5 Crazy-Simple Ways to Make Your House Smell Good

Scent brings out visceral reactions. It can calm us, elicit a tummy growl, or make us pinch our noses and squeak, “Pew!” Psychological studies have shown that 75% of emotions are triggered by smell. This is why brands use pleasant scents to sell products. We all want our homes to smell good, and doing it simply and naturally is important.

It’s simple to make your home smell good fast without relying on candles. While some smells need serious attention, such as pet urine and dog odor, oftentimes your home just needs a little scent therapy. Here you will find a few deodorizing techniques that make your house smell good naturally!

Difficulty: ⅕Time: approximately five to 20 minutes, but dependent on the method usedTools and Materials Needed: dependent on the method used

1. Eucalyptus

Most gardening stores and nurseries will sell sprigs of fresh eucalyptus for a few bucks a pop. Hang two or three sprigs in the corner of your shower, where they won’t get wet. When you take a steamy shower, the humidity will activate the oils in the eucalyptus and create a spa-like experience with no extra effort.

2. Essential Oils

Changing your furnace filter regularly is one of the easiest ways to improve the air quality of your home and prolong the life of your furnace. Next time you change the filters, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the filter. Every time the HVAC kicks on, a lovely smell will permeate each room! If you don’t have disposable filters, you can mimic this method with cotton balls. Put a couple drops of your favorite essential oil onto a cotton ball and place it in the vent. When the unit kicks on, the scent will diffuse throughout the home. If the scent isn’t strong enough or doesn’t last long enough, consider an essential oil diffuser. They come as sticks, rings for light bulbs, small machines, and even jewelry. Or you can add a few drops to a spray bottle, fill with water, and spritz away.

3. Orange Air Freshener

Citrus has a clean, invigorating scent. Press five to six cloves into the skin of an orange. Wrap it up with a cord or piece of fabric, and then hang it in your kitchen or living room. The sachet will emit a unique aroma for up to two weeks.

4. DIY Sachets

You can keep clothes smelling clean and linens smelling fresh with a bar of soap. Wrap a piece of a bar of your favorite soap in a towel or other cloth, and place it in your closet or dresser drawer. This works like an herbal sachet, which is another great way to keep clothes smelling lovely! You can also try this with strong-scented wood, such as sandalwood.

5. The Slow Cooker

Throw a few apples in the Crockpot, fill with water, and let them go. Add some cinnamon or other spices if you like. In about 20 minutes, your whole house will smell like apple pie! You can find lots of slow cooker potpourri recipes online, or try melding your favorite scents for something that is uniquely you.