thought at the time. Going off to search now

Blueberry40 · 07/12/2023 16:38

This is going to sound a bit strange but I think it’s partly the smell of beeswax furniture polish and cedar wood mothballs to protect wool blankets/clothing.

justasking111 · 07/12/2023 16:39

"Hem assorted scents, unique combination incense sticks (20 stick x 15 Pack,300 Sticks Total) : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen" https://www.amazon.co.uk/assorted-scents-unique-combination-incense/dp/B07FKVTFTF/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=joss+sticks&qid=1701967028&sr=8-4

Still available

honoldbrist · 07/12/2023 16:45

Its clean and aired op. Lots of working class people have houses like this too.

startquitting · 07/12/2023 16:48

Goddammit I want those rocks now.

JaninaDuszejko · 07/12/2023 16:50

I'm not sure having cleaners explains it. On the day my cleaner comes the house smells less good because of the artificial fragrances in the cleaning products she uses.

I would assume lack of smoking, and healthier diets probably explain it. And space to have, e.g. litter trays away from the living areas.

Elphame · 07/12/2023 16:53

startquitting · 07/12/2023 16:48

Goddammit I want those rocks now.

It’s basically gum arabic. I buy it from the local Asian owned supermarket in large quantities for not very much money. 100g is a pound or two max.

Add your own favourite perfume or essential oils, put in a pretty box or bowl and you’ve got the same product. If you want the exact same scent they sell refresher sprays for €10