Home Fragrance Guide: How to Make Your Home Smell Good

When it comes to scrumptious house fragrances, candles are a go-to. If you’re burning a wick solo, go with whatever aroma strikes your fancy. But if you're having guests over, you might want to get a somewhat mild scented candle with light fragrance notes like citrus, mist, driftwood and seagrass.

Soy candles are ideal for a couple of reasons. Unlike paraffin wax candles, they're sourced from renewable materials. Also, soy burns cleaner and produces less soot.

Explore Essential Oil Smells

If you want to make your house smell good the natural way, essential oils are your new best friend. They're called essential oils because they're created by extracting the "essence" of plants, such as lavender, chamomile, geranium and sage.

Some help you sleep, some make you feel calm and others are more energizing. Not sure which ones work best as house fragrances? Consider sourcing an Essential Oil Blend from Parachute, which combines soothing plant essences to create a unique yet subtle aroma.

Get an Oil Diffuser

There are lots of ways to use essential oils, but if you're looking for guidance on the best home fragrances, an oil diffuser might be your best bet. Just fill up the reservoir with water, add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice, replace the lid and switch it on. The diffuser will produce a light scented mist, similar to a countertop humidifier, and power down once the water runs out.

Did you know a diffuser can support a good night's rest? Read our article on How Oil Diffusing Helps You Sleep.

Or Diffuser Sticks

Oil diffuser sticks are another excellent option. You fill a small vase or bottle with essential oil, then insert the reeds, allowing them to absorb the essence. Once saturated, flip the sticks over so the scent releases into the room, and revel in the wonderful aroma.

Consider Incense

Incense is one of the oldest types of house fragrances. It's made of various plant materials and is typically burned, which creates a smoky aroma. Incense comes in tons of scents and can help you create a calming, Zen-like atmosphere.

Try Linen Spray 

Scented sprays can go a long way in freshening up your home, helping to neutralize unpleasant odors and leaving a nice aroma in their wake. The best linen spray is the Rest Linen Mist by OSEA for Parachute. It boasts a calming scent of lavender, skin-loving geranium and therapeutic peppermint.

When you spritz the soothing herbal tincture onto your pillow or duvet, you can count on a restful night's sleep. You can spray linen sheet mist on other soft surfaces throughout your home, like your living room sofa, decorative pillows and area rugs.

For tips on using linen spray to make your room and home smell great, read on:

• Best Ways to Use Room Spray: What is Linen & Room Spray

• DIY Natural Room Spray Ideas

Reach for Natural Laundry Detergent

Laundry detergent factors heavily into how a house smells. If you appreciate scented soaps but don't want anything too overpowering, going with a natural formula that uses lavender or another light essential oil to create a subtle aroma is a laundry room essential. 

Natural laundry soap is less likely to cause skin irritation. It’s also suitable for babies, easy on your washing machine, gentle on your clothes and better for the planet. Sometimes, a clean-smelling home doesn't smell like anything — and if you like to keep it simple or have extra-sensitive skin, an unscented detergent is a great choice.

For a deeper dive into the benefits of using earth-sourced laundry soap, check out our blog, Why Use a Natural Laundry Detergent? Your Questions Answered.

Fluff With Wool Dryer Balls

Wool dryer balls don't really count as house fragrances, but they definitely help keep your linens fresh. A natural alternative to dryer sheets, these 100% wool spheres make fabrics ultra-fluffy and less wrinkly while cutting your drying time in half.

Do dryer balls actually work, and if so, how? Find answers to these questions in our guide, Everything You Need to Know About Wool Dryer Balls.

Place Potpourri in the Bathroom

For a time-tested tip on how to make your house smell good, potpourri is an old favorite with plenty of contemporary appeal. Dating back to ancient times, the nose-friendly mixture of dried plants, spices and flower petals is perfect for your bathroom counter.

Potpourri has a charmingly old-fashioned aesthetic and can be placed in any bowl, jar or decorative container. What's more, it often lasts for years. You can buy pre-made mixtures or dry your own if you're feeling crafty.

Hang Eucalyptus in the Shower

If you've never hung eucalyptus from your showerhead, be prepared to be amazed by an invigorating yet tranquil dose of aromatherapy while you lather, rinse, repeat. The plant's natural oils are activated by the steam, igniting your sense of smell with an all-natural spa-like fragrance.

Get a Heated Towel Rack

Do your bath sheets give off a musty whiff? A towel warmer might help. Damp towels are a hotspot for odor-causing bacteria, especially when the fabric is slow to dry. Heated racks not only warm up your towels while you bathe but also help them dry much quicker. The result? Cozy bath linens without the stale smell.

For more clever ways to enhance your living quarters, see our blog, 25 Tips to Upgrade Your Apartment.

Get Cedar Mothballs for the Closet

Cedar mothballs do more than keep fabric-feeding flyers at bay. Natural oils in the heartwood repel moths, kill their larvae and absorb moisture to prevent mildew and mold in your closet. Best of all, red cedar smells incredible.

Switch to a Breathable Hamper

Another way to keep your walk-in closet smelling fresh is with a breathable canvas laundry hamper. It might seem counterintuitive to encourage airflow around your dirty clothes. And yet, when air is sealed out, the trapped moisture promotes the growth of odor-causing bacteria.

Discover more ways to make your wardrobe look tastefully tidy in our blog, 19 Bedroom Organizing Tips That'll Elevate Your Room Aesthetic.

Get a New Dog Bed

When figuring out how to make your house smell good, don't overlook your furry friend as a source of bad odors. No matter the breed, size, coat or cuteness of your pooch, the truth of the matter is that dogs can be stinky. Consider getting your pet a new bed, like the easy-to-clean, water-repellent Canvas Dog Bed from Parachute.

Turn to Indoor Plants

In addition to releasing oxygen, a NASA study found that some plants can help purify indoor air by eliminating certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Not only do shrubs help you breathe easy at home, but they also liven up your space with greenery.

Find out more about how flora and foliage purify the air in these Parachute plant guides:

The Top 16 Indoor Plants for Clean Air in Your Home

The 14 Best Bedroom Plants

The Best Bathroom Plants, with the Sill 

Invest in an Air Purifier

Another home fragrance option is to get an air purifier. This home gadget works by filtering out smoke, pet dander, germs, mold, dust, pollen and other allergens, then releasing clean air back into the room.

What else should you buy when relocating to a new space? Our New Home Checklist has specific suggestions.

Fresh sheets are a critical component of a clean-smelling home. Wondering how to make sheets smell good? Wash them at least once a week, keep an extra set on hand to make changing them easier and buy new bedding if yours becomes musty.

Read these blogs for more expert insight into bedding care:

How Often Should I Wash Cotton Sheets?

How to Wash and Properly Care for Bedding

How Often Should You Replace Sheets, Pillows, and Other Linens

Let the Fresh Air In

Sometimes, the best smells for your home are right outside your window. One of the easiest ways to make your space feel cleaner is to let the fresh air in.

Find a full checklist of chores to keep your house smelling fresh and clean, explore the Ultimate Daily, Weekly, Monthly Chore List guide.