How do you get your house smelling good?

[BasilOfBakerStreet]

Moved in in November. It doesn't smell bad as such, just 'homey' if that makes sense. I haven't tried much yet aside from air freshener. Whenever I think a house smells good it always seems to be those reed diffuser things.
Does anyone have any recommendations?

I don't really like masking smells. I air the house a lot to keep it smelling fresh.

I air the house too every day and I also use a Neom essential oil diffuser.

Open windows as much as possible. Certain windows are always open on the vent lock (downstairs loo, spare bedroom that is never used).

Do you have carpets? They might need washing if there's a general smell that never really goes away.

Lots of everyday smells (cooking/ pets/ potty training accidents etc are held deep in carpet fibers and spot cleaning doesn’t really shift them. I find a good carpet shampoo every month or so can really help keep things fresh - we bought a Bissel carpet cleaner a few years ago in the sales it was expensive but way cheaper than hiring the machine regularly from the supermarket . We also buy Bissel carpet shampoo as part of our subscribe and save on amazon to get a good price - there are lots of scents including ones with Febreeze - but it’s the overall cleanliness once the smell has faded that I like - you don’t get hit with that musty lived in smell when you open the door.

Other tips

• polish wood with beeswax or lavender polish
• put a few discreet fabric conditioner sheets behind radiators
• light a cooks candle after cooking smelly foods
• open windows regularly
• get a wax melt burner and melts - you can shave bits off scented candles you like if you don’t like the typical yankee ones - I save the ends of my mini diptyque ones and do this - makes the house smell amazing!

I also use an essential oil diffuser. There's a huge range of there and they aren't expensive.

out there

Honestly I think open windows. I know it’s cold and probably raining but I think this is the best way. Might need the carpets cleaning if you inherited them in the move. Do you have pets?

I air the house every morning and have reed diffusers around the house.

If there are carpets get them washed

Air my house daily by opening the windows for at least an hour. Everyone grumbles so when im not working on a Friday they are all open till about 2pm them the heating kicks in.

I wanted to try the fabric conditioner on the radiator tip but am worried about the chemicals it could give off. Does anyone know if it's safe to do this?

I also read on MN that essential oils can be harmful to cats - is that the case?

I open my windows every day, I choose wooden floors as I feel that holds on to less smells too and easier to clean. I have a dog so carpets for me are just a no go!

Do you have carpets? Maybe if they were there when you moved you could replace with fresh carpet or other flooring or get a carpet cleaner?

Wash your soft furnishings as best you can, couch, cushions, curtains, air your mattresses and rugs etc.

Thanks all. Only have carpet in the lounge and it was brand new when we moved in.
Does anyone have any specific reed diffusers they like and last a long time?

I but the prices diffusers, I find them strong enough to notice around the house but not over powering, they do seem to go quite quickly though.

Plug in air fresheners in some rooms, diffusers in others and air the house out twice daily regardless of weather :)

I love the Lily Flame diffusers they smell lovely, look pretty and last a long time

I love Seychelles Reed diffuser from The White Company - smells amazing.

Not plug ins, they smell shit and who knows what's in them. They give me a headache.

Ooen your windows daily in every room.

Clean carpets if you think they smell.

The more fresh air, the better.

If it’s only one carpet and brand new then I would try opening the windows more. How often do you do that? Has to be more than one room too.

Clean properly and launder things like bedding regularly.
Wood soap on floors.
Empty bin each day at least.
Don’t keep a kitchen food waste bucket.
Fresh air - doors and windows.
Jo Malone candles

We keep one or two windows open at all times, even at night, and in summer time all the windows are open all the time. We change bedding often, laundry is washed regularly so used clothing doesn’t lie around too much. We both shower daily, so we’re always clean and fresh. Carpets are newish so no nasty old smells, we vacuum clean the lounge/dining room daily. Dishes are cleared and washed quickly so food smells don’t linger.

We don’t use scented candles, diffusers or air fresheners.

Well, I do like a nice scented candle and we have them sometimes, but we don’t use them for freshening purposes.

Incense stick sandalwood everyone always comments when they walk into my house how lovely it smells

We open windows a lot
Burn Citronella oil (strong smelling clean)
Wash floors regularly and wash cushion covers etc. We don't have carpets.

wondering777 you might be right, a while back I read somewhere that it’s bad to put freshly washed clothes on warm radiators to dry because you end up breathing in some chemicals as the water evaporates from the washing. Sorry O can’t replicate the proper explanations but that’s what stayed in my mind in simple terms. I’m not convinced fabric conditioner is that good for our health to start with anyway.

OP, open the windows as often as you can maybe by rotation if you can’t open them all at once for a short time. Regardless of the weather. A well ventilated house shouldn’t smell. Maybe the homey smell you describe is in somehow in the walls/woodwork/paint?
Grating lemon zest gives out a lovely scent but it’s temporary and more of an uplift for you rather than to mask smells.

I never use air fresheners of any kind, I can smell them a mile off when I get in a house that has them, they smell very artificial and I have no idea what’s in them. I never use candles either although there are some really beautiful (expensive) ones out there (DH told me enough stories about fire hazards).