How to make my house smell amazing?

[Littleguggi]

Looking for tips on how to make my house smell amazing.

We don't have any pets and we don't smoke. Our house occasionally smells musty/ damp as it's an old house.

Also can anyone recommend any nice smelling candles? We like Jo Malone lime basil and mandarin but ideally something that costs less. We don't like the Aldi dupe.

Just wanting to refresh the house and get ready for a new season.

Things I've tried before:

Bicarb and vacuum the carpets

Tumble dryer sheets dotted around the house, ie in cushion covers

Open windows where possible

Moped the walls with soapy water

It sounds like your house needs more ventilation. Just covering up a musty smell with something else won't cut it.

1. Open the windows
2. Buy a dehumidifier and use it when the windows are closed

Yes i totally get it, we do actually have a fitted ventilation system which has helped with condensation on windows and the damp has significantly reduced. I still feel there are lingering smells.

St Eval candles are excellent at a fraction of the price of Jo Malone. The bay and rosemary is fresh. They do a bergamot one too. The one called Inspiritus is divine. And they do a good orange and cinnamon one that is `christmassy.

A sneaky tip once the weather turns cold is to rub either a drop or two of essential or perfume oil or a bit of your favourite fabric conditioner down the back of the radiator. As it warms up, it scents the house. In summer I use Lily Stems (think it's M&S) which makes the house smell exactly like it is full of fresh flowers. Just a tiny amount - too much smells a bit overpowering but a drop on each radiator is perfect.

Good floor wash matters. I use Method Almond most of the time but sometimes Johnson soapy orange cleaner. And Method surface sprays as they also smell more natural.

And as PP says I ventilate our house every day - all windows wide open for at least 5 mins whatever the season and then on the ventilation lock. In summer, wide open all the time. But, like you, we have an old house and we also have wool carpets. Both of these can make a house smell stale even when it is clean, so a scent helps.

Have a look over on the 'Housekeeping' threads - must be lots of old threads if you have a search.

I find Geodesis candles to smell significantly more than they cost, more Diptique at £30.
personally I perfect the diffusers. Don’t have to remember to blow them out!

Aristowax have a furniture polish called Wood Silk that makes the house smell amazing.

One of these - smell amazing and last for ages

duxmorebotanics.co.uk/products/pink-grapefruit-sweet-orange-mint-reed-diffuser

Love the advice so far! I already use Method products (although haven't tried their floor cleaners) and Wood Silk polish, I agree that both of these products are top tier! Thank you for the product recommendations also

I buy Tallow and Ash Oud fabric softener, I don’t put it in the machine!
I put a capful in a spray bottle top up with water and spray it on upholstery, curtains etc.
it smells amazing and lasts.

Dehumidifier to treat the humidity.
Opening windows every day to 'change the air'.
Valentte diffusers and candles. These are so reasonable in price and smell amazing, best I have ever found.
Using throws on sofa (we have a dog) and washing them every few days.
Shutting kitchen door and opening kitchen windows when cooking to try and contain cooking smells.

Peak District Candle Company

Honestly the best quality soy candles, red diffusers and wax melts I have ever used. Some unusual delicious scenes too and they last FOREVER.

I bought Lenor Unstoppables, opened the box and left the lid on loosely and hid it behind the telly. Love the smell!

Thank you for this. I have been looking for a good furniture wax for ages. Going to try this.

Edited to say - I looked it up and it's the one I already use! Hadn't realised it was called Aristowax. I am still on the hunt for that elusive wood polish smell you get in stately homes and castles. It's a different scent and I can't track it down.

I second this. You need to deal with source of the problem rather than just mask it.

Also check tiles, guttering and any cladding doesn’t need replacing.

Soft furnishings can cling to smells so anything that can get a wash might be worth doing. If there is damp a dehumidifier will help. Don't forget to give things like the washing machine, dishwasher, bin a clean out regularly to stop smells. Also sink drains can get a bit stinky too. I really like the white company candles. I also use their oils in my scent difuser but Sainsbury's do some nice oils too. I have a carpet cleaner but I saw someone using very hot water and a mop on a carper online to give it a freshen up so that might work.

Just went to Aldi and they have some new reed diffusers in coloured boxes, not the usual white ones. £3.49 and smell lovely. DC has two in their room and it’s making the whole landing smell nice, they have two different lavender ones, I got a clove one for Christmas and will get more when I go past

plus windows open
and a dehumidifier all the time

If you clean radiators with nice smelling cleaners, or febreeze and light bulbs.. anything that gets warm pop some sent on it.

Also the electric oil diffusers are great so many different oils from white company, M&S and Sainsbury's and you can change the sent often so you don't got nose blind.

And I would say 100% get a candles called winter come white company, it's the most amazing smell and in our house has been our winter house small for the last 10 years.

Also in an old house here with some damp and musty areas, so I feel your pain.

I like the Rituals room perfume sprays. I have Jing and a spray lasts quite a long time and smells lovely.

Taking notes!

Lots of the supermarket room sprays/candles/plug-ins have chemicals and pollutants in that can exacerbate asthma etc. Simmer pots are great on the stove or in a slow cooker - water plus some citrus peel, herbs/spices etc. Loads of recipes on Google! Might be worth trying while you try and address the cause of the smell.

Beeswax?

OP you might like the Rituals white basil candle, it should be cheaper than jo Malone. I use hanging dehumidifier bags over the house, and make sprays with essential oils, alcohol and water.

I'm a big advocate for opening the windows even if it's for ten minutes on a cold wintery morning. Especially in bedrooms to get rid of that sort of thick musty bad breath sort of smell. I'm also guilty of using wax melts but I don't use any air or fabric freshener chemicals. Someone mentioned bins up thread and I agree emptying the bins regularly even when not full is key.

I use a little essential-oil burner and like to mix up the oils (lots of assortment boxes available). A dehumidifier is also a good idea; either one large powerful one, or low-powered ones around the house.

We've done that too and still makes no difference to the musty smell that winter rain brings. Watching this thread with interest. Basically, I want my home to smell like it does when you walk into John Lewis, hehe.