# How do you make your home smell good? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 9, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710 "2014-04-09T13:51:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/1 "2014-04-09T13:51:42Z")
I caramelized a giant batch of onions two days ago and I can still smell it! 🙂 Just looking for ideas to make my house smell better. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/2 "2014-04-09T13:55:14Z")
I get some really nice incense on the cheap from a nearby store, and I also have one of those wax melty things, though I’ve noticed that the shelf life of a given chunk o’ wax isn’t all that great. I may switch to scented candles. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/3 "2014-04-09T13:57:06Z")
Open some windows. Also, when I used to have a deep fryer, I learned quickly that the trick to not having my house (or rather apartment at the time) smell for days after using it was to use it outside. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/4 "2014-04-09T14:12:55Z")
Find sources of bad smell and get rid of them. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/5 "2014-04-09T14:20:27Z")
My wife sprays [Thieves](http://ylwebsite.com/uploads/thieves-spray-ylwebsite-with-shadow.jpg) oil when the house gets stale smelling. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/6 "2014-04-09T14:31:35Z")
If you can’t open the windows, then spray Ozium (original scent). Works a treat for eliminating cooking odors. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/7 "2014-04-09T14:49:47Z")
I clean the floors often with lemon scented Mr. Clean. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/8 "2014-04-09T15:40:20Z")
Friends gave us a set of Rituals bath stuff that included a[reed diffuser.](http://eu.rituals.com/en-nl/home-perfume/sweet-sunrise-home-perfume-984.html#start=1) It smells a lot better than most reed diffusers (most make the whole house smell like a toilet), but I find it too strong. I like incense, but we can’t have it because of my SO’s asthma. I’ll harvest some lavender in a few days, hang it in little bundles. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/9 "2014-04-09T15:44:17Z")
Open the windows, burn some candles. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/10 "2014-04-09T15:45:05Z")
My “in a pinch” air freshener is to toss some citrus peel into a saucepan, add water, cinnamon, and vanilla extract, and simmer for a couple of hours. Nice smell, not overpowering or chemical. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/11 "2014-04-09T16:07:49Z")
Wow, one of the best ways I can imagine to make the house smell better (or at least more appetizing) would be to caramelize a big batch of onions 😉 Given that’s the smell you’re trying to get rid of though **Lacunae** has some other appetizing smells advice. > [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > My “in a pinch” air freshener is to toss some citrus peel into a saucepan, add water, cinnamon, and vanilla extract, and simmer for a couple of hours. Nice smell, not overpowering or chemical. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/12 "2014-04-09T16:12:52Z")
Embrace the aroma of caramelized onions. ---
**Author:** ![StayseaDee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@StayseaDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StayseaDee)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/13 "2014-04-09T16:46:03Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > My “in a pinch” air freshener is to toss some citrus peel into a saucepan, add water, cinnamon, and vanilla extract, and simmer for a couple of hours. Nice smell, not overpowering or chemical. My MIL swears by this. Her home always smells like something is baking in the oven. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/14 "2014-04-09T18:00:30Z")
You can buy little scented “tea candles” in a pack of twelve cheap. They burn for about 4 hours. ---
**Author:** ![Obnoxious\_Hood\_Ornament](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Obnoxious\_Hood\_Ornament](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obnoxious_Hood_Ornament)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/15 "2014-04-09T19:46:55Z")
Febreeze anything that smells funky 😃 I don’t aim to make my house smell good, I just keep it from smelling like anything at all. Cats willing, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/16 "2014-04-09T19:58:48Z")
I ask my husband to make bacon. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/17 "2014-04-09T20:35:14Z")
Incense. Much cheaper than scented candles and carries a lot of positive associations for me. Always puts me in mind of old book stores and record shops. I always have several different scents around and like varying them up. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/18 "2014-04-09T20:45:12Z")
Gave away the cat that started pissing on the carpet in the garage. And, sometimes behind the couch. And under the dining room table. Made all the difference. > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > You can buy little scented “tea candles” in a pack of twelve cheap. They burn for about 4 hours. Truth to this…I get mine at the dollar store across the street. That’s $1 for 16 tea-size candles. Bonus- you never clean wax out of the votive candle holders. Just toss the old metal cup and begin anew. ---
**Author:** ![Melchior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Melchior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melchior)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/19 "2014-04-09T20:47:52Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I caramelized a giant batch of onions two days ago and I can still smell it! 🙂 > Just looking for ideas to make my house smell better. It likely has coated the walls and other surfaces. Wipe down the whole interior of the house with Lysol. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710/20 "2014-04-09T21:10:38Z")
I buy a pineapple cheap. stand it on a saucer and place it in the hall, and let it moulder for a few months. Then I throw it out for the birds and buy another. I’ve never heard of this elsewhere, but it’s a refreshing scent. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-make-your-home-smell-good/685710.md?page=2)