It’s so simple to make your house smell good with natural ideas and products that create an inviting atmosphere.
A fresh, clean fragrance is one of the simplest ways to make your home feel warm and inviting. It immediately sets the tone for a cozy atmosphere, making everyone feel welcome as soon as they walk through the door.
These 15 effortless and affordable ideas will instantly elevate your home’s scent, many using natural ingredients you probably already have in your pantry!
Remember how I said our home had become filthy over the winter? Well, after months of being closed up, it started to smell a little stale as well. I cannot express how much we need spring!
I’ve gathered all my favorite tips to help you neutralize those household odors every day. While a few of these are the best products to make your home smell good, many of my favorite ideas are completely natural. In fact, they are often made from pantry ingredients you’ve probably already got on hand.
It’s time to freshen up our homes for the season ahead. Here are fifteen truly simple ways to make your house smell great without a whole lot of effort!
15 Ways to Make Your House Smell Good
Here, you’ll find something for everyone—from simple ways to neutralize unpleasant odors to creative inspiration for filling your home with beautiful, inviting fragrances. These ideas are easy, effective, and sure to make your space feel fresh and welcoming. I hope you enjoy exploring and trying these fun, fragrant tips!
Potpourri
This homemade air freshener is completely natural and takes just a few minutes to make.
Whether you make potpourri in the oven with my favorite dried orange peel technique or buy pretty potpourri from the store, this is a wonderful natural way to add fragrance to your home.
Simmer Pots
Also called stovetop potpourri is a simple, natural way to make your home smell amazing while using up fruit that’s past its prime. Toss in citrus like lemons, limes, oranges, or grapefruit for a bright, fresh aroma. Add sliced apples or pears to enhance the fragrance with a cozy, fruity touch. For more creative combinations and tips, check out the full simmer pot guide!
Volcanic Rock
If you’re looking for a natural way to neutralize odors, volcanic rock is a game-changer. Unlike traditional air fresheners that simply mask smells, volcanic rock actually works to absorb and remove them. It’s particularly effective at eliminating tough odors like old smoke, pet smells, and more, leaving your home feeling fresh.
The porous surface of the rock traps and neutralizes the odor molecules, making it a long-lasting solution. Simply place a few pieces around your home—whether in your car, near the litter box, or by the fireplace—and enjoy a cleaner, fresher space.
Volcanic Rock
Great for tough odors
Pura Diffuser System
Pura is a plug-in oil diffuser system that pairs with some of the most popular home fragrances available today. What makes it unique is its smart technology, allowing you to control the scent from an app on your phone. You can easily adjust the fragrance strength and schedule when you want it to run. It’s a convenient and customizable way to keep your home smelling fresh with minimal effort.
Pura Smart Fragrance Diffuser Starter Kit
They even sell my favorite Capri Blue scent for this system – Volcano!
Candles
Candles are one of the easiest and most effective ways to infuse your home with a beautiful fragrance in just minutes. Whether you’re hosting guests or simply winding down after a busy day, lighting a candle creates an inviting atmosphere and adds an instant touch of warmth to any room. The flicker of the flame and the scent filling the air are both soothing and uplifting, making candles an essential part of my home fragrance routine.
I’ve rounded up some of my favorite candles for you in my shop right here, or you can find them in my Amazon storefront. From elegant glass containers to the perfect, long-lasting scents, these candles are the perfect way to elevate your space.
While I love a wide variety of candle brands, my two favorites are Voluspa Mokara, and Capri Blue Volcano scent.
Voluspa Candles
Notes of Mokara Orchid, White Lily and Spring Moss
Capri Blue Volcano Candle
Drift away with iconic notes of tropical fruit and sugared citrus
Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets aren’t just for your laundry! You can also place one in a clean air filter, so as air passes through, it carries the fresh scent with it. It’s a simple way to freshen up the air, and you can easily switch it out with each season when you change your air filters.
They also work wonders tucked between sofa cushions or placed at the bottom of trash cans, adding a subtle fragrance throughout your home.
Baking Soda
This is a classic solution! It absorbs odors, is completely natural, and is so inexpensive.
Baking soda is especially beneficial in your refrigerator and kitchen, especially if you do a lot of cooking!
Essential oils
Even adding a drop or two to something as simple as a light bulb can change the entire fragrance of a room. As the bulb warms you’ll smell the subtle scent. A traditional diffuser also works well, of course – and there are so many to choose from.
Oil Diffuser and Humidifier
I love the look of this pretty little glass and wood diffuser and humidifier.
“Fragrance is everything: it is the relationship between you and your mind, you and other people, you and this world. It is the life that you lead in your head. It is the life that you lead in the ways your skin feels. It is everything.”
– C. JoyBell C. –
Fresh Herbs
I absolutely love picking up those little garden containers of basil and rosemary from the produce section—they’re an affordable alternative to flowers and last much longer, sometimes weeks! Plus, these fresh herbs aren’t just great for cooking; they’re a natural way to infuse your home with wonderful fragrances.
If you’re feeling a bit crafty, you can even grow your own herb garden (I’ve got a simple, budget-friendly DIY tutorial for you right here!). Once your herbs are ready, you can dry them to create long-lasting natural scents for your home.
Of course, if you’re short on time, you can always grab a fresh bundle at the store—either way, it’s a quick and easy way to bring fresh, fragrant greenery into your space!
Herb Starter Kit
Everything you need for fresh fragrant herbs to help your house smell good!
Vinegar
Vinegar, much like baking soda, is an excellent natural odor neutralizer. While the smell of vinegar itself can be a bit strong for some, I like to think of it as a powerful ally working behind the scenes to eliminate unwanted odors.
It might seem counterintuitive, but vinegar actually absorbs and neutralizes bad smells—leaving your space fresh once it’s gone. To see it in action, simply leave a bowl of vinegar on your kitchen counter overnight. In the morning, you’ll be greeted with a kitchen free of any lingering dinner odors from the night before!
If you love the smell of cookies and desserts baking in your oven, try adding a couple drops of vanilla to a ramekin and baking it on its own! Add three drops of vanilla (try my homemade vanilla extract if you’d like) to a small oven proof dish, and heat at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
This easy, inexpensive trick will make your home smell so warm and cozy!
Incorporate Fragrant Plants
Choose houseplants that clean the air in your home while offering a subtle fragrance like a lemon tree, gardenia, potted English lavender, or French Lavender into your decor. Plants are the ultimate natural air freshener!
Spring Cleaning
Of course, cleaning your home is another easy way to make your home smell amazing. Cleaning your carpets, curtains, etc can make your home smell fresh by eliminating dust. Get my spring cleaning checklist here!
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is one of the most fragrant and versatile greenery options available today—making it an ideal choice for making your home smell good. It’s not only great for adding a natural scent but also adds a touch of greenery to your space.
If you haven’t tried it yet, you’re missing out!
One of the most popular trends, thanks to TikTok, is hanging eucalyptus in the shower. Simply tie a bundle to your shower head, and as the steam warms the leaves, the oils are released, filling your bathroom with a refreshing, spa-like fragrance. It’s an easy and instant way to elevate your home’s scent!
I love eucalyptus so much that I’ve put together a comprehensive guide on all the ways you can use this fresh, fragrant plant throughout your home.
Fresh flowers
A bouquet of peonies is one of my favorite ways to add scent to our home, but hyacinths, roses and gardenias are also very fragrant.
Flowers can change the entire feel of a room. Get my best tips for how to be your own florist, and learn the secrets of the best affordable grocery store flowers here!
My Best Tips to Make Your House Smell Good
- If you’re trying to eliminate a bad odor, work to fix it before covering it up. Steam your carpets and fabrics surfaces, fix stains, water damage, etc.
- Don’t go overboard! Remember that with fragrance, a little goes a long way.
- Try not to mix scents.
- A rule from my catering days: Don’t light scented candles when you’re serving dinner, as the scents will compete.
Frequently Asked Questions
High-end candles are the ultimate luxury. However, try a simmer pot or an oil diffuser if you want to make your house smell good on a budget.
The most natural options on this list include essential oils, fresh flowers and plants, and simmer pots on the stove.
Add stems of eucalyptus to your home, and certainly incorporate a variety of house plants!
I’d love to hear from you! Are you as eager as we are to fling open the doors and welcome all the scents of spring?
More Home Inspiration
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2025-01-15 14:00:00
