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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to use incense even though DH hates it?

32 replies

Fatshionista · 25/08/2011 15:28

I hate how my house smells stale and like wet dog despite our dog being clean and the windows being open constantly. DH can't stand artificial air fresheners or even Febreeze so I bought vanilla incense.

AIBU to light them in the main areas of the house even though DH's cats bum face annoys me? I love the smell.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 25/08/2011 15:30

Could you get essential oils instead? Or one of those oil diffusers. I am with DH, Febreeze is repulsive.

KurriKurri · 25/08/2011 15:32

No YANBU - it's your house too. I have the same problem, I love incense DH hates it (he also hates scented candles -he's the son of a fireman, and assumes I will burn the house down!).

I use it when he's out.

ripstheirthroatoutliveupstairs · 25/08/2011 15:33

YABVU IMO. But, I do loathe incence. What about a neutodol airfreshener. They absorb smells allegedly.

Scaevola · 25/08/2011 15:33

Vanilla incense is probably an artificial scent.

I think natural products (like essential oils, as mentioned above) are likely to be more acceptable. (I'm assuming that you do want to find a mutually acceptable solution in your shared accommodation, not just annoy DH - though of course you may have your reasons for that instead).

scrambedeggs · 25/08/2011 15:34

fake smells are awful, really make my sinuses hurt, incense reminds me of church, not terrible but can do without it

squeakytoy · 25/08/2011 15:35

It is unfair to make the house stink of something that another person living there hates the smell of.

We dont have air fresheners or many other artificial smells / chemicals in the house either as neither of us can stand the overpowering smell of them.

I do use Oust, to spray on the rug where the dog lies, and I have the windows open to let fresh air in.

SoupDragon · 25/08/2011 15:37

Think of something you absolutely hate and which affects you and imagine your DH doing it despite your wishes.

SoupDragon · 25/08/2011 15:38

Besides, your house now smells of stale wet dog overlaid with vanilla incense.

Sofabitch · 25/08/2011 15:38

YABU I can't abide them they make my breathing tight and make me feel dizzy. I can not have them anywhere near me. They are gross. Buy some essential oils and put a drop or 2 in boiling water. Or a burner. Buy flowers that smell nice. Open windows use zoflora to mop floors wipe sides etc. There are other ways to make your house smell nice

Fatshionista · 25/08/2011 15:39

He doesn't hate the smell but would prefer it not to be there. He's pretty easy going so I've stopped the Febreeze and Oust (I think I was addicted) and moved on to incense which I thought would be acceptable.

He's not said anything yet but I can tell when I lit it he had a cats bum face. Would prefer the house not to smell stale or artificial, just fresh and homely.

Where can I buy essential oils and do I burn them or put them on something? Oh I don't have a clue!

OP posts:
LeBJOF · 25/08/2011 15:40

Vanilla is a particularly offensive smell. It makes me feel sick.

MadamDeathstare · 25/08/2011 15:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sn0wGoose · 25/08/2011 15:44

YABU. It's his house too. If it smells of wet dog, open a window.

Sn0wGoose · 25/08/2011 15:44

(lol@ soupdragon )

diddl · 25/08/2011 15:47

I think that that´s really horrible to do that tbh.

How come your house smells stale if the windows are open as much as possible?

Is there nothing at all he would´t object to?

deepheat · 25/08/2011 15:48

Why not discuss the incense thing with your husband while eating a nut-roast and listening to world music. I'm sure you'll both tap into a sense of global harmony.

Sorry.

On a vaguely related note, does anyone know any good products for getting rid of the smell of my DD weeing on our living room carpet? Potty training went a little wrong earlier in the week.

Apologies for the blatant hijack but the people who have the answers don't go on the potty training threads any more....

scuzy · 25/08/2011 15:49

not fair on your other half. its his house too.

why not tackle the cause of the smell instead of masking it ... washing dog more often, change shampoo wash his bed or move it.

TotemPole · 25/08/2011 16:05

Fatshionista, maybe the carpets and soft furnishings could do with a wash/dry clean?

Do the shake and vac and put the freshness back. You have to sing and wiggle your bottom while doing this.

Fatshionista · 25/08/2011 16:11

I have put the incense out and we have agreed on scented candles in mild scents such as lavender and honey. Middle ground :o.

Nobody thinks the house smells except me. We air out, clean and vaccum regularly etc. I think I am paranoid or going crazy about smells.

We are in a rented house and two small DD's, one still in napies, two adults and a dog make me think how can the house not have a scent?

But still, candles! A compromise :o

OP posts:
DecapitatedLegoman · 25/08/2011 16:11

FGS address the smell, don't add to it with rank fake odours.

Bicarbonate sprinkled over carpets and soft furnishings, rubbed in and left for an hour then hoovered off. Dog groomed regularly and dog bedding washed with bio powder weekly. Hoover filter changed frequently. Job done.

Quenelle · 25/08/2011 16:12

YABU I hate the smell of incense, and air fresheners - any artificial smell actually. DH has put Neutrodol air fresheners in the kitchen and toilet and I hate them.

LRDTheFeministDragon · 25/08/2011 16:17

YABVU.

Address the smell, don't cover it. Lots of people react badly to incense.

Ephiny · 25/08/2011 16:18

YABU, I would hate strong air fresheners or scents or incense in the house, it would give me a headache and I would not be impressed by DP doing this (not that he would). I don't think the dog would like it much either, they have very sensitive noses!

Is it actually the dog you can smell, or his bed or favourite rug or something which might need washing? You can put a blanket down on top of bed/rug/sofa/whatever, which is more easily washed. You are going to have a bit of a doggy smell though, with a dog in the house, you can minimise it by keeping things cleaned and vaccumed regularly, but not sure you can eliminate it entirely.

Insomnia11 · 25/08/2011 16:20

There is a woman at work (fortunately not in my dept so I don't see her often) that wears such strong perfume, it smells like patchouli oil or soomething similar, it actually makes me sneeze and feel ill if she's down the corridor, let alone in a room with me.

I don't like most incense as it makes me feel a bit weird, slightly light headed.

LRDTheFeministDragon · 25/08/2011 16:21

Oh, shite, sorry, I did that awful thing of replying before I read the thread properly. Blush I hate some scented stuff and get bad sinus-y reactions to it so am a bit OTT.

Glad you found a mutually-agreeable solution! Grin

Btw, vinegar is really good for musty smells - pour some down all the drains if there's any chance it's that.

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