How to Make Your House Smell More Than Good

Step #1: A Clean House. You can put out all the candles or potpourri you want, but if there’s trash or food in your house, you’ll only be temporarily masking odors. That’s not what smelling wonderful is about, so start with the house cleaning. If you don’t already have one, find a maid service to help you stay clean.

Step #2: The Right Smell. What do you want your home to smell like? Do you prefer fresh air, crisp and clean, or warm aromas wafting throughout your home? To get the right effect, think about exactly what you want your house to smell like first.

Step #3: The Tools for the Job. If you want freshness, your best friends are going to be vinegar, lemons, and an open window. Vinegar and water sprayed into the air will evaporate and take bad smells with it. Lemons have a fresh scent that also cut through stale smells, and nothing’s better than an open window. 

If you want the warm smell of baking or cooking without actually baking or cooking, try simmering. Put some lemon or orange peels, a cinnamon stick, and some nutmeg in a pot, bring it to a boil, and then simmer. It won’t take long for your whole house to smell like you’ve been baking all day.

Scientists say smells trigger memories because of how close those two parts of the brain are to one another. Play to your memories—and those of any who enter your home—by finding the right scent and adding it to your house.