How do you keep your house smelling nice?

[thisisme]

Would love to hear how you all keep your houses smelling nice :)

[Stripes By The Seaside]

I've been using those reed sticks from Dusk - i think its black tea & lychee - just lovely!

[Julie-Ann]

I use the plugin scents. They do give a lovely aroma and I like that you can alter the amount of scent released. But you must be careful to not have them turned on when they are empty- they can get very hot.
We also use scented candles when we have guests over.

[Abigail]

I use vanilla cream sticks. A gorgeous aroma.

[rosierose]

Soy candles...even when not burning smell great. Those sticks are nice but when my bottle dried up I filled it with some orange scented room spray and it is lovely.
I prefer essenial oils as they are much better for your lungs but oil burners are dangerous with little ones....

[rachel]

Fresh air and fresh flowers are my favourites :)

There are some lovely candles and room sprays around too. There was a little shop in Subiaco that had some great things, including a natural room spray that smelt of Christmas - pine cones and cinnamon and wonderful things. The shop closed and I've not been able to find it since :(

[jaz_ben]

I use plug ins.

[rosierose]

Rachel...the body shop usually puts out a "Christmas" scent each year.... have a nice plum pudding scent I use at Christmas....

[TamnChad]

I love soy melts.
My favourite scent is Dragon's Blood.

A friend had her own on-line store and I was buying from her but she has since stopped doing them.....

[giggle_smile]

I use Vanilla Kitchen Spray to clean the kitchen and it goes thru the whole house :) I also love a good dose of glen 20 if the house has been locked up, but nothing better than opening the windows and letting the fresh air in :)

[Julie-Ann]

Giggle_Smile Vanilla Kitchen Spray sounds nice- where do you buy that from?

[giggle_smile]

I get it from Woolworths and they also have it at Coles. The brand is McLintocks and its called Vanilla Fresh. Its designed to clean and deoderize fridges but i use it on everything in the kitchen as its an allpurpose cleaner and safe around food. When we went away on holidays i cleaned down the whole kitchen before we left and when we got back opening the house still smelt like vanilla.

[tryingtodecorate]

Fresh Air, Fresh Flowers and baked goodies :thumbs up:

[Elements]

;)T, I like the idea of baked goodies...but the scent would only last 5 minutes in my house and then my stomach would smell like baked goodies;):D
I have just started using my oil burner again and I swap between a breath easy mix and relaxing oils.
The relaxing oils are the same scent as the stuff Masseurs use...so I get a relaxed feeling when I use this one.

[Lanne]

We have a carpet spray (NO VAC).. available in grocery stores - in the cleaner/carpet section.. it foams up. and deoderisors the carpet..

Leaves a faint clean smell.. not overpowering!

[Julie-Ann]

I bought the Vanilla spray today Giggle_Smile. It smells so lovely that I can't stop smelling my kitchen benches:D. And the smell has wafted over to the family room. My two favourite smells are vanilla and tuberose. Thanks for the tip:kiss:.

[Julie-Ann]

I just had to tell you that I only sprayed a small amount of the kitchen bench with the Vanilla Spray but Mr17 has come out and asked what is that smell. He loves it so much he asked can I use it in his study and bedroom. So it's a huge hit:D.

[Elements]

JA, this sounds like a winner.
I am very interested. You should tell Mr17 it only works when his room is clean.;)

[Julie-Ann]

Lol Elements great minds think alike:D. I told him that if he wanted to have the smell in his rooms he could do it himself. Guess what it worked and he is in cleaning his rooms:eek::clapping:

[Marcia]

I love to throw open the windows too. Living near the hills, we get all the bush smells!

I also love to burn incense, each time I clean the kitchen up from a meal, I light something - my fave would be a toss up between rose and sandalwood. We've just come back from Bali so I stocked up!

[giggle_smile]

Excellent! Im glad you like it. I ran out last night so im off to get more today :)

Orange cleaner is also a really nice product to clean with. I used to use it when i worked in salons and have used it at home. Its a great degreaser and smells divine.

[coffeegirl]

oh I've been using that vanilla spray for years in the fridge but didn't think to use it for anywhere else in the house :cool: just went and grabbed it and sprayed some on the bench. I agree, my fridge smells lovely whenever I use it for days afterwards.

What are these 'sticks' StripesSeaside & Abigail? Do you have to burn them? Never trust myself with anything that needs burning after I nearly burned the house down once with tealight oils. Lucky I was in the room when it went up in flames :eek:

I also have a baby so I'm a bit wary about what I spray around.

[Abigail]

No burning involved with the sticks. They are just bamboo that you sit in some type of essential oil. You just upend the sticks and you get the nice smell again. You buy the sticks and they come with the oil. They last for ages.

[coffeegirl]

oh yeah I know the ones you mean. !! I have tried them before.
They are nice, I'll have to buy some more of those.

[thisisme]

Does anyone use diptyque candles? If so how long does the scent last?

[savelakealbert]

Loving the smell of vanilla. I love the vanilla sprinkly powder you use when vacuuming..the lavender is nice too. I'll look out for the vanilla spray.
CATHX

[clp]

I always find the vanilla fridge spray a bit overpowering when I've used it in the fridge.

The method brand of cleaners used to make a fab all-purpose cleaner spray which was pink grapefruit - unfortunately even though they still make the blue tub n tiles spray and the window cleaner I can't get the all-purpose cleaner anymore which is really annoying.

[gooniegirl180]

I avoid using fragrances. Aside from the asthma potential, I find that because everyone has a different idea of what smells "nice", you may find people avoiding your place! Myself, I like the smell of lemons & vanilla.

Having said all that, I reckon everyone loves the smell of freshly baked bread or chocolate cake! Do they package that?

gooniegirl180

[Eli]

I use an electric burner with Lime essential oil...just divine.

[Julie-Ann]

Packaging a chocolate cake smell- what a great business idea:clapping:

[Lanne]

I decided our walk in robe was smelling a lil stale today...because i am home sick and bored..

I was out of carpet spray stuff.. and couldn't locate the bottle deodorizer thing (i am sure A hides it from me)..

So.. I mixed up some fabric softner (i just got a new one and they smell super strong).. so just a lil bit.. in a spray bottle and spritz'd it over the clothes and carpet...

SMELLS SO GOOD!!!

[Julie-Ann]

A great tip and inexpensive - thanks Lanne:kiss:.
I hope you feel better soon.

[Julie-Ann]

I'm writing an article and they want to know different ways to add a lovely scent to your home. So of course I came to the best source for ideas - us:thumbs up:. But the question is do I share with the world our secret about the Vanilla Spray???:D I mean it smells so good and is so cheap. When ever I use it people ask what is that lovely smell.
So should I share or keep it to ourselves???:D

[clp]

We have ducted gas heating so I often sprinkle some scented oil into the intake vent and it disperses through the whole house - smells lovely (I have even been known to do it with the eucalyptus oil which I find quite comforting).

My work colleague had an amazing smelling office - it was some mixture of mostly cinnamon and other things - it was wonderfully warm and spicy.

[Julie-Ann]

Clp we have gas ducted heating too:love it:. What is the intake vent?

[Beverley]

Be generous and share the vanilla spray secret :) I love it and use it daily in my kitchen and also wipe my bathroom sinks/toilets with it...smells great!

I also stumbled across No vac foam carpet sanitiser and deodoriser which comes in vanilla too! I spray it after I have vacuumed and the foam just disappears in 30 seconds or so. It kills bacteria that causes odours in carpets (or so the spray can says!)

I have two border collies inside and we only have two rooms with carpet, the main bedroom...where they sleep at night on the floor next to the bed and the media room where they lie and keep me company when I watch a movie. I find both rooms now smell nice and fresh, even with my furry companions!

[thisisme]

Why are the ingredients in the vanilla spray?

[Miss S]

I use plug ins, but the No-VAC stuff and the vanilla spray sounds good.. might give them a try! My dog, pretty much lives i the house, so i am constantly worried it smells like dog! ha ha

[clp]

The vanilla spray isn't the fridge one is it? I found that way too over-powering.


J-A yours may be outside maybe - but in our hall cupboard we have an enormous vent and thats where the air goes into the ducting system - it goes under the house and is heated and then back up through the other vents. It literally takes seconds after I drop the oil in for it to circulate around the house (probably not meant to do it but I figure its not going to hurt).

[Julie-Ann]

My only concern with carpet foam is - are you leaving a sticky residue on the carpet that dirt can cling too? It may not feel sticky to touch but what if it is sticky enough for dirt just to take hold. What do you think?
I love the idea of a non doggie smelling home - have a dog who not only sits on my carpet but often licks it too:(

[Julie-Ann]

Clp I know what you mean now. Ours is in the ceiling as the ducting runs through the ceiling. Maybe I could spray some vanilla spray there.
Yes it is the vanilla spray you use for the fridge. I only use a little on the bench tops. I don't think it smells too strong:confused:

[clp]

Maybe I just find it too strong for the fridge as its all closed up - I have wiped it over bins before as well but I found that a bit overpowering also.

[thisisme]

Is this the famous vanilla spray???

http://www.fridgefilters.com.au/images//CMSS500V.jpg

[Julie-Ann]

The one I use Thisisme is called Vanilla Fresh by McLintocks. I bought it at Coles.
Clp I sprayed a few squirts into the vent and now my whole house smells like a vanilla candle:love it:. I am also not sure if it is good to do this. But I am talking to my heating fellow in the next month so I will ask him. Meanwhile it can't be too bad to do it occasionally - right??? Because it smells so pretty:love it:.

[Beverley]

Yes I use the vanilla sprayby McLintocks too :)

Oh good point about the no vac carpet spray JA. I have been using it for a few months now at least twice a week but have not noticed it attracting dirt. Mind you it does help that my carpets are a mid brown with a textured square pattern, so maybe I cant see the dirt!

[clp]

AAh I think thats the problem - I was using some american fridge cleaning product and I think it was v overpowering.

I'm sure if its safe to use in a fridge it shouldn't damage heating vents - it probably won't last long but nice to do before people arrive (also our heater is on a timer and its lovely if it comes on just before you get home and you get the smell)

[clp]

Speaking of nice cleaning stuff - does anyone use the Method brand of cleaning products - they smell great and are packaged so nicely - I'm just so annoyed you can no longer by the surface spray which was ruby red grapefruit scented - it was divine and was great looking.

[clp]

Hmm just went to their website and Woolworths no longer seems to stock them (has probably made an own brand rip-off) hmm that annoys me.

http://www.methodhome.com.au/categories.aspx

The pink grapefruit one used to be for sale in WWs

[Julie-Ann]

That is a pity they are not stocking it any more:(.
I think you are right about the vanilla scent. As you said it is designed to spray on plastic. I am sitting here enjoying the waft from the heater. Thanks for that tip Clp:kiss:

[clp]

Aah you can get the Method stuff online - might have to order some - it was fabulous - looked and smelled great.

[Jess_F]

I've just picked my first bunch of Jonquils from the garden ... the lounge room, smells divine !!

[Miss S]

i went to coles to find the vanilla spray - couldnt find it anywhere :( Ill try woolies on the weekend!

[Julie-Ann]

Oh how disappointing - keep hunting MissS.

[Mrs B]

I know this is strange, but have you noticed how every family has their own distinct smell? :o

DS1 was commenting on this the other night, each family who is close to us, has a certain smell when you enter their home or even on their clothing.

What strange things we can talk about on a Friday night LOL

Mrs B

[Julie-Ann]

Lol that is an odd conversation.
I haven't noticed that. The exception is the perfume White Linen reminds me of my sister. I would think our house is the vanilla smelling house. Hopefully it's not the dog smelling house:(.

[thisisme]

I bought the vanilla spray today! Yay!

[giggle_smile]

I ran out of my spray yesturday and gee ive missed coming home to a lovely smelling vanilla house :)

I get mine from Woolworths Miss S, coles dont have it all the time.

[Julie-Ann]

So what do you think Thisisme?

[Cherylle]

I joined the crowd and bought vanilla spray today from Woolies. Packed it into the shopping bag with a few other items including a magazine.

Got to the car, to realise the lid was OFF and the bottle was empty, the plastic bag was full of vanilla spray and it had soaked the magazine and some of the other shopping. Anyway, at least my car smells nice now, and my hands, and my magazine.

Oh well, I tried!!

[Julie-Ann]

Oh no Cherylle I have done that before:(. You only do it once and now I check all the screw tops on such items as I pick them off the shelf.

[Sooty]

The same almost happened to me, luckily it was only slightly loose & very little leaked out.

I thought it sounded ideal for cleaning the kitchen before my rental inspection but think it may smell a bit to yummy to be used all the time, makes me want to eat cake :)

[thisisme]

So what do you think Thisisme?

I can't believe it has antibacterial properties!

I like :)

[Julie-Ann]

Yes that is a nice added bonus:love it: