Home fragrance - house viewings

[RS29]

Well aware that I might be being weird here 🤣🤣

Can anyone recommend a nice (and hopefully not too expensive!) fragrance to run through our home for when we have viewings etc? I’m thinking just a few Reed diffusers throughout the house to have a nice continuous scent? Is that weird? 🤣 hoping for something just fresh, subtle and inoffensive. We don’t have any pets so there’s no odour to mask or anything.

We officially go on the market next week 😬🤞🏼 It’s our first ever property sale so complete rookies at this.

The Aldi reed diffusers are decent, not too pricey or strong, get a massive matching candle for added scent.

www.aldi.co.uk/lime%2C-basil-%26-mandarin-diffuser-set/p/000000387018300

[quote trickyex]The Aldi reed diffusers are decent, not too pricey or strong, get a massive matching candle for added scent.

www.aldi.co.uk/lime%2C-basil-%26-mandarin-diffuser-set/p/000000387018300[/quote]
@trickyex Thanks! I’ll have a look at those. Ive never tried their version.

I wouldn't do this. If your home is clean and already smells fresh, don't add fake fragrance on top of it. Personally, it's a red flag to me when owners use these for showings. I'm wondering what they're trying to cover up.

[quote trickyex]The Aldi reed diffusers are decent, not too pricey or strong, get a massive matching candle for added scent.

www.aldi.co.uk/lime%2C-basil-%26-mandarin-diffuser-set/p/000000387018300[/quote]
Oh please don't OP, those Aldi ones make me wheeze they are really strong unless you use them all the time then get nose blind to them. I would also wonder what smells the vendor is trying to cover up.

Open windows and hour before viewing,that's all you need to do.

If I viewed a house that had lots of ' fragrance ' it would put me off , I'd assume you were hiding something. Infact we once viewed a house with a candle burning during the day . We did not buy it.

Please don’t. It’s always really obvious and makes a buyer wonder what they’re hiding. I went to one viewing and had to leave before seeing it properly as there were reed diffusers everywhere which made me sneeze and my eyes water.

I never actually viewed a house which smelled. A couple of long term empty needed a bit of fresh air, but that was less of a problem than the chemically “fragranced” ones.

Just don’t.

I think it’s been shown anyway that the best fragrance to have when selling is fresh bread. Or coffee.

I would think you were trying to hide something (damp etc). Much better to ensure that the house is clean and well aired.

I also was put off by the houses I viewed with a smell, good or bad. I don't like scents though generally, especially sweet ones. A clean house smell is enough.

I loath reed diffusers and would be strongly put off by a house that smelt of them.

OTOH, when my parents were selling my grandparents old & neglected house which was a mess, prospective buyers happened to come by on the day that my sister & I were making gingerbread in the kitchen (making lovely smells) and they bought it.

Just clean. Overly scented houses make me think there’s probably a smell of damp or something that they’re trying to hide (plus it often gives me a headache).

Sorry, I meant just a clean smell. I wasn’t giving you an instruction to “just clean”. I’m sure your house is clean!

Please don’t - we are viewing houses and I’m very sensitive to scent, and most of the cheap ones give me an instant headache.

Just open all the windows for 15 minutes beforehand. It won’t smell unless it’s particularly doggy or teenager-y.

We’ve only viewed one truly smelly house & they were clearly vile, it was a very expensive house with carpets desperately in need of a clean, bedding that needed to be changed badly etc.

Just clean. I don’t like artificial scents anyway, but I would certainly assume you were trying to cover up a lingering smell of smoke or damp or dogs.

I agree. Fresh air and maybe some freshly baked bread and coffee is all you need.

TOP TIP: when I sold up, I splurged on Jo Malone and Diptique candles. Expensive, yes, but I didn't light them. Leave them open and unlit and they will fill the air with their lovely scent. After viewings, just put the silver lid back on the top. Worked a treat, then when we moved I took them all with me!

I think you would alienate more people than you would attract tbh. I’m hugely sensitive to scents and would have to leave a heavily Scented house ( and have done in the past) and judging by other threads on MN I’m not alone in being so sensitive

Buyers will think you're trying to cover up a problem smell if there's much fragrance going on. When selling recently we febreezed the carpets a bit (though mostly because we have a cat) and opened the windows. That's all.

Please don't do this. I have a fragrance allergy, as is very common, and many people who have conditions such COPD and asthma, fragrance can trigger an attack/breathing problems etc.

It would really put me off a property as I would either have to cancel the viewing or I'd try and get in and out quickly and not have a proper look. I would also be concerned you are trying to cover up an underlying smell.

If you really want to, brewing a pot of coffee creates a lovely smell and has no (as far as I know, potential health issues for anyone.

If it's strong all over, yes, it makes me suspicious....

However, and apparently against everyone here, I really like the Aldi plugin linen fragrance, on light, it makes the house smell like fresh laundry/flowers.

If you decide not to, there's always the boil oranges/cinnamon/whatever on the stove/bake cookies/bread - makes the house smell nice without looking too suspicious or irritating people sensitive to other things.

Bathroom(s) mop the floor, clean the loo, bath, shower, sink etc. It will smell clean rather than assuming it's masking something.
Blitz kitchen floor & surfaces so again just smells clean.
Fresh bedding in the bedrooms.
Open windows for a good blow through with fresh air.
Febreze the carpets before vacuuming.

Ask your estate/selling agent; they're on the business end of the selling stuff day in and day out, they will have a view on what kind of stuff works.

My gut says avoiding scented things altogether is probably best, and just make sure the place is clean and well-aired. And even for the best/most expensive fragrances (looking at you Dr Vranjes/Fornasetti) for everyone who loves Fragrance X or Scent Y there'll be someone else who loathes it.

People are non-consciously swayed by all kinds of irrational things when viewing/buying houses. So why risk putting off potential buyers over something potentially needlessly divisive?

But a chat with your EA would be your best bet.

Get your carpets cleaned, either wash or steam clean other soft furnishings, open windows, keep bedlinen and towels fresh. Avoid artificial fragrance, most are horrible and do give the impression there's something to hide.

However, and apparently against everyone here, I really like the Aldi plugin linen fragrance, on light, it makes the house smell like fresh laundry/flowers

I hate really strong laundry smell. There seems to be a thing now where people like their washing to small quite strong- i teach small kids and I can’t get too close to some of them as the smell of laundry detergent is overwhelming.

Like pp mentioned, if you have a strong smell in your home you do start to not notice it. Anyone walking in though it smells very strong.

I always think that they're trying to hide something. Just open the windows for a bit before anyone comes, you can't beat the smell of fresh air

Another one suggesting you forgo trying to artificially fragrance your home prior to viewings.

I once viewed a house with plug-ins, and I suspect the owner had run around with air-freshener just before we arrived. I couldn't get out of there fast enough after a polite whizz round. The migraine it brought on was awful and I was totally put off the house by association.

I think a well aired, clean house is always the most appealing and you would avoid the prospect of some buyers either feeling headachy and sick, or many more suspicious you are trying to cover something up.