Best Air Fresheners for the Home (2024 UK)

Ensuring a clean home involves more than just sticking to a cleaning schedule. No matter how clean your home is, lingering smells of dinner or pets impact how your home feels. Fortunately, an effective air freshener provides a simple and affordable solution.

The best air fresheners for the home offer a lasting fragrance while eliminating odours, all without overwhelming your space.

If you’re looking for a reliable air freshener to transform your home, you’re in the right place. We have evaluated scent intensity, longevity, and ease of use in real-life conditions, bringing you the best air fresheners for the home right here.

 

 

How to Choose the an Air Fresheners for the Home

All our recommendations are long-lasting, deliciously smelling, and effective air fresheners for homes.

However, you’ll want to factor in some considerations into the buying process to ensure it meets your needs and preferences.

Type of air freshener

There are two main types of air fresheners: manual sprays and automatic plug-ins. Think about the reason you’re in the market for an air freshener.

Do you want your home to smell consistently fresh? Or are you looking for an air freshener to provide a burst of scent when needed?

Plug-in air fresheners are a great option for tackling ongoing smells. For example, you could place one near litter trays, rubbish bins, or bathrooms.

They’re also an easy way to keep on top of the smell in your home, as they require minimal effort. As long as you refill the device when the liquid runs out, the electric diffuser does the rest of the work for you.

On the other hand, sprays are better for more targeted applications as they require manual spraying, which is hard to keep on top of every day.

They work particularly well in large rooms that plug-in air fresheners might struggle to fully fill. Most homes have the need for both types of air fresheners as they each serve different purposes, so consider buying one of each.

 

Scent and intensity

The scent options for air fresheners are seemingly endless. You can find everything from floral scents to fresh cotton, citrus smells, spicy notes, or calming scents.

Finding one you like is crucial, as the fragrance will impact the entire mood of your home. Most people already know what fragrances they enjoy, but smell some products in-store if you’re unsure.

You’ll also want to consider where the scent is coming from. Many air fresheners use all-natural formulas and get their fragrances from essential oils.

These tend to be lighter and more relaxing. Synthetic fragrances are equally effective but usually a little more overpowering.

The intensity of the scent is also key. It is less important if you are going for a manual spray, as you can easily adjust the level of the fragrance.

However, if opting for a plug-in, intensity is crucial. We suggest looking for products with multiple scent intensities, such as the Air Wick Air Freshener Plug-in, that allow you to fine-tune the level of scent.

 

Safety considerations

Although air fresheners are generally safe, you must consider their placement carefully, especially if you have pets or children.

Air fresheners should never be sprayed towards people or pets but directly into the air. This can be hard to guarantee if you’re using a plug-in.

So, while plug-in fragrances are generally safe, you must ensure they’re placed out of reach of children and pets.

Additionally, aerosol air fresheners use propellants to disperse the fragrance. Some propellants may contribute to respiratory issues, especially in people with pre-existing respiratory conditions.

If you have allergies or sensitivities, choose non-aerosol products labelled hypoallergenic.

In terms of use, you should also ensure the areas you spray the air freshener are well-ventilated to prevent any ingredients from building up in the air.

If this isn’t possible, you might want to consider alternative methods. Essential oil diffusers, reed diffusers, or gel-based air fresheners are three such examples, which may have fewer potential concerns.

 

Price and ongoing costs

Price is an important consideration when purchasing any product. Fortunately, making your home smell nice won’t cost a fortune.

Most air fresheners, even high-quality products, are extremely affordable, with all our recommendations costing between £1.50 and £21.

The more expensive products on our list are multi-packs that last for a long time and should be seen as an investment.

This is particularly true with plug-in air fresheners. The diffusers are a one-time purchase that gives you more use over time. You only need to purchase refills, which can be found at a bargain when buying in bulk.

However, purchasing a continuous diffuser might be a waste of money if you only need to combat one-off smells—you’ll end up using far more product than you need. This is another reason that considering why you need an air freshener is so crucial.

 

Other Tips for Making Your Home Smell Nice

Using an air freshener is one way to make your home smell nice. As we’ve discovered, there are many different types to choose between, from continuous diffusers to manual applications and from aerosols to all-natural essential oil sprays.

However, there are other ways that you can make your home smell and feel amazing. Here are some suggestions from our cleaning experts.

1. Keep your home clean

Keeping your home clean is crucial for ensuring it always smells fresh and inviting. Unclean surfaces are often the cause of odours, which can quickly spread around your home. For example, a rubbish bin that isn’t regularly emptied and cleaned is a recipe for a smelly situation.

Regularly cleaning carpets and upholstery is also a must-do. These areas are often vacuumed, but deep cleans are rare.

Unfortunately, smells can cling to the fabric and be extremely hard to shift. Air fresheners only remove the odours from the air, so carpets and upholstery must be deep cleaned separately if you want to rid your home of lingering odours.

When cleaning your home, don’t forget to wash your linens and bedsheets, too. While some room sprays can double up as linen sprays for a quick and easy refresh, regular washing removes all dirt that can trap unpleasant odours. This is the secret to a home that smells continuously inviting.

 

2. Use a simmer pot

One of our favourite ways to remove and displace cooking smells from your kitchen is to use a simmer pot.

To do this, fill a pan with water and add natural ingredients—cinnamon sticks, orange peels, vanilla extract, or fresh rosemary are all great options.

Place the pot on your stove and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. As the water bubbles and simmers, the scent of the natural ingredients will waft into the air and replace the unpleasant cooking scents.

You can experiment with different combinations of ingredients to find the scent that suits your preferences, making your home smell inviting and cosy.

The perk of this option is that it’s essentially free or extremely affordable. Most people already have some of the natural ingredients in their kitchen cupboards. It’s also a natural and safe way to make sure your home smells lovely.

 

3. Scented candles or incense

Scented candles are a popular choice for creating a home that smells great. Like air fresheners, they come in various fragrances, from floral and citrus to woodsy and spicy.

The heat from the flame releases the fragrance as the candle burns, enveloping your space in a subtle and inviting scent.

Choose candles with natural ingredients to avoid synthetic odours, and consider placing them strategically in rooms where you spend the most time.

Be mindful of safety precautions, such as never leaving candles unattended and keeping them away from children and pets. This allows you to enjoy the benefits of a beautifully scented home without any worries.

Incense sticks or cones are another option if candles aren’t your thing. They’re also a better alternative if you want a quick fragrance burst.

Scented candles should be burned for at least an hour, whereas incense can release its scent within ten minutes.

 

4. Open your windows

One of the simplest ways to keep your home smelling fresh is to open your windows. In fact, proper ventilation is crucial for maintaining a fresh-smelling home. If your windows are permanently closed, your home can smell musty.

Opening windows allows stale air to circulate and removes lingering odours. Plus, it’s completely free!

This easy yet effective method is especially beneficial during cooking or when using cleaning products.

It prevents smells and chemicals from accumulating in the air. It also brings in fresh outdoor air, contributing to a healthier indoor environment.

Given the UK weather, we understand that opening windows isn’t always possible. However, even keeping your windows open for 15 minutes in winter can help drastically.

You can also speed up the ventilation process by opening windows on opposite sides of your homes. This encourages the air to flow through your home quickly and speeds up the freshening process.

 

5. Use an air purifier

Finally, an air purifier is an excellent investment if you want a consistent and long-term solution to maintain a clean-smelling home. These devices filter out particles such as dust, pollen, and pet dander, along with odours and pollutants.

By improving air quality, an air purifier ensures that your home not only smells fresh but also promotes a healthier living environment.

Simply place the purifier in commonly used areas or bedrooms to reap the rewards. However, make sure you consider the size of the space and buy an air purifier unit with appropriate coverage—this ensures efficient filtration.

You’ll also want to find a unit with a True HEPA filter to remove odours. These have the finest meshes to effectively catch and remove even the tiniest particles from the air.

You will need to be prepared to clean and replace the filters regularly for them to filter the air properly.

 

Conclusion

If we had to choose the best air freshener for homes, it’s the Febreze Air Freshener Spray. This is a top-notch choice if you’re seeking an effective, long-lasting, and easy-to-use solution to combat odours.

With its OdourClear technology, it goes beyond masking smells. It provides a refreshing and inviting atmosphere throughout your home—you can breathe happy with Febreze.

However, the Febreze aerosol spray isn’t for everyone. If you prefer an automatic, oil-based plug-in air freshener, the Air Wick Air Freshener Plug-in Starter Pack is your best option. Unlike similar products, it allows you to adjust the scent intensity and consumes less energy than its competitors.

Or, if you’re looking for a more versatile, eco-friendly room spray, Made By Coopers Calm Atmosphere Mist or Thai Lemongrass Linen and Room Spray are great options. Whichever option you choose, you can trust our recommendations; your home will finally smell as good as it looks.