How to Make Your Home Smell Amazing, Naturally

The nicest-smelling homes I've ever walked into didn't smell like a candle aisle. They smelled like fresh air, something good in the oven and maybe a little woodsmoke. That kind of scent is surprisingly easy to create, and it's almost free.

The secret is to do two things in order: first get rid of what's causing bad smells, then add a little of what you love.

Step one: remove the sources

Covering up a smell never works for long. A quick weekly check of the usual suspects does more than any spray.

Bins and recycling. Rinse them out and sprinkle a little baking soda in the bottom before putting in a new bag.

Drains. Pour a few tablespoons of baking soda down a smelly kitchen or bathroom drain, follow with a kettle of hot (not boiling, if you have plastic pipes) water, and repeat every couple of weeks.

The fridge. An open box or small bowl of baking soda on a shelf absorbs odors. Swap it every few months.

Soft furnishings. Sofas, rugs and curtains hold onto smells. Sprinkle baking soda on a rug or upholstery, leave it for twenty minutes, then vacuum it up. Wash throws and cushion covers regularly.

Step two: let the air in

Opening the windows for even five to ten minutes a day is the single best thing you can do for how your home smells. Stale air carries cooking smells, damp and everything else; fresh air simply replaces it. If you can, dry laundry outside on sunny days too. Nothing beats that line-dried smell.

Step three: add natural scent

Now for the lovely part. A simmer pot is just a small saucepan of water on the lowest heat with a few aromatic ingredients, and it fills the house with scent within half an hour. Top up the water as it evaporates and never leave it unattended. Here are three combinations I keep coming back to:

Fresh and bright: lemon slices, a sprig of rosemary and a splash of vanilla extract. Perfect for a clean-house feeling.

Cozy autumn: orange slices or peel, two cinnamon sticks, a few whole cloves and a star anise. This one smells like the holidays are coming.

Calm and green: lime slices, fresh mint and a few slices of ginger. Lovely in the afternoon.

It's a great use for citrus peels and herb stems that would otherwise go in the compost.

Other easy natural scents

Fresh herbs and flowers. A jar of fresh mint, basil or eucalyptus on the counter smells wonderful when you brush past it. Eucalyptus stems also look beautiful hung in the shower, where the steam releases their scent.

Bake something. It doesn't have to be complicated. A tray of cinnamon toast or a few apple slices baked with cinnamon will make the whole house smell welcoming.

A note on essential oils. If you use a diffuser, go lightly, and be aware that some essential oils can be harmful to pets, particularly cats. Check with your vet if you have animals at home.

The simple version

If you do nothing else: empty the bin, open the windows for ten minutes and put a pan of orange peel and cinnamon on to simmer. Your home will smell better than any plug-in could manage.

For more ways to make your space feel fresher, see my post on bringing more nature into your home.

Breathe it in,
Kenna