How do I (discreetly) make my living space smell decently?

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by ratboycom

I just usually spray some neutral unscented febreeze around the room and air it out. Makes my living space not smell like anything at all.

I'm really sensitive to Febreeze. I find it overpowering, even the unscented kind.

 

[A Harris]

Boil water on the stove, add cinnamon (smells like apple pie) or another spice.

 

[jett]

If airing your home out doesn't work, get rid of your carpet. If that's not an option hire a professional cleaner to suck the stink out of it. If that's not an option either then an even easier method is to air it out for a day and then burn a "heavy" incense like Sandalwood or "Nag Champa" for as long as you can take it. I've found that the smell seems to seep into carpets and mask a lot of other odors without being overpowering. I had a friend in college who used to burn that stuff all the time when no one was over and his place always had this very subtle scent that was pleasant and not "girlie".

 

[Reggs]

Incense builds up into an unpleasant musk if used very often, and Nag Champa smells horrible. It brings back memories of some horrible dorm rooms Iv seen; stinking of vomit and Nag Champa.

The best things to do are keep a clean place, air it out, and when you want some nice scent, use an oil diffuser, room spray with essential oils/hydrosol spray, or an effusion lamp.

 

[Nantucket Red]

Buy naturally dyed wool Persian rugs for every major room in the house. The whole place will smell of lanolin in short order. Then you should burn incense.

 

[caelte]

Originally Posted by TheHoff

Ionizer or Ozone producing air fresheners work by removing the smell particles from the air rather than covering them up. O3 is harmful to your health so I'd stick to a powerful ionizer.

(oh yea, do the laundry and open a window, too.)

I agree.
I recently picked up an ozone machine.
Turn it on, leave the room, (I read that breathing what it produces isn't good for you),
come back and the odors are gone.

Someone spilled perfume in my car, it took the smell away in fifteen minutes.

 

[johnapril]

Clean your house weekly.

Check for mold.

 

[jpeirpont]

Originally Posted by A Harris

Boil water on the stove, add cinnamon (smells like apple pie) or another spice.

+ 1 I like cloves

 

[Toiletduck]

Smoke a cigar...Someone smoked a cigar in my living room last week and now my place smells like...cigar

 

[Matt]

buy a breadmaker.

Those rock, house smells like heaven, plus, when chicks come over, they can say 'honey, you baked'

 

[Reggs]

Originally Posted by jpeirpont

+ 1 I like cloves

You should try your hand at these.

I made them as a kid in school and now I make them when I am board and give the surplus to my grandmother.

 

[sho'nuff]

i had no idea how to keep a clean or nice smelling room, i always aired out and sometimes used potpourri but still the smell stank of potpourri + nasties.
but after i got married, i dont know, our apt smells good and clean, i guess just get married.!

 

[Brian SD]

It's expensive but you can order SHUNYOU incense from 45rpm. It smells fantastic. Spicy and unisex-smelling. Definitely not feminine. Very pleasant and calming. http://www.rby45rpm.com/ You have to either call or email them, AFAIK they don't actually sell it as an item on the site.

 

[zjpj83]

Originally Posted by diorshoe

i had no idea how to keep a clean or nice smelling room, i always aired out and sometimes used potpourri but still the smell stank of potpourri + nasties.
but after i got married, i dont know, our apt smells good and clean, i guess just get married.!

haha

for what it's worth, I think Penhaligon's make the best candles in the world. They melt absolutely perfectly. http://www.penhaligons.co.uk/

 

[arenaissanceman]

Originally Posted by zjpj83

haha

for what it's worth, I think Penhaligon's make the best candles in the world. They melt absolutely perfectly. http://www.penhaligons.co.uk/

I don't know about best but they sure as hell are nice. Check out Aedes.com for some other great selections.

If you're looking for something on the cheap, how about one of those Wizard plug-ins?