I Tried a Vanilla Scented Paint Additive: Yum or Yuck?

During one of my many trips to the paint counter at the hardware store this week I spied a very curious item from Glade. Since I’m a sucker for scents and it was under $5, I just had to try it and see if it was as exciting/exotic as it seemed.

For all you Scratch-n-Sniff enthusiasts, yes, the “smell for yourself” sticker actually smells like the end product. There are seven scents available: Tropical Mist, Crisp Waters, Clean Linen, French Vanilla, Apple Cinnamon, Cashmere Woods, and Lavender & Vanilla.

The packaging states that the product will leave a light, lasting scent for months after the first application. It is marketed as an “air freshener that uses paint as a carrier” and helps to “freshen rooms and combat odors”. While the room I painted wasn’t particularly smelly, vanilla is a really comforting scent to me and I wanted the room to be cozy. I could see this being a great product for landlords, or renters who want to get rid of a previous tenants ‘scent’. The FAQ site states that this product has been tested and the results conclude that the air freshener will not affect your paint color.

I added a few drops to my swatch jars (one entire package is recommended per gallon of paint) and I have to say, it was a very enjoyable painting experience! That ‘fresh paint’ smell was masked by a sweet, not overpowering at all, scent of vanilla. The test swatches have been on my walls for about a week and the room still has a mild, sweet vanilla aroma.

I’d recommend testing the scent additive with your swatches before committing your expensive gallon of paint to an entire package of the air freshener. The FAQ page on the Glade site states that you will have to cover over the scented paint with a primer/sealer if you are unhappy with the smell.

Scented paint additives get my vote!