apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

something pleasant like apple or green like fern

I have tea candles in the half bath, but they do not get lit very often. I hate sprays and other stuff, though I do look at Glade plug-in products often.

The best way to have a clean-smelling bathroom is to keep it clean and wash your mats and towels often.

I always keep a book of matches near the toilet for any bad smells... and a candle nearby to light if someone needs to use that match.

I have candles in our main bathroom, but I only light them if I feel the need to relax in the tub. That's only every couple of months or so.

I keep my bathroom clean, but since it has no exterior window, it never feels that "fresh". I occasionally light a stick of Japanese incense that has a kind of woodland scent, and leave it to burn in the bathroom while I am out of the house. When I come home, there is a very subtle fragrance, which is an improvement...

I wash the towels and bathmats in Vanilla and Lavender scented Tide - and leave a candle in the bathroom which I only light when I'm taking a bubble-bath

I have no windows in my bathroom. I keep my bathroom clean as possible but when those inevitable bad smell moments arise (it is a toilet room, after all), we burn a half tiny stick of incense, matches and sticks are nearby. It's a subtle remedy without sprays or fire danger.

The best candle is the Lemon Verbena scent from Henri Bendel. I find them at Bath & Body Works and sometimes at C.O. Bigelow. They're not that sickly rotting fruit type, just light & clean

I cannot stand the smell of artificial anything in the bathroom. This comes from my father-in-law, who empties half a can of cheap, dollar-store air freshener if he so much as walks into the bathroom. It's oppressive and has led to my be-hatred of any artificial sprays in the bathroom.

There is a tip on Scott Common Sense that suggests spraying some of your favorite perfume on your light bulbs and when you turn the light on the fragrance will fill the room.I don't like strong scents in the bathroom so I'm willing to give this one a try,

I love the hawaiian scent from glade (smells like pixie sticks!) and the clean linen from another plug in type.. but I only keep those on when someone comes over, because i am overly paranoid of the litter box. It's clean, but i'd hate for anyone to catch a whiff of that stench.

As for poop smells, i'll keep a spray in there for others to use if they happen to take a dump at my house. I don't use it, because I poop flowers.

I use the method aroma ring and place it on the floor behind the toilet. The bathroom smells nice w/o the air freshner being out in the open.

spraying or lighting anything is basically saying "i just pooped."

Voluspa has a fabulous line of candles that emit a subtle aroma even when not lit. Their "Ebony Peach" is heavenly and the tin it's in is beautiful. Great for anywhere you want the benefit of a candle without the risk of leaving it unatended.

All you need is to keep the bathroom clean, an exhaust fan and/or (if possible) a window.

I agree with thin lizzie. A book of matches goes a long way in eradicating "odors" instantaneously. Works better than any spray. Ever.

http://www.gettogethablogcom.

Matches in a pretty ceramic jar, here. Candles and the like always end up as dusty clutter in my bathroom.

StyckyWycket: I hear you. "Air scense" smells nice (very natural), but I usually just leave out a(n unscented) candle. Just lighting the match alone usually improves things when improvement is needed.

I pick up books of matches when I travel and leave one on the back of the toilet. (I actually learned the match trick from my grandma as a way to deal with the particularly noxious "exhaust" from her newfies.) I can't deal with the intense fake scents in most sprays.

my mom keeps a bottle of sage smudging spray (usually a New Agey way of clearing bad energy along the same lines as burning sage) in her bathroom. I like the smell, but it sorta smells like you were burning something else. ;)

Wasn't there just a post on this same subject the other day?!

I'm confused... how does lighting a match help?

"spraying or lighting anything is basically saying 'i just pooped.'"

Everybody poops.

I loathe most commercial air fresheners and room sprays--most are too strong and/or sweet for me. The more subtle ones are pricey. I also don't understand the practice of covering up bad or stale odors with an additional layer of scent. Seems like a waste.

Fortunately, my bathroom has a window and I never keep the door closed (I live by myself) so it gets plenty of air circulation and never gets that damp. I agree with others that making sure everything is clean, airing the room out as much as possible, and keeping your linens clean and dry keep things smelling nice and neutral.

I do keep candles in the bathroom, but only to light when I'm taking a bath. I have a pack of matches in a discreet location by the toilet for guests.

A misting with a spray bottle full of vinegar water helps neutralize any unpleasant odors and leaves a clean scent - better than commercial sprays.

Usually, I don't use anything because I keep it pretty clean. But if I've got guests coming over I will light a scented oil candle in Clean Linen scent, because I'd rather the bathroom smelled like laundry than like litterbox.

I just made a reed difuser thingy... I got the dyi info from AT! So far my bathroom smells great. We'll see how long it lasts, but I like using essential oils plus I had everything on hand.

A friend gave us a citrus pine soy wax candle in a medium sized jar that I moved to the bathroom. I didn't think I'd like that scent combo, but I really do. It's strong, but fresh and brisk at the same time.

And, although it's probably horribly un-green, I also tried one of the new Renuzit Pearl Scents (hidden in a back corner). It seemed to work well - only lasted 2 weeks, though.

I get bored with only one option!

I always keep incense in the bathroom with a book of matches. Lighting the match takes care of immediate punch and the sandlewood scent lingers for any after-scent.

I don't know why matches work either. I'm assuming it's because the sulfur smell from match is so much stronger than the other odor.

I love Aveda's soy wax candles in the Shampure and Caribbean Therapy scents.

We use sprays (or a nice scented candle if we have company since we can just light it before they come and blow it out afterwards). I refuse to use matches since the unpleasant sulfuric smell that you get from matches - not to mention I'm allergic to sulfur. We do mostly rely on the ventilation.

Now it's all candles if I'm in the mood for a nice soak - which is usually only when my back is acting up or I'm stressed out.

I use a vodka-based spray I make myself with essential oils. I'm into lavender right now.

Also have a window and a kick-ass ventilation fan.