I pride myself on having a great-smelling home. The second you step foot in my entryway, a subtle warm scent oozes through the air — and not to toot my own trumpet, but considering I have a messy pug and a crazy toddler, this is quite impressive. Just ask my friends — they're always asking me what the scent of the season is.
Yes, I've reviewed many a candle and reed diffuser, and while I do have several of these dotted around my home, there are certain hacks I always find myself doing when guests are around the corner, my house is upside down, and it's too cold outside to open all of the windows and doors. And it's not just lighting a candle and walking away, as I only use these when my child is asleep, so this isn't even an option.
These are all of my failsafe ways to ensure my home has the most wow-worthy scent, to greet guests with the smell of the Holidays as they walk inside, gifts in hand and ready to fill their tummies. Because you don't know when you'll need this advice, make note of these things for next time your guests call and say they'll be a little early, and you're famously unprepared. It happens to the best of us.
8 steps to refresh your home when guests are around the corner
1. Pick up a fragrance pod
This little device is cord-free, so it does require charging every now and then. Essentially, inside the NEOM Wellbeing Pod sits a bottle of NEOM essential oil, and this nifty pod works to filter this fragrance into the air, subtly. It does make a slight noise, but I'm not lying when I say that almost everyone who has ever been to my house has commented on it.
Once switched on, it's anything but overpowering, even when used in a smaller room. Because of my bathroom placement (just off my entryway), it manages to flood some of the fragrance through to my front door, to greet my guests. I've owned this for 4 years now, and it has never let me down.
A simple press of a button is all you need to do to ensure your powder room is fresh.
2. Turn on your range hood
This is especially handy if you need to get rid of a bad or strong smell, fast. Has the dog just eaten? A pooey diaper just been changed? Fish just finished cooking? Switch your vent hood on to max, and it'll clear the air of odors fast.
If you don't want to open a window and let in the cold air, to keep the vibe feeling cozy and your utility bills down, then don't miss this quick hack.
3. Shake out your rugs
I have a few smaller rugs, like a fluffy one in my entryway, to make my hardwood floor feel warm on a winter's day. I find that the simple act of taking this rug out to my yard and giving it a shake does wonders for this tight space.
This way, when I do flip my reed diffuser, it's not battling with any odors coming from my rug. And since it's furry, this rug does tend to harbor debris, crumbs, hair, and other unpleasant things.
4. Flip one of your reed diffusers
Now, I wouldn't suggest going around your home and flipping all of your reed diffusers, or you'll just be left with several different scents, all battling with each other to be the most powerful.
Instead, choose your favorite (and the most festive) and flip those reeds just before they walk through the door. Even better, if you can, then move this diffuser to the center of the space you'll be spending the most time in.
5. Turn up your air purifier
If you already own an air purifier, perhaps it lives in your bedroom to help you snooze better? Well, you're going to want to bring that down and put it into the room you'll be using the most this season — trust me.
I own the Shark NeverChange, which is currently on sale at Amazon, and it's a game-changer. It works fast to tackle airborne odors and allergens, including those from cooking, strong perfumes, smoke, pets, and more.
6. Empty that trash can
If your trash can is almost full, then it's best to just empty it before guests arrive. We all know how fast it gets filled the minute there are extra feet in your home, while a kitchen trash can is often the biggest reason for smells in a kitchen.
Give the lid (inside and out) a good clean with an antiseptic wipe, too. Truly, this will turn your kitchen from drab to fab in seconds.
7. Start warming the mulled wine ASAP
Freshly baked cookies, recently dried laundry, and mulled wine on the stovetop are among the best natural home scents around. So, if you are going to be serving up some warm wine, then get yours on the stove and season it well ahead of guests arriving.
Leave it to warm low and slow, and its scent will fill your kitchen and bring all of the cozy vibes. Simple.
Bonus: Don't forget about your Christmas tree
Real or artificial, a Christmas tree needs to smell good. Obviously, if yours is real, you'll be watering it, but there's so much more that you can do. Grab an empty spray bottle, add a few drops of this Christmas tree essential oil, and fill the rest with water.
Spritz it sparingly around your tree, and your guests will think that it smells that good. They'll be asking which Christmas tree farm you got it from, and if it's fake, they might just think that it's the real deal.
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