Let me introduce myself first by saying that I am obsessed with my home smelling nice. Don't believe me? I've tested so many home fragrances, and I'm so picky about the ones that I love. For me, scent tells a story. And there's nothing like the smell of the fish you cooked for lunch to greet your dinner guests, eh?
Now, I'm not the kind of person that just throws whatever air freshener is on sale into my grocery basket. (And I'm definitely not judging those who do — you do you, hun.) This is only because I am forever trying to be more sustainable at home. I'm always after eco-friendly cleaning products and plastic-free alternatives to swap in for my current go-tos.
The air fresheners I've handpicked — and tested — below, aren't full of chemicals or nasties, and I've only featured one aerosol. Yes, there are more ways to scent your home than a spray solution. Think of everything from solid air fresheners to air purifying bags — and even a portable essential oil diffuser. It's all here.
Whether you're trying to scent your small apartment in the city or your spacious pet-friendly home in the suburbs, you'll find something that smells good when you scroll.
The best air fresheners — 8 buys I really love
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The best air freshener
+ 100% natural
+ A little goes a long way
- Can't be sprayed around babies
- Aerosol
Made with no synthetic chemicals but from a unique blend of 100% pure and natural essential oils, this herbaceous air freshener has been a firm favorite of mine for years. One spray in every corner of a room will immediately banish odors and refresh a space, no matter its size. With notes of tea tree, peppermint, and eucalyptus, it's also great for stomping out cooking smells, just be aware that a little goes a very long way. Don't spray it in a room with pets or children inside either as it's powerful.
Real Homes rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Our fave non-aerosol air freshener
+ Made with essential oils
+ Cruelty-free
+ Recyclable bottle
+ 7 scents
Anyone who's eco-conscious will love this hardworking spray since it's non-aerosol, all-natural, and scented using essential oils. I'm not usually a fan of lavender, so this one surprised me. I actually really liked it for refreshing my upholstery. The scent is light, fresh, and inviting, just like all of the fragrances from Mrs. Meyer's. There are so many ways to use this spray, too.
Real Homes rating: 5 out of 5 stars
A luxe air freshener
+ Luxury
+ 3 modes
+ No spray
+ Inconspicuous
+ Great for bathrooms
- Expensive
- Compatible only with Neom essential oils
It's actually wild how many people ask me about this little thing. Whether for keeping by your toilet or desk, it's an easy way to make your home smell nice. The compact essential oil diffuser doesn't need to be plugged in, and it comes in a range of colors. It doesn't require water either, instead, oil vaporizes directly from the bottle and scents the air. You can pick from three intensities too so you don't overdo it in a tiny room. It's great for bathrooms but can also fit inside your car's cup holder. Refills are expensive though, so it's not an air freshener you'd want to leave on all day long.
Real Homes rating: 5 out of 5 stars
The best air freshener for bathrooms
+ Great for disguising odors
+ Lots of scents
+ Handbag friendly
- Small bottle
- Only for use in the toilet
TMI but this little bottle is a lifesaver. What it lacks in size it makes up for in power. You've probably seen it before; it's the one you spray into the bowl before you go. Available in plenty of scents and in a pretty-looking bottle, your guests will thank you later. If you've got a windowless bathroom like me, then it's perfect as it doesn't clog the air like other air fresheners can.
Real Homes rating: 5 out of 5 stars
The best automatic air freshener
+ Automatic
+ Easy to hide
+ No spray
+ Cord-free
+ Range of scents available
+ 45 days longevity
- Not the best looking
Another favorite of mine, this budget-friendly Airwick Essential Mist Kit is simple to use. It oozes scent on its own, just place it wherever you like. I used to have mine in my living room, but then I moved it to my bathroom and now I've given it to a friend. It turns essential oils into a mist to make your home emit a lovely — yet natural — smell in lots of scent options. It has three settings and you can switch your scent with the seasons. Buy the diffuser once and the refills again and again.
Real Homes rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The best cotton air freshener
+ 100% recyclable with TerraCycle
+ Range of scents
+ No spray
- Can't control
- Short lifespan of 30 days
I haven't tested this one (yet) but reviewers say it's great to keep in a closet, locker, or any room that tends to get a little smelly. It's also not overpowering and has more of a generic "clean house" scent. The beads knock out nasty odors rather than mask them for around a month. It's better for the environment than a spray and subtly releases fragrance as you do your day-to-day activities. The beads dissolve over time, and when the jar is empty, you can recycle it. The Fluffy Towels fragrance is also a popular one.
The best solid air freshener
+ 3-month lifespan
+ Eco-friendly & plastic-free
+ No spray
+ Range of scents
- Not the strongest
- Can't control
- Pricey
I've had plenty of Baies candles in my time, but never tried the scented oval. If you're a fan of Diptyque's other scents, then this would make the perfect air freshener for your home according to reviewers who really love it. Where to put it? In your bathroom! Though the French word for berries is baies, it has more of a floral than a fruity scent. This Diptyque Baies Scented Oval in particular smells of roses and blackcurrant. It's encased in ceramic, which is ideal for hanging in smaller rooms, as the fragrance slowly emits over time.
An air freshener bag
+ No spray
+ Chemical free
+ Works on its own
+ Pack of 4
- Can't control them
- Unfragranced
I always see people rave about air purifying bags, not only because they are eco-friendly but because they are fragrance-free. This one is great for asthma or allergy sufferers as it's chemical-free and made from all-natural materials. The Moso bags are unscented and filled with bamboo charcoal, which absorbs odors and pollutants without giving off any scent. They work wonders in small spaces — musty closets, pet areas, or powder rooms. In large rooms, you'll need more than one bag to tackle lingering odors. Each pouch lasts up to two years, but they need to be "rejuvenated" once a month by placing them in the sun for a couple of hours.
Real Homes review process — How we test air fresheners
Yes, we like to test almost everything we feature at Real Homes. With the help of our writers, editors, and freelancers, we work to test everything in our buying guides. In instances where we haven't had hands-on experience, we'll only feature it if it has rave reviews.
All of the above air fresheners that have a star rating have been reviewed by our head ecommerce editor, Annie.
Hi! I'm Annie and I've been an editor at Real Homes since 2018, reviewing everything from portable grills to air fresheners and everything in between. I've tested five out of eight of these air fresheners, and it's safe to say that I really do love them all. Though obviously, I can't use them all at once.
I currently have the Neom Wellbeing Pod in my bathroom and guests love it. I also always repurchase the Puressentiel Purifying Air Spray, but I'm super careful using it around my pug. Otherwise, if I run out of air freshener I'll grab one from Mrs. Meyer's while at my local grocery store.
I've also tested the majority of the buys in our scented candles and reed diffusers guides, too.
3 things to think about when buying an air freshener
An air freshener is designed for daily use, whether to mask bathroom odors or to give your sofa a spritz after you've watched an entire season of something on Netflix. With this in mind, I've only featured solutions on this list that won't be super harmful if ingested. Here are some things to think about when choosing a new air freshener for your space:
1. Which type of air freshener do you want?
There are lots of air freshener types to choose from. Spray, aerosol, and solid are the most popular. Candles, reed diffusers, and essential oils differ slightly and aren't as powerful but can help make a home smell nice, too.
2. How often will it need to be replaced?
Sprays and aerosols are different, as this will depend on how often you use them, but solid air fresheners and essential oil diffusers usually come with a lifespan. Keep this in mind when choosing so you're not overspending or over-replacing.
3. Are you able to control it?
This one's a biggie! Because we've all been in a situation where you've got someone coming over and you or a roomie decided to microwave something that's pretty pungent. You'll need something you can turn on (or spray) to work instantly. So while air purifying bags, solid air fresheners, and fragrance spheres are great, they're more for background use.
4. What does it smell like?
Don't go against the seasons. Much like you would with any other home fragrance, match it to the time of the year. Go floral in spring and warm in colder months. No one wants a cinnamon-scented entryway in the middle of July. But in December? I'd be all over that.
What is the most powerful odor eliminator?
The most powerful air freshener I've used has to Puressential's, which is number one on our list. It really does banish smells instantly, replacing the odor with a herbal scent from essential oils.
Up next: All of the clever hacks we swear by to get rid of common household smells
