How do you make your house smell nice?

[stressedtwinmom]

My house doesn't smell bad, but doesn't smell nice either. When I come home there is just nothing. I've tried air freshener but that disappears within minutes and I don't really like the thought of candles burning in my house as I've tried an essential oil burner but got worried the tea light would fall or catch fire on something . Most people I visit have very welcoming scents as I go into their house and I know I could just ask them ohh what's that lovely smell ?but I don't want to look like a copycat so thought I would ask here instead

My MIL has a house full.of fake scents and things that spray you every few minutes. I hate it because it gives me a headache. I wish she would just open the windows!

If you've got cats or dogs your house is going to smell of them whatever you do. I love the smell of dog but cats not so much.

My house doesn't smell because I'm obsessed with fresh air - the windows and back garden doors are flung wide open every morning, and bedroom windows are usually open an inch at least every night, again in all weathers apart from seriously cold nights in e.g. Feb.

Also I wash stuff the whole time - sheets are changed regularly, hung outside to dry or tumbled and put in the airing cupboard if too wet to hang out.

A PP mentioned taking the bins out - good shout. Fruit peelings and, obviously, fish leftovers stink if left in the bin overnight.

I clean with Method products and they are great, they don't smell synthetic & they definitely make the kitchen and bathroom smell clean. If you like rhubarb then try the rhubarb anti bac spray.

I really don't like plug ins and lots of cheap diffusers make my head hurt so I clean thoughly, windows open, scented candle in the evening. The scent of this then lingers the next day.

Gary have you tried 'You'? like method but their bathroom cleaner smells of almonds and us gorgeous!

Just to add OP, I often ask people who have clothes, music, furnishings, jewellery etc etc that I like what it is / where it came from I would say 100% the time people take it as a compliment rather than 'copying'. It's a sign you appreciate their tastes! I'd say ask your friends who fragrances you like!

I can't use air freshener as ds has asthma. I don't like the smells too much anyway it always smells so strong and artificial when I go into people's houses that use them.
One of my friends has an electronic type of air freshener that sprays it automatically on a timer or something, and every so often you hear a pphhfffttt sound and smell a real strong smell.
Sometimes I get a headache or start sneezing.

I have the windows open as much as possible and have a neutradol air neutraliser gel pot in the gall to try and absorb any dog smells.
Ive also recently bought some zoflora which I love the smell of but don't know how long it lasts.

My house probably stinks but I'm just blissfully unaware

Windows all open on a latch. Reed diffusers in bedrooms and plugin air fresheners in the other rooms.

When we had our electrics done the electrician said the plugin air fresheners were completely safe. I check them and they don't overheat, plus turn them off if we go away.

Also a big fan of scented candles but obviously only use those when we're in the room.

Whenever people come to the door they comment on the fresh smell, but I'm quite immune to it now.

Fairy fabric conditioner makes the house smell nice

Plug ins ! Can't live without them

Another vote for good old fashioned fresh air! Open windows regardless of weather, emptying bins and keeping on top of the laundry to stop build up of nasty smells where possible.

Personally I don't like false smells and dislike plug-ins and candles as I'm paranoid about fires, my brother is an electrician and my uncle is a fire fighter and both think that they are a disaster waiting to happen.

If I could figure out how to make pot pourri or something I guess that might work?

Keep it fragrance free, the amount of times I've got a headache from fruit fragranced air fresheners in other people's houses and it's really awkward if you are staying there. A friend dries laundry on her radiators and her house reeks of fabric conditioner, not nice at all. Maybe one reed diffuser if you really have to.

"Reed diffusers in bedrooms and plugin air fresheners in the other rooms."

I have a reed diffuser in the downstairs loo, but that is enough. I prefer fresh air to artificial smells generally.

Use what you want. You don't live for other people, it's your home. If you want to use plug-in's, do so.

The most divine smelling houses smell like home cooking or baking. Probably a bit impractical to cook and bake all the time to make your house smell homely though.

Lots of bonkers responses. (sorry) I'm frequently told I have a nice smelling house. I don't have candles, diffusers, air fresheners, etc.

Just hoover, keep damp smells away by airing your house, and don't let damp laundry hang around.

Fake smells make a house smell horrible, apparently. I just dry all my laundry outside, rooms smell fresh because of clean bedding etc.

Sprays, candles etc can be terrible for pollutants/particulates. They're not very good for you at all!

Just open a window and empty yer bins

Where do people buy zoflora? I've never seen it in a supermarket ever. Is it a concentrated cleaning product with a scent? Confused sorry!

I also dislike plug ins and air fresheners. Just open the windows. I am obsessive about open windows all year and we all sleep with open windows and keep the house cool.

The flat is cleaned as we go along with once a week deeper clean like mopping floors and dusting.

I use white vinegar/water mix for cleaning flooring - it neutralises bad smells

I air it often - with good weather windows are open everywhere all day

When cooking kitchen windows open and doors to kitchen closed - can't stand the smells of food permeating rest of the place

Air Wick plug in essential oil fragrances - I get them in bulk on eBay - really effective with nice non chemical smell

Diffusers with essential oils

You get a bit noseblind to your own house though.

People tell me mine smells nice. It could be; lemon oil on the furniture, lavender oil in the bath, constant baking.

Right, that's it! I'm done with wide open windows. On my way up to bed last night I was met with a wolf spider on the stairs.

Zoflora is available in Home Bargains.

My friend just "opens windows "..... and it didn't work. Some houses need help to smell nice.

Too right, Black. I like my fucking candles and stuff. If people don't like it they don't have to live in my home.

And some people live in flats with no outdoor space to dry things outside, or in places where you can't leave the bloody windows open all day because it's freezing cold or raining or they would be broken into and they don't have time to bake constantly or run the oven to bake all the time.

I live in a ground floor flat and work all day, I can't "just leave windows open" either. Sainsburys reed diffusers are lovely, I have one going at the moment in Orchid & Sweet Coconut.