Back in August, we posted a blog that focused on the top ten homebuyer turnoffs. Number one was, not surprisingly, bad smells in the home.  It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what kind of smells will kill a deal; ok, if you insist, they might include the smell of animals (cats particularly), smoking if you don’t indulge,  mildew, mold, etc.  So the question is, if smell is a significant sales point, what kind of scent is likely to actually lure buyers to your home and perhaps make it sell quicker?

Don’t discount the power of your senses. For years, the stores we spend our hard-earned dollars at have secretly been benefiting from pumping pleasing, odor-neutralizing or tantalizing scents into their stores while we shop. Appealing scents can help home sellers as well; eliminating odors that can be off-putting to potential buyers and creating an ambiance of comfort can make any home worth a second look. And with the competition in the market for sellers at an all-time high, aren’t you willing to try anything?

So what scent would make your buyer melt into submission and make an offer on your home? Depending on your target audience and the mood you desire to create, the optimum choice of scent may vary. According to studies on various scents, each may invoke a unique reaction or state of mind. Here are some examples of common scents, and the predicted response to it:

-Chamomile: calming and soothing-eases anger and anxiety
-Clary Sage: relaxing, euphoric-eases anxiety, tension and stress
-Eucalyptus:  fresh, cooling and invigorating-promotes alertness
-Jasmine: alleviates anxiety and depression
-Lavender: calming
-Lemon: refreshing and energizing-eases tension, heightens mental clarity
-Mandarin: relaxing and calming-relieves insomnia
-Neroli/Orange Blossom: relieves stress, anxiety and insomnia
-Peppermint: refreshing and stimulating-increases alertness
-Rosemary: a stimulant that promotes mental clarity and alertness
-Sandalwood: warm, sensual aroma-euphoric and seductive

So do you want your buyers to be excited and energized when they enter your home, or relaxed and soothed? The former may be the case if you are selling an upscale condominium in a trendy neighborhood; perhaps rosemary or peppermint would be an appropriate choice to entice and energize the clientele in this case. Selling in a retirement community? Perhaps lavender or mandarin would be an appropriate, calming and sedentary mood enhancer. Want to find (I mean sell to) a man? Recent studies show the top scents that men prefer are pumpkin pie and anise (licorice).

Unfortunately, most sellers won’t be able to predict a target audience of buyers; they’ll have to simply make their best guess on a pleasant scent and staging presence. Some good general advice then: before your home is shown, run a lemon through the garbage disposal to neutralize any odors and leave the kitchen area smelling fresh. Or try sprinkling cinnamon powder or vanilla extract on a cookie sheet and warming it in the oven. The subtle, homey scents will help create a comforting ambiance that potential buyers will feel and enjoy.

Does anyone else have some killer scents that might stimulate a sale that they’d like to share?

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