Fall is synonymous with soul-soothing scents – from classic aromas like pumpkin pie and spiced apple cider – to more atmospheric staples such as incense.
Few seasons have the power to provoke our sense of smell quite like this one, so it is only inevitable that you will want to accentuate their goodness further by investing in scented candles and diffusers and making a timely simmer pot.
Knowing how to make your home smell nice is a welcome lesson at any point of the calendar, but there is something about fall that makes it feel even more desirable. Whether you're planning an intimate dinner gathering (or thinking ahead to this year's thanksgiving party ideas) or you simply want to create a therapeutic space for all who live in your home – these designer-approved tips are the solution.
How to make a home smell nice for fall
Fall-inspired scents are among the best home fragrances you can buy, and all for a good reason. Here's how to indulge in the remaining weeks of fall – the professional way.
1. Invest in scented candles
Choosing one of the best candles on the market is a fail-safe way to elevate your home instantly.
No matter what the rest of your fall decorating ideas may look like, there is one home accessory that unites us all – and that is the versatile candle. Kathy Kuo, the founder, and CEO of Kathy Kuo Home, agrees, 'My favorite way to make my home smell like fall is with a super luxurious scented candle.'
'Home fragrance can be so personal and make such a statement, so I advise you to invest in high-quality candles made with premium materials and with a high level of design for the vessel,' she explains.
'You’ll really be able to smell the different layers to the fragrance of the candle, and they’re sure to last longer and serve as a true piece of home decor. When it comes to fall scents especially, I love vetiver and moss, wood smoke, bergamot, and amber.'
The aromatic scent of crisp, falling leaves over ripe orchard fruits, enhanced with soft oakwood elements and a touch of glowing white amber.
Rich pumpkin soufflé is blended with browned butter, toasted nutmeg, and cinnamon, then swirled with sweet vanilla cream and brown sugar.
Vanilla-infused bourbon sweetened with caramelized brown sugar and warmed by delicate allspice and candied clove bud, swirls atop golden amber and delicate musk.
2. Mix a simmer pot
Few scent-boosting methods are quite as powerful as a simmer pot, nor are any quite as cost-friendly.
Jennifer Lynn, the CEO of Jennifer Lynn Interiors, says, 'This is a simple way to bring the fall smells to your home, and what is even more exciting is that you can create your signature scent.'
The designer recommends experimenting with various items to curate a smell that will be familiar to your home – whether you use cinnamon sticks, orange or lemon peels, cranberries, pines, or vanilla.
'Then, to top it off, you can add some key ingredients with a recipe card and give it as hostess gifts at Thanksgiving,' Jennifer adds.
3. Create a pomander ball
Pomander balls are an aesthetically pleasing way to make your house smell like fall, especially if you like dressing your kitchen or dining table. Essentially, these are oranges with cloves that you arrange in decorative patterns, adding a hint of individuality in the process.
But what does the method involve? Kristin Patricican, the owner and principal designer of Dwelling Envy Interiors, starts by poking the orange with a needle or toothpick to break the skin, which will make sticking the clove through the rind much easier.
'The whole process is relatively easy, and the scent created is festive and delicious. The more skilled you are, the more decorative you can get with your cloves – adding them to your dining table centerpieces [and dining table decor ideas].'
4. Use an essential oil diffuser
If you're weary of open flames in your home or you're living with young children, having one of the best reed diffusers could be a perfect scent solution for you.
Kristin Patricican, principal designer says, 'Essential Oil Diffusers are another great way to add scents to a home, especially for fall. There are so many companies that create signature fall scents, it's hard to choose which is our favorite.'
However, it's important to note that if you're living with pets, you may need to tread with caution, as some oils can be toxic to cats, dogs, and other animals.
Clove is a great scent for fall that can help you to transition into winter and the Christmas period.
Nutmeg essential oil is known to help boost energy. It also supports nervous and endocrine systems and prostaglandin balance.
Cinnamon Bark delivers a warm, comforting aroma that's a favorite during the winter season and the holidays.
5. Burn incense
The time-honored ritual of burning incense is the most spiritual way to fill your home with scent, and it's also one of the strongest methods – as one stick can go a significantly long way. It is unsurprising; therefore, that it is approved by aromatherapist Jennie Koeper.
The expert suggests finding a fall scent that appeals to you – and choosing incense made from plants instead of artificial fragrance. 'Stick, cone, and loose incense are all popular.'
6. Bake a fall-themed treat
Nothing screams fall more than freshly baked pies, cookies, and cinnamon rolls. If you are a whizz in the kitchen, baking can be a meditative, natural way to infuse your home with a welcoming scent – plus you get a freshly baked treat at the end of it. What’s not to like?
Of course, baking is not for everyone and it is the best way to make your home smell good all the time unless you are running a part-time bakery from your kitchen, so consider fragrance layering with the best fall candles and essential oil diffusers can help to bridge the gap.
What's more festive than baking a pumpkin pie in a pumpkin dish? Le Creuset offers a huge range of fall-themed baking dishes that are perfect for setting the cozy fall mood
7. Bring in fresh flowers
Another subtle yet natural way to make a home smell nice for fall is to decorate with the best fragrant flowers. This doesn't just have to look like a simple vase of fresh cut flowers, however, reminds Jess Onorato, director of product and design for Habitat Home and Garden.
She recommends, ‘Gather greenery and botanicals to display on mantles and table surfaces. Explore diverse foliage options to maintain a unique aesthetic, like eucalyptus, maple leaves, dried hydrangeas, pomegranate branches, gourds, and pumpkin peppers. Consider adding a wooden dough bowl filled with pomegranates, apples, pumpkins, or gourds to enhance your kitchen island.
‘Bringing in fall wreaths, even a simple eucalyptus or wheat wreath, can be a beautiful addition to one's front door or foyer while incorporating the best entryway scents for fall.’
You can learn how to DIY a fall wreath in our dedicated guide.
8. Use fall-scented detergents and soaps
Working through your fall cleaning checklist is a great opportunity to infuse fall fragrances into your home. Switching out your regular essential cleaning supplies and laundry products for fall-scented alternatives helps to infuse everything from your clothes to upholstery, to your kitchen counters with warm, cozy scents.
Laundry scent boosters are safe on all colors and fabrics, making them the perfect scent enhancer for everything from your crisp white towels to dark work pants
Orchard-fresh Apple Cider cleaner has a sweet and crisp scent, with a little touch of spice. This cleaner is safe to use on many surfaces including hardwood floors.
Acorn Spice hand soap blends the rich, nutty scent of acorn with cinnamon and spices for a perfect air of autumn comfort
When picking out scents to make a home cozy for fall, opt for warm tones and nostalgic fragrances. Gourmand scents are very popular around this time of year with vanilla, pumpkin spice, and cinnamon helping to evoke a cozy bakery that you could settle in with a mug of hot coffee.
For a fresher fragrance, orange mixed with warm spices such as cardamom can make a space feel lighter without straying too far into the bright citrus scents associated with summer.
For more insight, one of our team tried different quick ways to fragrance her home and detailed which she liked the best and why.
