When it comes to hosting on Airbnb, most property owners obsess over décor, bedding quality, and cleanliness, but often overlook one small but mighty factor that has the power to instantly elevate — or sabotage — a guest’s stay: scent. The moment a guest walks into your property, their brain registers the smell of your space even before their eyes fully scan the room. Research shows that smell is tied directly to memory and emotion; it can transport people back to childhood, remind them of luxury hotels, or unfortunately, trigger unpleasant associations.
For Airbnb hosts in competitive cities like London, where guests expect hotel-quality standards with the warmth of a home, keeping your space smelling consistently fresh and inviting is not optional — it’s essential for securing 5-star reviews. Bad odors from cooking, urban pollution, dampness, or even previous guests’ habits can linger and tarnish the overall impression, no matter how spotless your flat appears. On the other hand, a thoughtfully scented property can delight guests, make your listing stand out, and even subtly influence repeat bookings.
That’s why mastering scent strategies is one of the most underrated but powerful tools for hosts. It’s not about masking odors with overpowering sprays; it’s about crafting a clean, natural, consistent, and welcoming environment that reinforces the comfort and care you’ve put into your hosting.
In this blog, we’ll dive into the 7 best scent strategies that will help you keep your Airbnb smelling fresh and inviting year-round, no matter how many back-to-back bookings you manage. Each strategy is practical, cost-effective, and rooted in professional hospitality secrets.
Strategy 1: Deep Cleaning as the Foundation of Freshness
Before you think about candles, diffusers, or luxury essential oils, let’s start with the non-negotiable foundation of freshness: cleanliness. No amount of air freshener can hide the smell of old food in the fridge, damp towels in the bathroom, or pet odors trapped in upholstery. Guests can spot when you’re covering up smells — and nothing ruins trust faster.
Why it matters:
Bad odors are usually a symptom of something deeper: bacteria, mold, grime, or trapped particles in soft furnishings. Deep cleaning neutralizes these sources at their root. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the single most powerful scent strategy.
Practical steps:
- Kitchen focus: Clean drains with baking soda and vinegar, empty and sanitize bins between guests, and wipe down the fridge weekly to avoid sour or spoiled food odors.
- Bathroom focus: Pay special attention to grout and tile (mildew loves to hide there), scrub drains, and ensure towels are washed in hot water with a fresh-smelling detergent.
- Soft furnishings: Carpets, curtains, cushions, and mattresses act like sponges for odors. Schedule professional steam cleaning every few months if you have heavy bookings.
- Hidden spots: Check under sofas, behind furniture, and inside cupboards for forgotten crumbs or spills — these small areas can harbor surprising smells.
Pro tip for London hosts: London’s damp climate means moisture lingers in fabrics. Use a dehumidifier in high-traffic spaces; it not only prevents mold but also makes your chosen scents more effective because they won’t be competing with mustiness.
Deep cleaning may not sound like a “hack,” but it’s the golden rule: a fresh scent starts with a clean space.
Strategy 2: Harness the Power of Natural Scents
Once the slate is clean, it’s time to layer in fresh, natural aromas that feel authentic rather than artificial. Guests often associate synthetic air fresheners with cheap hotels or cover-ups. Natural scents, on the other hand, feel healthier, more luxurious, and subtle.
Options that work beautifully:
- Citrus fruits (lemons, oranges, grapefruits): Perfect for kitchens and dining spaces, citrus signals cleanliness and energy. A bowl of fresh lemons doubles as décor.
- Lavender and chamomile: Ideal for bedrooms. These scents are known to promote calm, reduce stress, and improve sleep quality.
- Eucalyptus and mint: Excellent for bathrooms. They create a spa-like freshness that suggests hygiene and vitality.
- Herbs (rosemary, thyme, basil): These can be infused in small jars of water or baked in the oven before check-in for a homely, grounding smell.
How to use them:
- Simmer citrus slices with cinnamon sticks before guest arrivals.
- Place small sachets of dried lavender in drawers and wardrobes.
- Add a drop of peppermint oil to cotton balls and tuck them discreetly behind the toilet.
Pro tip for urban London: Because city air can feel heavy, especially near high-traffic roads, consider keeping a small indoor herb garden. Guests love the greenery, and it provides a continuous natural scent source.
Strategy 3: Smart Use of Diffusers, Candles, and Air Fresheners
Now let’s talk about controlled scent delivery systems. The trick here is balance: you want consistency without overwhelming your guests.
Diffusers (electric or reed):
- Offer steady, long-lasting scent distribution.
- Work best in living rooms and entryways where first impressions are made.
- Choose essential oil blends rather than synthetic refills for sophistication.
Candles:
- Add both fragrance and ambiance.
- Best used sparingly, either for staging photos or welcoming guests upon arrival.
- Opt for natural soy or beeswax candles, which burn clean and don’t release toxins.
Air fresheners:
- Avoid the overpowering “cheap spray” smell.
- If you must use them, go for neutralizers rather than perfumed options. Products like activated charcoal bags or ozone-free purifiers can eliminate odors without leaving a chemical after-scent.
Safety reminder: Never leave lit candles for unsupervised guests. Instead, set them up as a decorative option and let guests choose if they want to light them.
Pro tip: Create a signature scent blend for your property using essential oils. For example, a mix of lemon, lavender, and cedarwood can become the smell guests remember and associate with your Airbnb.
Strategy 4: Maximize Airflow and Use Odor Neutralizers
Even the best scents can feel suffocating without fresh airflow. Stale air equals stale impressions.
How to improve ventilation:
- Open windows between guests, even in winter, to reset the air.
- Use extractor fans religiously in bathrooms and kitchens.
- Consider a small HEPA air purifier if your property faces a busy London street.
Neutralizing hacks:
- Place bowls of baking soda in discreet corners to absorb lingering odors.
- Activated charcoal bags are perfect for wardrobes and shoe racks.
- White vinegar in a small dish neutralizes strong smells like smoke or curry.
Pro tip for London flats: Many apartments are compact with limited cross-ventilation. Installing a portable air purifier can make a dramatic difference, especially if your property is close to traffic-heavy areas where smog seeps in.
Strategy 5: Manage Fabrics and Laundry with Care
Nothing ruins a fresh-smelling flat like damp or poorly washed linens. Because bedding and towels come into direct contact with guests, they must not only look clean but also smell crisp.
Laundry tips:
- Wash with high-quality detergent and add a cup of white vinegar occasionally to remove buildup.
- Dry linens completely — damp fabrics breed mildew and unpleasant odors.
- Store spare linens in airtight containers with a sachet of lavender or cedar.
Pro tip for frequent turnovers: Invest in at least three sets of linens per bed. This ensures you always have fresh ones ready and avoids the panic of rushed drying that can lead to “musty sheets.”
Strategy 6: Use Location-Specific Scent Strategies
Not all Airbnbs face the same challenges. London hosts, for example, deal with unique odor triggers:
- Smog and pollution: Urban air often carries a heavy, metallic smell.
- Damp weather: Frequent rain means moisture indoors.
- Cooking odors: Compact flats mean smells from frying linger in living spaces.
Solutions:
- Install door draft stoppers to block outdoor air from creeping in.
- Use a dehumidifier in basements or ground-floor flats.
- After cooking-heavy guests, neutralize with vinegar steam (boil vinegar and water) before layering new scents.
Strategy 7: Make Scent Part of Your Brand
Here’s the secret that elite hotels know: scent is branding. By curating a consistent fragrance theme, you create a sensory signature that guests associate with your property.
How to do it as an Airbnb host:
- Pick one signature scent family (citrus, floral, woody, herbal) and stick with it across diffusers, laundry, and cleaning products.
- Mention it in your listing description: “Guests love the refreshing lemon-lavender scent that greets them when they arrive.”
- Encourage reviews by subtly planting the idea: leave a note that says, “We love making our Airbnb feel like a calm, lavender-scented retreat — we hope you enjoyed it too.”
This small detail can help you stand out in the crowded London market, where hundreds of listings can blur together. Guests may forget your throw pillows, but they’ll remember how your flat smelled.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your Airbnb smelling fresh and inviting isn’t about masking odors with chemical sprays. It’s about creating an environment that feels clean, natural, and memorable. By investing a little time and thought into scent strategies, you can transform your property from “just another rental” into a sensory experience that delights guests from the moment they walk in.
Remember: clean first, scent second, consistency always.
In competitive cities like London, small details are what earn 5-star reviews and repeat bookings. Scent may seem invisible, but its impact is unforgettable.
By following these 7 strategies, you’re not just keeping your space fresh — you’re building a reputation that smells like success.