How to Make Your House Smell Good Naturally

Having a pleasant scent in the air is one of the many ways to help your house feel more inviting, both for you and for guests! There are many natural and organic ways to improve the smell of your home, and each method falls into one of two categories: absorbing odors or adding pleasant scents. Here, you’ll learn both of these methods for how to make your house smell good naturally!

Removing Unwanted Odors

Using Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar has been used for centuries, and is wonderful for absorbing and neutralizing odors. Even though vinegar itself has a strong odor, the smell of the vinegar dissipates quickly after use. And when that scent dissipates, it leaves behind a fresh-smelling home.

I’ve found that the best way to use distilled white vinegar to get rid of odors is by using my Vinegar Cleaning Spray recipe, rather than undiluted vinegar. You can even use the citrus vinegar option for these applications.

Here are some of the ways that you can use the Vinegar Cleaning Spray to absorb and neutralize unwanted household odors:

• Lightly spray carpets, fabrics, and curtains.
• Wipe down walls, especially in high odor areas like the kitchen and bathrooms.
• Mop the floors (except for wood).
• Most effective: Slowly simmer a batch of the spray on the stovetop until it’s nearly evaporated. This option will eliminate the toughest odors of all. A few months ago, I accidentally burned beef broth to a crisp, and the terrible odors left behind lingered for 2 weeks (without lightening up at all)! I had tried other methods of removing the smell, but nothing worked. I finally came up with the idea of simmering my Vinegar Cleaning Spray, and the burnt broth scent was gone within two days. What a lifesaver! Or…I guess nose saver.

Using Baking Soda

Baking soda is another all-natural and very effective way to absorb unwanted odors in various areas of the home. For deodorizing purposes, it is not recommended that you use baking soda and vinegar together. Their odor-absorbing properties dissipate when they are combined because they react with each other.

Here are some ways to use baking soda to deodorize the home:

• Sprinkle it on carpets or rugs and leave it for an hour or overnight, and then vacuum it up.
• Put a jar of open baking soda in the fridge, in the bathroom, on the counters, or in any area that you want to absorb odors.
• Sprinkle in the bottom of trash cans.
• Put an opened box of it in the refrigerator or freezer.
• Alternative: Because of the baking soda in the DIY Garbage Disposal Cleaner Pods recipe, these pods have a variety of uses even for absorbing odors in the home. Try placing a few pods in any of these areas mentioned above, of course including the garbage disposal!

Open the Windows

This one might seem obvious to some, but for people who rarely open their windows, it may not occur to them that it’s a really helpful option! Many times, the insides of our homes get stuffy, and the lack of fresh air traps unwanted odors inside.

Have you ever opened a drawer that doesn’t get used often, and a musty or stale smell comes from the drawer? Well, this can happen to our homes too if we never “open” them.

The next time there’s a pretty day outside, open your windows, and maybe even your doors! Let the breeze blow throughout your home, carrying away bad smells and bringing in fresh ones. In terms of how to make your house smell good naturally, it doesn’t get more natural than that!

DIY Odor Absorbing Jars

One method for how to make your house smell good naturally is to prevent the bad odors in the first place. Having a few DIY Odor Absorbing Jars around the home can help to keep bad odors at bay before they become bothersome. Not only do these actually absorb odors, but they can also add a light and pleasant scent to the area, almost like an all-natural air freshener!

Supplies:

• An 8oz. jar. I love the look of these round ones for taller spaces, and these flat ones for shorter spaces.
• A bowl
• A utensil for stirring
• Optional: A vented lid for the jar

Ingredients For One 8oz. Jar:

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 tbsp. Castile soap (your favorite scent, I like citrus)
• Optional: essential oils (I like lemon)

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix all the ingredients to incorporate them together as thoroughly as possible.
2. Put the mixture into a mason jar, and attach the vented lid.
3. Place the jar anywhere that you want to absorb odors. When not in use, keep an airtight lid on it for it to last longer!

Adding Pleasant Scents

Use Essential Oils

Essential oils are one of the most common and natural ways to add customizable scents to your home. Here are some of the ways that you can use them:

• Diffuse essential oils in high-traffic areas, especially by the front door for when guests arrive.
• Burn a homemade candle that was made with essential oils.
• Put about 5 drops of oil onto your vacuum filter, so that when you vacuum it emits the scent throughout your home.
• Drop a few drops along the edges of your carpet.
• Use an air vent diffuser (for home and vehicles!).

Stovetop Potpourris

Stovetop potpourris is essentially a mix of fruits, herbs, and spices that are simmered in water to disperse a delicious scent throughout your home. You can find inspiration for how to make your house smell good naturally using seasonal stovetop potpourris below.

How to make stovetop potpourris:

1. Cut your fruits and tear your herbs for maximum scent.
2. Add all of your ingredients to a large pot and fill it with water, leaving room at the top to allow it to simmer.
3. Place on the stovetop and simmer on low, adding water throughout the day as needed.
4. Alternative: Place your ingredients and water in a slow cooker, and heat on low for a more hands-off option.

Scents By Seasons

Try these seasonal ways to make your home smell delicious, for how to make your house smell good naturally.

Spring

Spring Stovetop Potpourris

• Lemon
• Orange
• Lavender
• Sage
• Vanilla extract

Spring Essential Oil Diffuser Blends

• 3 drops lavender
• 2 drops cedarwood
• 2 drops lemongrass
• 2 drops orange

Summer

Summer Stovetop Potpourris

• Lime
• Grapefruit
• Eucalyptus
• Basil
• Mint

Summer Essential Oil Diffuser Blends

• 2 drops lime
• 2 drops eucalyptus
• 2 drops basil
• 2 drops grapefruit

Fall

Fall Stovetop Potpourris

• Apple
• Cinnamon sticks
• Nutmeg
• Coffee beans
• Vanilla extract

Fall Essential Oil Diffuser Blends

• 3 drops coffee
• 2 drops cinnamon
• 2 drops allspice
• 1 drops vanilla

Winter

Winter Stovetop Potpourris

• Cranberry
• Orange
• Rosemary
• Cinnamon
• Cloves

Winter Essential Oil Diffuser Blends

• 3 drops Douglas fir
• 2 drops nutmeg
• 1 drops vanilla
• 1 drops peppermint

More Like This…

• Homemade Air Freshener Spray (Without Essential Oils!)
• Guide to Natural Cleaning
• Castile Soap Uses & Recipes

Be sure to pin it for later!