What guests actually notice

Guests walk into a rental with fresh noses. A heavy scent tells many of them that something is being covered up, and the next thing they do is go looking for the problem. Fragrance blended with old smoke or a musty bedroom produces a sweet-stale smell that people describe in reviews as worse than the original odor.

Strong scents also bother guests with allergies, asthma or migraines, and they cling to fabrics just like the odors they were meant to hide. Over several turnovers, layers of plug-in scent build up in curtains and upholstery and become a smell problem of their own.

The alternative is unexciting: remove the source, ventilate, and let the unit smell like nothing in particular. A clean unit has almost no smell.

Fragrance versus source removal

Fragrance does

  • Covers a smell for an hour or two
  • Adds its own scent to fabrics
  • Bothers sensitive guests
  • Signals a problem to some guests

Source removal does

  • Takes away what is producing the smell
  • Leaves the unit neutral
  • Works for every guest
  • Lasts beyond the first evening

Before reaching for a spray

  • Empty and wash every trash and recycling bin, including the bathroom ones.
  • Run every drain and flush every toilet.
  • Check the fridge, freezer and disposal for spoiled food.
  • Smell the bedding, curtains and throws; launder what holds odor.
  • Run the range hood and bath fans and open windows for twenty minutes.
  • Change the HVAC filter if it looks dirty or the unit smells stale everywhere.

Common questions

What about odor-neutralizing sprays?

Products that bind odor molecules can help on fabrics as a final step, but they do not remove residue on walls, in drains or in the HVAC system. Read labels for ventilation and surface warnings.

Why do guests mention fragrance in reviews?

A strong scent is the first thing they notice on arrival, and many read it as a sign that something is being hidden. Others simply find it unpleasant or get headaches. Neutral almost never draws comment.

Are scented candles a problem?

They add scent, soot and a fire risk. Many hosts remove them entirely, which also removes the temptation for guests to burn them unattended.

How do I get rid of built-up plug-in scent?

Remove the plug-ins, wash curtains, throws and cushion covers, air the unit out, and give it a few turnovers. Built-up fragrance fades once nothing is adding to it.

General information for LoHi, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.