The "best" homemade freshener depends on your need, but popular options include baking soda sprays for odor absorption (water, baking soda, essential oils) and simmer pots for powerful, temporary scent (citrus, spices, water). For a subtle, continuous aroma, DIY reed diffusers (carrier oil, essential oils) or baking soda jars (baking soda, dried herbs, essential oils) work well, while gel fresheners offer a fun, decorative solution.
For making an air freshener spray, take an empty spray bottle and add 10-20 drops of essential oil to ¾ cup of distilled water along with two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol (to distribute the oil) then shake well. Store in a cool, dark place and it should keep for up to two weeks.
5. Baking Soda Air Fresheners This is such a great hack for freshening up small spaces like bathrooms, closets, or even the car. Mix 1 cup of baking soda with 15-20 drops of Clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg essential oils. Place the mixture in small jars, poke holes in the lids, and set them around the house.
For a good-smelling house, three simple ingredients often used are water, baking soda, and essential oils for an all-natural air freshener spray, or for simmering potpourri, you can combine citrus (like orange/lemon), cinnamon sticks, and cloves/vanilla extract to create a warm, inviting aroma, with baking soda tackling bad odors.
Baking Soda
There's no better or more powerful, natural odor absorber than baking soda. Due to its alkaline properties, baking soda reacts with, traps, and neutralizes acidic odor particles. That's why baking soda is especially useful on carpets, rugs, and inside refrigerators.
Some of the best odor eliminators are coffee grounds, tea, vinegar, oats, and baking soda. Leaving a bowl of any of these odor absorbers out in a room that's due for a little freshening up will help clear out the less-than-pleasant smells from the air.
HVAC Scent Systems
HVAC scent diffusers integrate directly with a hotel's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC systems) to distribute scents uniformly across extensive areas. These systems can efficiently blanket large spaces with a signature fragrance, creating a cohesive scent experience.
Luxury homes use controlled scenting, not strong scenting. The difference is in the method, the placement, and the quality of the oils. Wealthy homeowners typically choose one or two oils and use them consistently throughout their home. This creates a unified scent identity that feels intentional rather than scattered.
If a room feels stuffy or has a lingering odour, placing a bowl of baking soda in the space can absorb some of the unwanted smells. For a natural and refreshing boost, placing bowls of lemon slices or white vinegar around the room can neutralise strong odours over time.
House cleaners use a mix of odor elimination (like baking soda, vinegar, ventilation) and pleasant scent addition (essential oils, room/linen sprays, simmer pots, scented cleaners) to make homes smell good, often customizing based on client preference, focusing first on deep cleaning and odor removal, then adding subtle, fresh fragrances like citrus, lavender, or eucalyptus.
First, open all windows and doors to let as much fresh air inside as possible. Clean or replace all air filters, furnace filters, and AC filters. Clean walls and ceilings using products with ammonia and glycol — two ingredients that neutralize bad odors. Let the walls dry and check if the odor persists.
You could start with the most popular diffuser scents, find something that really speaks to you, and then layer over it with a complimentary scent in a candle. We talk more about layering in our guide to layering fragrances. You may also consider changing your home's scent based on the seasons.
The healthiest way to add scent to your home is using 100% pure essential oils with a diffuser, beeswax candles, or natural simmer pots with citrus and herbs. Houseplants and herbal sachets are also excellent for gently scenting and purifying indoor.
Tips for how to keep your house smelling good all the time
Look for Persimmon Extract
Persimmon extract is celebrated in forums like how to prevent nonenal odor, Reddit, for its ability to neutralize nonenal. It's packed with antioxidants, is a natural astringent, and leaves a clean, pleasant scent.
Cigarette smoke odour removal is one of the toughest removal jobs because the smoke finds a way not only to embed in furniture but in walls as well. The smoke penetrates odour absorbent objects such as couches, carpets, upholstery, and clothes.
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Room Sprays
Nonenal® (also known as 2-Nonenal) is a naturally occurring compound responsible for the distinct odor associated with aging. It typically appears after age 40, becoming more noticeable in both men and women.
Go big on baking soda.
Samson points out that baking soda is a natural odor absorbent, making it a great deodorizer. To create a sprayable solution, “Combine one cup of water, one cup of white vinegar and two teaspoons of baking soda," she says. "It's safe for animals — and you can spray it on almost anything!”
Some people might opt for "lavender breeze" from an aerosol can and generic plug-ins for their homes, but if you want a product that truly makes your space smell "expensive," you can only achieve that by buying quality candles, diffusers, sprays, or even wax tablets.
With warm notes of vanilla, amber, blonde woods and suede merging with fresh florals like lily of the valley and dewy greens, The Ritz-Carlton Dallas scent feels luxurious, warm, and inviting. Amber Grand is a popular amber style fragrance that provides a sophisticated feeling.
Additionally, according to a 2024 survey of 1,376 hotel managers by Wellness Heaven, which asked them which items are most commonly stolen, towels top the list, with 79.2 percent reporting guests nipping the cosy threads. They were followed by bathrobes, hangers, pens, and cosmetics, rounding out the top five.
You might put tape over an electrical outlet in a hotel room for several reasons, primarily focused on safety and privacy: Childproofing: If traveling with young children or pets, covering unused outlets with tape can be a quick, temporary way to prevent them from sticking their fingers or objects into the outlets and ...