9 Easy Ways to Make Your Home Smell Amazing

Maybe company’s coming and you’ve got to get rid of that burnt food smell fast! Maybe you’d like to freshen up a musty room. Or maybe you just want to make your home smell extra good for a relaxing at-home spa day.

Ready to love the way your home smells? These 9 methods are effective and don’t require a lot of work.

First, a quick safety disclaimer: If your home smells like gas, rotten eggs, or anything else that smells toxic, leave the house right away and call your utility company. Here’s more info on what to do.

Now let’s get started!

1. Cook Vanilla Extract

Believe it or not, you can make your whole home smell delicious for about a day by baking vanilla in the oven! This trick has been around for a while, so there are plenty of ways to do it — you can even substitute a different essential oil if you want. If sweet smells aren’t your favorite, lavender is a great choice.

Here’s how to do it: Lifehacker recommends you pour two caps full of vanilla extract into a coffee cup or oven proof dish. Set the container in the oven and leave it there at 300 degrees for one hour. You should start smelling the difference in about 20 minutes.

If your oven is the cause of the stink in the first place, you might want to try the simmer pot method instead. It’s easy! Just boil your favorite herbs, spices, and fruits in water then reduce heat to a simmer.

2. Scented Candles

You knew this one was coming! Scented candles are popular because they really work. If you’re buying them at the store, take some time to sniff a few candles before you pick your favorite. If you’re ordering them online, my advice is to stick to a good brand like Better Homes and Gardens that reliably makes great smelling candles that don’t have the added unwanted chemical smell.

There are many different ways to get the most out of your scented candles. Here are a few:

• Pick two compatible scents and light both candles in the same room at once.
• Invest in candle warmers. They warm candles from the bottom, melting the wax slowly, and can make each candle last longer!
• Put candles in closets and other enclosed spaces (like your linen closet), but — here’s the trick — don’t light them. They’ll make everything smell great!

3. Open Windows (if it’s not too cold)

Simply opening some windows is a great way to bring in fresh air and usher stinky air out, but just opening windows isn’t always enough. Set up a fan near the window and direct it so that you are blowing air outside. This gets rid of stale air. Fresh air will immediately take its place.

You can also set up window boxes right outside windows you regularly open. Flowers in vases don’t usually last long, but flowers that are planted do! You’ll be able to smell those sweet floral aromas every time you open the window.

4. Indoor Plants

Speaking of natural fragrances, indoor plants are a great way to keep your home smelling fresh. Did you know that indoor plants actually purify the air? Your home won’t just smell cleaner; it will actually be cleaner.

Plus, indoor plants don’t just make you healthier; there’s a lot of evidence they make you happier too. Back in the 80s, NASA came up with a list of air-filtering plants as a way to help keep the air in space stations clean. Another interesting tidbit NASA researchers found? Your best bet is to place at least one plant per 100 square feet of space for the cleanest possible air.

5. Car Deodorizer for the Vents

Who says those little Febreze squares need to stay in the car? You can use them to help make your home smell great too.

All you have to do is clip them onto the metal air vents in your home, the same way you would in the car. This works especially well in relatively enclosed areas, like the bathroom.

6. Clean Your Garbage Disposal

This may not be the most fun item on the list, but if your kitchen smells funky, this may just do the trick. Run the disposal to make sure nothing is sitting in there. Then slowly pour in a half cup of baking soda while running warm tap water.

Baking soda is one of the best natural cleaners out there. Here’s another thing you can use it for…

7. Sprinkle Baking Soda on the Carpet

Sprinkling anything on your carpet might feel like it goes against your basic instincts, but hear me out. Baking soda is a great natural cleaner. It’s safe, non-toxic, and inexpensive, and it works wonders on a musty carpet. Give this a try:

1. Sprinkle baking soda all over your carpet.
2. Let is sit for about 30 minutes or a little longer.
3. Vacuum thoroughly.

For light-colored carpets that don’t show the powder, you can even leave a light layer of baking soda behind for long-term freshness. If you have a darker carpet, be aware that it might take some time to vacuum up all the baking soda.

8. Make Linen Spray

Cleaning upholstery, bedding, blankets, rugs, and carpets can be a hassle. A good linen spray makes the job easier and keeps everything smelling great between cleanings. Plus you can make your own with ingredients you may already have.

Here’s how:

1. Fill a glass misting bottle or a spray bottle with 50% vodka and 50% water
2. Add 15 to 30 drops (depending on the size of the bottle) of your favorite essential oil
3. Shake gently to combine the liquids
4. Enjoy the amazing scent!

Tip: Experiment with different ratios of ingredients to find what works best for you.

9. Clean with Lemon

Harsh cleaning products like bleach will definitely get the job done, but they don’t always smell the best. Lemon is a great-smelling alternative, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Here are just a few great ways to clean with lemon:

• Rub half a lemon on soap scum and hard water stains in the shower.
• Mix lemon juice and baking soda into a paste and use it to clean the toilet.
• Use a little lemon and salt to polish copper, brass, and chrome.
• Microwave lemon and water on high until the mixture is bubbling but not boiling. After this, you’ll be amazed how easily the inside of the microwave wipes clean!

Does Your House Smell Amazing Yet?

I hope this post gave you some ideas for making your home smell wonderful. Remember, your home should be somewhere you love to spend time. Even the most beautifully designed spaces don’t feel like home if you don’t love the smell. For more home tips and design advice, check out the rest of my blog.