Help! Smelly house!

[Cydonia]

Hi, I could really use some tips on removing underlying smells in my new house.
History - the house ( bungalow ) belonged to my late dad, though he only lived there for 6 months before he passed away. I did think it always had a bit of a smell about it when he first moved in, but then when his illness worsened just put it down to that.
It’s been empty since the end of 2019, we deliberated selling, then decided to keep it and have a loft conversion done. So all rooms downstairs except the bathroom were emptied and have had new carpet or flooring and been repainted. The room which houses the new staircase has also been replastered, upstairs rooms obviously brand new.
I don’t notice much of a smell during the day, but when I first get up in the morning or come in after a day out, there’s an odd smell in the lounge and the dining room ( used to be a bedroom ). It’s hard to describe, sometimes it seems a bit smokey ( dad didn’t smoke, not sure about previous owners but I don’t think they did ), sometimes almost ammonia-y. Maybe a bit musty but not your typical damp smell.
I use wax burners and lots of highly scented cleaning stuff, but it keeps coming back. We did buy a second hand leather suite, which does have a bit of a smell to it, I’m wondering if it could be that? I have cleaned it with leather cleaner, is there something else I could use without damaging it? We’ve got a couple of other bits of second hand or old furniture too, could be that? I try to open windows as much as possible but it’s getting a bit chilly for that. We do have a dog, but it doesn’t really seem like a doggy smell.
Sorry for the essay, any tips ( including the best place to buy white vinegar! ) gratefully received ☺️

It could be!! 😳

Could be a ghost that is. I’m thinking there’s not great ventilation throughout, and if you cook something you might not smell it in the next room, but a random one further away. I will check for air bricks, I know where they are in our old house but hadn’t even thought about it here. Maybe it just needs more airing. Will definitely give the sofa a good clean though following these tips, it does smell funny if you sniff it.
Bathroom floor is Lino, it is downstairs with it being a bungalow, but doesn’t really smell in there.

Totally Agree.

Best way to get rid of it is to spray the house down in vinegar.

I would if I could find any! 😂

re leather couch - I once had to use tack cleaner. I forget why... but it was my grandparents first and thats what they always used.

Funnily enough I did use to have a horse, but the leather cleaner I still had has gone all lumpy and grotty. I think it needs a good wash first.

Have you dusted behind the radiators? It could be a build up causing a bad smell when the radiators are on. I use a radiator cleaning brush and have the hoover nozzle at the bottom to remove the dust.

I haven’t! Never even thought of that, thanks.

Maybe your home has inadequate ventilation.

It could be the leather furniture. I bought a 1960s leather moon chair and didn't notice the smell until it had been in my house overnight. It had been stored in a garage but once it had been in the warm it smelled strongly of cigarette smoke. I cleaned it with saddle soap and used leather polish on it and it improved but the smell was there for quite a while, I think it was in the foam padding.

Have cleaned the sofa and chair with bio washing liquid, then diluted fabric conditioner and a spray of Fabulosa febreze type stuff. I think it smells a bit better. Also gave the old teak furniture a good polish, opened some windows and sprayed the curtains ( not machine washable sadly ). Will see if there’s any improvement! Thanks for all the tips.