Natural Ways to Add a Summer-Inspired Scent to Your Home – with a Little Help from Poppies

There’s nothing like that sweet smell of summer—fresh-cut grass, blooming flowers, zesty citrus, and salty seaside air. These seasonal scents can instantly lift your mood and make your home feel calm, clean, and full of sunshine. But if allergies or intense heat keep you indoors, you don’t have to miss out. You can bring summer indoors naturally, without relying on overpowering air fresheners or harsh chemical cleaners. 

A proper clean is a great way to let fresh air and scent flow through your home—but that doesn’t mean you need synthetic sprays. In fact, more and more people are leaning toward natural alternatives, from homemade room sprays to eco-friendly products offered by professional cleaners. Whether you’re prepping your home for summer guests or simply creating a more relaxing space for yourself, these simple ideas can help. 

Hire a Professional Cleaner 

One of the easiest ways to refresh your home is to hire a trusted domestic cleaning service—and ask for a natural touch. At Poppies, our expert team provides everything from regular cleaning to one-off deep cleaning services, tailored around your needs and preferences. 

Want your home to smell like lemon and eucalyptus? Prefer soothing lavender or something fresh and floral? Many Poppies teams offer eco-conscious options that incorporate gentle, effective ingredients and subtle seasonal scents. Plus, we’ll focus on areas where odours linger—like kitchens, bins, and soft furnishings—so your whole home smells as clean as it looks. 

And if you’re moving out this summer, we also offer detailed end of tenancy cleaning to leave your space immaculate and smelling great for the next residents. 

Decorate With Fresh Flowers 

Bringing in fresh flowers is one of the most timeless ways to add a summer vibe—and scent—to your space. If your household isn’t prone to allergies, go all out with vases of seasonal blooms like roses, peonies, lavender, mint, and geranium. Not only do they smell amazing, but they also add pops of colour and life to your décor. 

Place them in key rooms like the hallway, bathroom, and bedroom to give each space its own subtle aroma. And don’t forget potted herbs like basil or thyme—they’re fragrant, beautiful, and useful in the kitchen too. 

Even if you’ve hired Poppies for your domestic cleaning, flowers can be that perfect finishing touch once your surfaces are dust-free and gleaming. 

Opt for Homemade Cleaners 

If you enjoy DIY projects, making your own cleaners can be both satisfying and safer for your home and family. Skip the harsh store-bought options and try natural solutions using ingredients from your pantry and a few drops of essential oil. 

For example, a simple carpet deodoriser can be made by combining: 

• 1 cup of baking soda 
• ½ cup of cornstarch 
• 5–10 drops of your favourite citrus or floral essential oil (like orange, lemon, or lavender) 

Sprinkle it over your carpet, let it sit for 10–15 minutes, and then vacuum. You’ll be left with a fresh scent and soft, clean flooring. 

If you’re not in the mood to DIY, no problem—ask your Poppies cleaner to use their trusted, naturally scented products in key areas like kitchens and bathrooms. 

Create a Room Spray 

Homemade room sprays are one of the simplest and most affordable ways to fill your space with the smell of summer. All you need is a clean spray bottle, some distilled water, and a few drops of essential oil. Mix, shake, and spritz! 

Popular scent combinations include: 

• Lemon + Basil for a crisp, energising feel 
• Lavender + Mint for a calming, spa-like scent 
• Grapefruit + Rosemary for something zesty and herbal 

Keep a spray bottle in the bathroom, hallway, or even your bedroom. If you’ve booked a deep clean with Poppies, our team can even use your room spray as a final flourish once the home is sparkling. 

Scented Candles and Wax Melts 

Not everyone has time for DIY—and that’s perfectly fine. Stocking up on scented candles or wax melts in summer-inspired fragrances can completely transform your space with very little effort. Think beachy coconut, Caribbean citrus, summer berries, or even lemongrass and green tea.

Choose candles with natural waxes and essential oils for a cleaner burn. And if you’ve just had a Poppies cleaning visit, lighting a candle after we leave can seal in that clean, cosy feeling. 

Bonus tip: Rotate your candle scents every few weeks to keep things fresh and exciting.  

Create a Simmer Pot 

A simmer pot is an old-fashioned trick that’s made a huge comeback—and for good reason. It’s an easy and completely natural way to scent your entire home using fruit, herbs, and spices. 

Here’s how to do it: 

• Fill a pot (or slow cooker) with water 
• Add your ingredients—try orange slices, cinnamon sticks, rose petals, mint leaves, lemon rinds, or even pineapple juice 
• Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer 
• Let the aroma gently drift through your rooms 

If you’re relaxing at home after a regular cleaning from Poppies, this is a lovely way to enjoy your sparkling kitchen and a beautifully fragranced space all at once. 

Hang Your Linens to Dry 

There’s something nostalgic and special about drying your laundry outside in the summer sun. If no one in your home suffers from allergies, skip the tumble dryer and let your towels, sheets, and clothes soak up the natural scent of your garden, flowers, or that fresh-cut grass next door. 

Even better—ask your Poppies cleaner to help with laundry and ironing before you go. We’ll wash and hang or fold your items, so you return home to fresh, sun-kissed sheets and crisp summer-scented linens. 

It’s one of those simple pleasures that makes a big difference.  

Bring Summer Home, Naturally 

You don’t need to rely on synthetic sprays or expensive products to make your home smell like sunshine. From fresh flowers to DIY sprays, natural scenting is better for your home, your health, and the planet. And with help from Poppies’ expert cleaning services, you can create a space that’s not just clean, but calm, fragrant, and truly summery. 

So whether you’re planning a deep clean, refreshing your home weekly with regular cleaning, or just need help catching up on the laundry and ironing, let Poppies help you make your home smell—and feel—like summer. 

Visit https://poppies.co.uk to learn more about our services, available locations, and how to book your next clean.