Almost half of Brits put off having guests over - as they worry their home smells bad

dailystar.co.uk:

Almost half of Brits worry their home smells due to pets, smoke, or dirty drains – with many refusing to host guests as a result.A study of 2,000 adults found three-quarters believe the way a person’s home smells leaves a long-lasting impression on those that visit – and two in five will do anything to ensure it has a good scent.The average adult spends £121 per year on items to improve their home’s aroma – from vacuum scent bags to lemons and onions, and even bread-scented candles.The research, commissioned by Scentsy, found when having company over, half said their homes must smell better beforehand, and 22% hold off having guests over at all if their abode isn’t up to scratch.The worst smells that can stop people from hosting include smoke (40%), pets (40%), and sink water (39%).While others hate the smell of burnt cooking (37%) and even kids (14%).Instead, people would prefer to be greeted with something floral (55%), sweet (25%), or savoury (13%) when visiting someone’s home.But one in four (26%) don’t really care about other people’s properties, while 64% will continue hosting regardless of the state of their own pad.However, two-thirds (65%) admit they judge others by how clean their homes are.Overall, 45% love how their own home smells, and 47% are used to the familiar aroma as they walk in the door.A spokesman for Scentsy said: “Fragrance is processed in the brain’s olfactory bulb, which is why it’s so closely tied to memory.“Senses like touch, vision and auditory stimulus are processed through a completely different part of the brain.

That’s why smells are often more powerful than any other human sense.”More than a quarter (29%) of Brits have given their home a “signature scent” – described as their favourite.