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

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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 don't think people have chip pans anymore. Those were pongy

I know loads of poshoes and not one of them has the slightest interest in candles or air fresheners. For me it’s the smell of plenty of fresh air combined with a warm smell - the heating is on regularly so there’s no underlying damp smell and the wood is warm so there’s a barely noticeable woody smell.

Thanks, will have a look at the refresher spray!

Jesus, Mary, Joseph & the little donkey too!!! Went & looked at Dyptyque candles, thought ooh fancy one of those.....£67!!!

Poshos would run a mile from electric/artificial fragrances, apart from decent candles and natural reed diffusers. Associated scents would include fresh air, horse, dog, etc

Natural reed diffusers and candles use artificial smells as well whatever the marketing says.

Cooking in an Aga so all cooking smells go up the chimney
A regular cleaner
Heating on and windows open every day
No microwave/ready meals and absolutely no takeaways ever
Indoor Bins emptied very regularly and never left full overnight
No drying clothes on radiators, clothes dryers etc.
No damp apart from that in the dog who is lying in front of the open roaring fire (or by the Aga) so that smell is taken care of
freshly brewed coffee and home baking/bread
wood/leather/wool etc products
no overpowering synthetic air freshener type products
Fresh flowers and lots of real plants. Absolutely no fake plants ever.

…and so on

I suppose I'm in your demographic for an amazing smelling house but it just smells of the pets. Which I actually hate but it's a losing battle.

I can't say I've even noticed! I don't like perfume or scented candles / diffusers etc so have occasionally thought a house was overpoweringly perfumed. Most houses I go in just smell pretty neutral to me, and I have many wealthy middle class friends.

New carpet

Posh people definitely don’t use plug ins or scentsy!! Also don’t use highly fragranced fabric softener or have stale air. Lots of open windows, natural materials (wood, tile or stone floors not
laminate or plastic carpet, decent wooden furniture not chipboard).

This is the oud I was talking about in the Somali house I visited. You can buy it for less than £5 in Asian/Arabic supermarkets or online. It has a very royal smell.

Here it is on Amazon:

Naseema bakhoor

so Rishi Sunak, King Charles, Gopi Hinduja etc have filthy homes?

I don't know. I hav a fairly large house and am middle class. I don't have any animals and don't use diffusers or candles. I am not sure mine smells of much. There is a lot of space, not much out on display and the ceiling are high so I suppose air circulates but I have no idea if it smells different from other houses.

I have just purchased the Wax Lyrical refill for my reed diffuser. Thanks for recommending it.

Dunno but I’ve seen a picture of Princess Anne’s and it’s pretty mank 🤣

Heating, ventilation, kitchens with decent extraction to outside rather than circulating, natural fibres on furniture (leather, silk, wool, linen), solid wood (oak, teak, mahogany), wool or silk carpets and rugs, regular cleaner / housekeeper, beeswax polish and so on.

Is it really?!

Arabian oud smells rank.

My dad's family were from Syria and that smell reminds me of old ladies at family parties, bleurgh 🤢

This too!!!

Probably not.

Thank you. I'll take a look. X

This discussion turned into a scented candle chat )) not what I intended

People always say my house smells nice. So my tips...

No dogs.
No carpets.
Method almond wood floor cleaner.
Dyptique candles
Purdy & fig counter clean.

No harsh chemicals. No synthetic air fresheners.

And I keep my house very clean.

I love the method almond floor cleaner!