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.

When we had our last house rewired the electrician advised against plug in diffusers. He said they were a fire hazard.

Rituals room sprays as others have said, plus mopping the floors with Zoflora.

I like my St Eval sweet pea Reed diffuser in my bathroom

I have my windows open all day every day (unless it's bitterly cold), on the catch so not much but just enough to air and let moisture escape. I also have damp traps in the bathroom and my study where I dry the washing. Also washing goes outside on a dry day even in winter.

I do have reed diffusers dotted about too, and an air freshener in the bathroom where the cats litter tray lives but I tend to forget about them and they sit there empty.

Generally there's always a window open.

Loving all these suggestions and nice to know it's not just my home that can get a bit whiffy. Tempted to get The White Company Winter candles/ fragrance as I've used their candles in the past and loved them. Does anyone have a discount code? I was hoping Blue Light would get me a discount but only 8.5% if I purchase a voucher 🙄

I agree about cooking smells, especially as I am someone who does a lot of cooking! I do try to keep windows and doors open but smells still seem to travel. Would having coffee beans in an open container help? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Spanish cleaning products! I got a dog 6 months ago and the smell was driving me insane. I got some of these products (I got big bundles off tiktok shop but they've started selling some in home bargains) and it's been a game changer.

If it smells of damp it probably IS damp. Sort out the damp issue first.

Ventilate and buy some nice diffusers.

I am happy to pay a bit more for real natural scents rather than the synthetic type you get. I'd rather avoid zoflora, lenor, yankee candles etc. I realise this makes me sound like a snob ha ha

Just to confirm that the damp issue is under control, we have paid thousands for a fitted ventilation system which seems to be doing the trick. Unless I remove all of my carpet and furnishings, the smell seems to be lingering. I realise that my guests may not notice the smell, it's probably just me.

If you have tiled or hardwood flooring Method rhubarb flor cleaner makes our home smell really nice (albeit for a short time). I give my downstairs floors a quick go over with my spray mop every day. Also getting down any curtains you have and giving them a wash will make the house smell fresher. Nearly all my curtains have dry clean on them, but I’ve put them in the machine on a wool wash without any issues.

I love method rhubarb cleaner! I can't find it anywhere near me anymore though.

Not the candle route but I boil a pot of water with ground cinnamon or ginger in a couple of times a week. Makes the entire house smell lovely (especially through autumn and winter)!

Rather than buying the White Company winter candles, I buy the fragrance oil and put a couple of drops on a chiffon pot pourri bag that sits on the radiator.

I just use a bog standard beeswax wood polish (I have the Waitrose own brand at the moment) which gives that lovely old fashioned beeswax/linseed oil/turpentine smell.

Ooh do you have a brand name, of the Spanish products please?

Clean the filters on the oven fan once a week.

I always get told my home smells nice

Washing things often - especially stuff like throws, cushion covers, coats that cooking smells cling too
I have a window open nearly all day every day
Dehumidifier for drying washing
Valentte rosemary diffusers in the bathrooms
Wax melts/scented candles
Method rhubarb floor cleaner

So it’s the carpet. Do you wear shoes inside?

No we don't wear shoes inside. Any ideas how to freshen the carpet? We have shampooed it a couple of times in the past 5 years since having it

You need to get the smell out of the carpets and furnishings not try and hide it with air freshener and room diffusers or candles.

I used https://www.neutradol.com/products/pure-fresh-sniff-n-purr-carpet-room-deodorizer-for-pet-odours on my carpets when the old cat was peeing on my carpet. It did the job and cat pee smell is notoriously difficult to get rid. They do non pet ones.

Did you use a deep-clean (e.g. Rug Doctor)? That always helps!

I live in an old house, I totally get what you mean! I got some lovely candles from tkmaxx the other day, they were only about a fiver each, Pecksniff? I think the brand is. They smell nice but not overpowering when lit. I also have the little disposable dehumidifier things in my kitchen cupboards, in the boot room, random little nooks etc to try help (no damp problem). Plus opening windows etc.

Clean it thoroughly including looking for mould near the window frames, keep a window a tiny bit open in each of the musty smelling rooms, burn a little lavender oil. Get it checked for damp if possible just in case the ventilation isn't exactly right. You could get a specialist company to deep clean all of the soft furnishings in the smell is lingering there. Oh, and look out for mice!! The smell is similar to damp.

We don’t have carpets where I live, but we do have a huge rug and one of those Kärscher carpet cleaners, which we find is really good. We use it for mattresses and other things too.

www.kaercher.com/uk/home-garden/spray-extraction-cleaner/se-4001-10811370.html