Ever wondered how to make your house smell like a 5-star hotel? Keep reading to discover 9 simple and effective steps that will make your home smell like a luxury hotel.
Have you ever stayed in a luxury hotel and wondered how it smells so good all the time?
A 5-star hotel’s scent is so subtle yet fragrant that you can remember it even after you’ve traveled home. And, when you smell something similar, it automatically transports you back to the hotel.
I have, and that’s one of the reasons why I love staying in hotels. Just smelling the scent alone reminds me of my happy travel memories!
That’s the main reason why most luxury hotels have signature scents. According to Conde Nast Travel, a signature scent can trigger nostalgia.
A hotel’s signature scent depends on two things: the hotel’s personality, and the mood the hotel is trying to evoke.
Despite the differences, most hotel scents share the same positive impact. That is they smell good in the space without being overwhelming.
As a result, a luxury hotel scent is typically calming and relaxing, which is something most people want to have in their homes.
Want to make your house smell like a 5-star hotel? Keep reading to discover 9 simple and effective tips to get your hotel-inspired scent.

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What scents do hotels use?

Luxury hotels generally avoid scents that are overly feminine or masculine to appeal to the masses. Additionally, they stay away from strong floral and sweet fruit scents like strawberry and banana.
Popular choices for luxury hotel scents include lemon, citrus, white tea, vanilla, cedar, sandalwood, neroli, and white tea.
With that said, most luxury hotels have a signature scent. Let’s take a look at the scents used in 5 different luxury hotels.
1. Westin Hotel – Crisp, clean, and refreshing
Westin, a Marriott International hotel, rolled out its signature White Tea scent, which is a blend of white tea, wood cedar, and vanilla. It smells crisp, clean, and refreshing – perfect for energizing guests.
2. W Hotel – Citrus, fresh, and aromatic
On the other hand, W Hotels, a trendy modern luxury hotel, usesthe scent of lemon blossoms, green tea and laurel leaves to perk up their guests’ moods.
3. St. Regis Hotel – Floral, feminine, and glamorous
The St. Regis hotel’s signature scent includes floral notes from American Beauty roses, hyacinth, white lilies, green stems, apple, and cherry blossom.
It is inspired by the fresh flowers found in the famous balls hosted by Caroline Astor, the matriarch of the hotel’s founding family.
4. Ritz Carlton Hotel, Central Park – Floral, crisp, and sweet
The Ritz Carlton hotel chain has different scents for different locations. Their most popular scent belongs to their 50 Central Park location, which contains notes of ripe strawberries, elderflower, sweetgrass, black tea, and mountain mint.
5. 1 Hotel – Earthy, natural, and musky
The 1 Hotel uses seven all-natural ingredients including eucalyptus leaves, cedarwood, oakwood, sheer musk, and tree moss to create a scent that’s exotic and sultry.
How to make your house smell like a hotel – 6 luxury scent ideas for less

The key to making your house smell like a hotel is to make sure the scent is light yet aromatic. It must not smell artificial or feel overwhelming.
To achieve this, hotels have their scents diffused professionally. However, this method is only suitable for large commercial spaces.
For smaller spaces like your home, you can get your favorite hotel’s scent by purchasing their signature candles and diffuser sets. Since these scents are specific to a luxury hotel, they aren’t cheap!
I know some of you may want to get the exact scent without spending too much money, so here are 5 inexpensive ways you can make your house smell like a hotel.
Reed diffusers
Reed diffusers are a great way to make your home smell like a hotel.
The trick to getting the entire house smelling great is to place a couple of reed diffusers around the home. Remember, the larger the home, the more reed diffusers you need.
My picks:
- COCODOR Signature Reed Diffuser in Refreshing Air – This is the #1 best-selling reed diffuser on Amazon, and I can see why. This has citrus and cotton notes in it, making it a pleasantly refreshing scent.
- Pristine Himalayan Tea Reed Diffuser – Looking for the Westin Hotel scent dupe? Check this out – it has hints of white tea, bergamot, roses, and jasmine.
- Urban Naturals Crisp White Linen Reed Diffuser – Made in the USA, this scent is a blend of citrus, ylang-ylang, lilies, and sandalwood. You’ll enjoy this if you want something calming and long-lasting.
Electric diffusers + essential oil blends
Another way to make your home smell like a hotel is by diffusing essential oils with an electric diffuser.
With an electric diffuser, you can control the intensity and duration of the fragrance.
Electric diffuser picks:
- InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser – Get your hands on the #1 best-selling electric diffuser on Amazon! Comes with 2 misting modes, 8 mood color lighting options, and an auto-off function.
- ASAKUKI 300ML Essential Oil Diffuser – This diffuser is so user-friendly and quiet. Unlike its bulky competitors, it is sleek, chic, and looks great in any home.
- HealthSmart Essential Oil Diffuser – The best thing about this diffuser is its ability to fill up the room with the diffused scent, thanks to its large 500ml tank.
Essential oil picks:
- Eternal Essence Oils Relaxation Gift Set – As its name suggests, this essential oil set comes with 6 relaxing premium grade fragrance oils– lavender chamomile, ylang-ylang, mountain rain, ocean breeze, eucalyptus, and sandalwood.
- Wtrcsv Essential Oils Set – Not sure which scent you like? Try this set that comes with 30 oils including popular scents like lemon, bergamot, jasmine, cedar, grapefruit, peppermint, and rose. Comes in a beautiful gift box!
- Cliganic USDA Organic Aromatherapy TOP 12 Essential Oils Set – this essential oil set is made of good stuff. It’s 100% organic, pure, and natural with no additives, alcohol, or fragrance. It also comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, which means they’ll replace it or refund you if you’re not happy with the purchase.
Candles
Want a more intense scent? Try candles instead! A high-quality candle can fill an entire room with its scent. Plus, lit candles always give off a warm and luxurious ambiance, just like a hotel!
Candle picks:
- Craft & Kin White Tea & Lily Scented Candle – This candle is infused with white tea and lily essential oils, which makes it an incredibly relaxing scent. This 100% natural soy wax candle is non-toxic, all-natural, long-burning, and has a 100% wood wick.
- Homesick Scented Candle, New Home – This all-natural soy candle smells like fresh linen and clean air, thanks to its jasmine, cedarwood, and lime notes.
- Coco Benjamin Highly Scented Hand Poured Soy Candle – Want a light floral scent? Try this handcrafted candle with cashmere, white freesia, and gardenia notes. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, phthalate-free, and petroleum-free. Amazing!
Room sprays
A room spray is the quickest way to make your house smell like a hotel. It’s also low-maintenance since it doesn’t require electricity, fire, or wick trimming.
My pick:
- DRMTLGY Pure Lavender and Chamomile Linen Mist – This lavender and chamomile spray uses a non-toxic, eco-friendly formula that’s made in the USA. It’s rated 4.5 stars on Amazon, with over 7,000+ reviews!
Beauty products
It’s common to find luxury hotels applying their signature scent in their toiletries as well.
When we stayed at The Betsy in Miami, we were treated to Malin & Goetz toiletries. That was when I fell in love with the brand because everything smelled fresh and amazing.
My favorite products are the Vitamin B5 Hand Treatment in Bergamot and the Lime Hand & Body Wash.
Malin & Goetz is pricey, so here are two of my budget-friendly picks:
Cleaning products
Did you know cleaning your home with the right products can make your house smell like a hotel? That’s why I swear by all of the Method cleaning products.
Not only are they cruelty-free and plant-based, but they also smell heavenly! P/S: They’re super affordable too.
3 steps to keep your home smelling fresh for FREE

Want to make your house smell like a hotel at all times? You can do this easily with these 3 FREE steps:
1. Air out your home
You may not realize this, but stale air can give off a musty smell. Open up all the windows in your home once a week to let in some fresh air, as proper ventilationkeeps the air smelling fresh indoors.
2. Keep your home clean and tidy
No matter how many diffusers or candles you use, your house will not smell good if it’s dirty. Period.
That’s why it’s crucial to keep your home clean and tidy at all times. Commit to a regular cleaning schedule that includes:
- Dusting
- Vacuuming
- Mopping
- Wiping down surfaces
- Washing the dishes
- Tossing the trash
3. Incorporate baking soda in your cleaning regimes
Baking soda is an all-natural ingredient that works wonders for cleaning your house. Not only does it clean like a charm, but it is a great deodorizer.
You can use baking soda to:
- Freshen up carpets, rugs, mattresses, bed linens, pet bedding, etc.
- Clean the kitchen sink
- Deodorize the fridge, trash can, and toilets
Conclusion
There, you have it! Have fun trying these 9 simple and effective steps to make your house smell like a hotel.
What’s your favorite way to make your home smell amazing? Let me know in the comments below!
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