05/26/2026
Exactly! Buyers want to know what you’re hiding, and many will even have an adverse reaction and won’t be able to walk through the whole home to see it all.
Don’t sabotage your sale.
Today’s “Please Don’t Do This Before Listing Your House” post:
I walked into a property to stage today and within minutes had a migraine starting and felt genuinely nauseous. I had to change my clothes before sitting to write this because the chemical floral scent was still clinging to the shirt I wore to work in.
The smell was overwhelming.
We searched the entire house trying to figure out where it was coming from because there were NO visible air fresheners anywhere.
Turns out the culprit was two tiny “small space” air fresheners. One hidden under the kitchen sink… and another in the bathroom vanity.
Tiny.
But powerful enough to scent the ENTIRE home.
Here’s the problem sellers don’t realize:
Strong artificial fragrance doesn’t read as “clean” to most savvy buyers.
It often creates the opposite reaction:
🚩 “What are they trying to hide?”
🚩 “Is there a pet smell underneath this?”
🚩 “Does this house have moisture or mould issues?”
🚩 “Why is the smell so strong?”
And for some people, it’s not just unpleasant… it’s physically distressing.
In a recent NAR article on home showing mistakes, one Realtor stated: “Sellers often think a wall of scented candles or plug-ins masks a pet or musty smell. It does not.” The article also noted that overpowering fragrances can make buyers assume sellers are hiding a problem, which creates mistrust.
According to research published in the journal Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, nearly 35% of people reported health problems from fragranced products, including migraines, respiratory issues, dizziness, nausea, and asthma symptoms. Researchers also found that over 20% of people would leave a business quickly if exposed to strong artificial fragrance.
The U.S. EPA also warns that indoor air pollutants and fragranced products can negatively affect indoor air quality, especially in poorly ventilated spaces.
And here’s the reality in real estate:
Buyers emotionally connect to homes within moments.
If the first thing they experience is a chemical fragrance assault strong enough to trigger a headache… you’ve already lost ground.
A home should smell:
✔ clean
✔ neutral
✔ fresh air
✔ lightly lived in
Not heavily perfumed.
Because once buyers notice the scent… they stop noticing the house.
If there’s an odour issue?
Fix the SOURCE.
Don’t try to perfume over it.
Open windows.
Wash soft surfaces.
Clean drains.
Remove garbage.
Shampoo carpets if needed.
Improve ventilation.
And if you truly want a light fresh scent in your home before a showing, a pet-safe pure essential oil in a diffuser is a far better choice than overpowering chemical air fresheners.
Something subtle and clean like lemon can make a space feel fresh without overwhelming buyers or making them wonder what’s being covered up.
Because buyers trust clean.
But they often distrust cover-ups.
And yes…
there’s a very good chance your buyers are more scent-sensitive than you think.
