Selling a house is complex. One of the most important aspects of selling a home is how the home smells. Of course, no one wants to buy a stinky house. But scents that may smell nice but are overpowering can hurt appeal too. Here are five subtle scents that will help your homes smell clean and welcoming.
Why Scent Matters When Showing a Home
Smells can have a big effect on people’s mood and memory, according to Harvard Medical School. Good smells tend to improve mood, while bad smells can negatively impact how people feel. When showing a house, calm and happy clients are preferable to upset, moody clients.
Additionally, simple smells are generally better than complex smells because complex smells are distracting. Distracted buyers may not be focused on the house you’re showing them, which can make it hard to close a deal.
Finally, good smells imply cleanliness. A clean house is typically easier to sell than a dirty one.
What scents help make a house smell clean and welcoming when I’m selling it?
Citrus (lemon or orange) is fresh, fragrant, and long lasting, with a calming effect that makes the home feel welcoming. Vanilla is familiar, subtle, and inviting. Aromatic herbs like rosemary, thyme, and basil work especially well in the kitchen.
Should I Use Citrus Scents (Lemon or Orange) When Showing a Home?
Citrus scents, such as lemon or orange, are fresh, fragrant, and long lasting. They also have a calming effect, which can make the home you’re showing feel more welcoming.
How Does Vanilla Create a Welcoming Feel During a Showing?
Vanilla is familiar, subtle, and inviting. It elicits a sense of comfort without being overpowering.
Which Kitchen Herbs Work Best When Staging a Home?
Aromatic herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, and basil, are familiar, refreshing, and welcoming, especially in the kitchen.
Is Green Tea a Good Scent for Staging?
Another fresh, clean scent that is particularly inviting is green tea. Crisp and lively, the scent is great for instilling a sense of harmony.
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How Do I Use Pine and Cedar Scents Without Overpowering Buyers?
Fragrant trees, such as pine and cedar, evoke a sense of warmth on a winter day or a memory of holidays. Look for these scents in candles, diffusers, heated oil plug-ins or in simmer pots to infuse your house with fragrance.
However, be careful not to overdo it with piney scents. Because they’re often used in cleaning supplies, pine scents can overwhelm people if you use them too heavily.
How can I use woody scents like pine or cedar without overwhelming buyers?
Pine and cedar evoke warmth and holiday memories and work well in candles, diffusers, heated oil plug-ins, or simmer pots. Be careful not to overdo piney scents, since they’re often used in cleaning supplies and can overwhelm people if used too heavily.
Are there any scents I should avoid when showing a house?
Yes. Avoid cigarette smoke and pet odors, since cigarette smoke is off-putting and often lingers, and sellers may be nose blind to pet smells. Also, skip complex scents like baking cookies.
Which Scents Should I Avoid When Staging a House for Sale?
Skip baking cookies and go for clean, simple fragrance
Don’t pop that tray of cookies in the oven just yet. A study conducted by researchers at Washington State University and Switzerland’s University of St. Gallen and published in Journal of Retailing in 2013 found sticking to simple scents is has a positive effect on buyers.
Eric Spangenberg, former dean of the Washington State University College of Business who led the study, said simple scents allow people to focus on shopping, or in this case all they love about your home, rather than trying to determine the components of a complex scent. For example, their minds could wander to “Are those cookies in the oven chocolate chip or sugar?” when you want them to be thinking, “I love these walk-in closets and this open floor plan.”
Get rid of cigarette smoke
Cigarette smoke is dangerous and off-putting to many people, and it often lingers long after someone has stopped smoking. If you’re selling a smoker’s home, you may need to invest in deep cleaning to remove the odor from the carpets, walls, and any furniture. Opening windows won’t fix it alone.
Remove pet odors
Wet dogs, litter boxes, and the like are common culprits of bad smells. However, sellers may be nose blind to these scents. Whenever possible, advise your sellers to bathe their dogs and completely clean out their cats’ litter boxes before showing off their house.
Pre-Showing Scent Checklist
Use this checklist before your showings to put your clients in the right mindset:
- Clean high-traffic areas including the kitchen and entryway
- Remove pet bedding, litter boxes, and any visible pet items
- Start a simmer pot or diffuser 30–60 minutes before buyers arrive
- Extinguish any candles before visitors enter the home
- Open windows briefly to ventilate, then close to retain indoor comfort
- Check for lingering cigarette or pet odors in closets and small rooms
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