How to make a large room smell nice?

[walkwalk]

Without spending a fortune...

It's an open plan kitchen living room space.

Scented candles just get lost, same with Reed diffusers. Would probably need 3 to notice it which i can't afford.

What's cheapish, nice and works in a large space?

Ta! :)

Open the windows every day.

Cook with cinnamon a lot.

Or some other spice/flavour that you like.

I don't think there's going to be any other way in the sort of set up you describe.

I have this- open diner. I like using oil buyers with essential oils eg citronella or clove or cinnamon at this time of year.

I’m one of the problems with this type of setup is that the soft furnishings absorb the cooking smells.

Using an extractor fan and opening windows when cooking may help or perhaps regular cleaning/spraying of soft furnishings. Clean extractor hood and filters regularly and wash down surfaces and floor.

Boil a sliced lemon on the hob.

Then when it has cooled slightly take it and put it in a bowl and stick it in the microwave on high for a minute, it will soften any food residue and it will wipe off.

Disclaimer: If I catch any of the inmates putting stuff in without a lid I have something to say, so it is generally quite clean.

I am full of useless information.

I use an essential oil diffuser, the whole of the downstairs smells lovely and it stays on for eight hours. They are relatively cheap. The oils are too as they last for ever as you only use a few drops.

I have two favourites the gingerbread one, and then I also like ylang ylang and amber, a few drops of each, in the water.

I have ours on regularly and always when we have guests and people always comment on how nice the house smells.

www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-Aromatherapy-Diffusers-Humidifier-Adjustable/dp/B092SDWTDX/ref=sr_1_21?crid=M7MWFUNOH7PF&keywords=essential+oil+diffuser&sprefix=Essentia%2Caps%2C193&srpt=AROMA_DIFFUSER&qsid=261-5770883-3842524&sres=B086JJY8XX%2CB07B2TFXKP%2CB07N6589V9%2CB09BN69HFZ%2CB08RWS2Z29%2CB08TM9387C%2CB07V356WP3%2CB08JG2SQF3%2CB07T97DNJG%2CB09CD79ZK5%2CB08TWDSXDC%2CB012EW5YCK%2CB092SDWTDX%2CB086PYWNNL%2CB085QGCL4M%2CB08BL73GKY%2CB07MQZPB6Y%2CB08P197YJX%2CB07ZQ4TCV2%2CB07PNKR86C&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1636137081&sr=8-21

Simmer a little water in a pot with clove/orange or apple and cinnamon or any number of combinations!

I wipe surfces down with lemon, very effective.

But agree with previous poster - this arrangement is very difficult for smells.

I bought a diffuser - and then realised they are really not great for most U.K. houses where you are actively trying to avoid additional condensation and damp!

Bluntness100 i really fancy one ,but are they silent or do.they make a noise?? X

Wilko sell cheap vanilla scented Reed diffusers at £1,50. Worth a bash. I use them in the kids bedrooms, smells pleasant enough.

Fresh air an open windows as much as possible.

I dislike synthetic smells trying to mask other smells.
Wash floors and surfaces. Wash soaft furnishings and blankets.

Rub some zoflora on your radiators (when they're on obviously).

Open the windows. Fresh air is much nicer than a stuffy, overheated and artificially scented home.

IKEA vanilla scented candles are the only thing I can ever smell in my large kitchen!

Fresh air is better than any smell.

The impact on the central nervous system of any form of synthetic smell is not to be taken lightly either, they are basically perfumed pollution.

@The4ks

Rub some zoflora on your radiators (when they're on obviously).

Be careful doing this, it stripped the paint off my radiators!

This summarises the issue of air fresheners on indoor air quality. They are very bad for children in particular pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26354370/

I agree with opening windows etc as much as you can and cooking with cinnamon is lovely. Keeping the kitchen clean and any soft furnishings freshly laundered will help too.

I got wax melts and electric melter as a gift, I put it on in the bedroom and was a bit dubious tbh and it made our whole flat smell (not in a good way as the melts smelt a bit like loo cleaner 😂) flat is 1400 square feet so it definitely travelled. If you can find some nice smelling ones I think they’d be worth a go

I dislike synthetic fragrances altogether. Nasty things, made from petrochemicals, not great for health.
If I need a little boost of fragrance I will put citrus peel or cut lemons in a bowl on a radiator, or make s immer pot in the kitchen if I have been cooking something smelly like fish.
I throw in aromatics like rosemary, lemon or lime, cloves, anise, cardamon, apple peel, thyme, sage, pine needles, whatever I have to hand, and simmer them for 20 minute or so.

I second a diffuser. It’s an initial outlay but lasts forever. Also, only get top quality essential oils not the cheap synthetics as are they are bleurgh and cause headaches etc. The oils are expensive initially but you only use a few drops so they last for so long, so very cheap overall.

Not sure about the claim they are bad for houses due to causing damp? Mine runs on 100ml water that diffuses over 8 hours. Definitely does not result in condensation/damp.

Agree re cost effectiveness of diffusers; one in the hall scents the whole house. Absolutely no problem with damp, as they use so little water.

The main advantage for me is being able to use pure essential oils that don’t cause headaches etc and can choose pet friendly variants.

I have a small one in my bedroom that acts as a gentle nightlight (colour-changing!) as use lavender mixed with other oils every night to help me sleep. Great if you have a cold too, with ginger/cinnamon/eucalyptus etc.
Ours were from Amazon for £20 or so, and still going strong 4 years later

Ikea vanilla tea lights dotted all around the room.

I just discovered Papier D'Armenie, it's basically paper incense, you fold it, light it and leave it. I bought it for the bathroom, but it wafted all over the house and the little book of papers is on the dresser shelf and I can get a waft every time I go in there.

It does say you can use the papers in wardrobes or drawers.

Otherwise, I am an obsessive window opener, nearly always have coffee brewing and this time of year I do put a pot of water on a radiator with some spices in...star anise, cinnamon stick, bit of orange peel.

@rrhuth

Fresh air is better than any smell.

The impact on the central nervous system of any form of synthetic smell is not to be taken lightly either, they are basically perfumed pollution.

100% this! Synthetic fragrances are revolting 🤢

Incense sticks from Oxfam.

Bowl of pine cones and Christmas bits like orange slices, cinnamon sticks and sprinkle with Christmas essence if you like the smell of Christmas. I stick it in a tin after Christmas and keep the best bits then put it into a beautiful bowl and add the essence.