How To Make Your Bathroom Smell Like a Spa

There’s nothing like coming home after a long day to a pristine bathroom where you can really relax and unwind. 

Sure, hacks like using baking soda to clean and lemon slices to get rid of bad odors might help your bathroom sparkle and shine, but there are a few more things you can do to take your space to the next level. 

In this guide, we’re talking about how you can create a spa experience in your own bathroom. From the most spa-like scents to some simple and easy tips to make your bathroom smell like a spa, you’ll be on track to make your bathroom your new favorite room in the house. 

What Are the Most Spa-Like Scents?

Before we dive into all of our favorite tips, let’s take a look at some of the best scents you can use to create a truly spa-like environment. Here’s a breakdown of the top three spa smells so that you know what to look for. 

Eucalyptus

Hands down one of the most classic spa fragrances is eucalyptus. Known for being minty, green, and slightly citrusy, eucalyptus is one of those fragrances that is sure to make any space feel instantly fresher. 

Because it has several different hits of fragrances (like citrus, honey, and mint), some people say eucalyptus has a subtle medicinal vibe. The minty smell in eucalyptus comes from terpenes, and although it’s not quite as minty as peppermint, it does still have that cool, crisp fragrance that makes it invigorating. 

Lavender

Another scent that will instantly make your bathroom smell like a luxurious spa is lavender. The ideal complement to eucalyptus, lavender is a relaxing scent that does a great job of helping you unwind after a stressful day. 

Unlike fragrances that are more subtle or easily confused with others, lavender has a very distinct smell. Floral and fresh, lavender combines the smell of flowers, pine, herbs, and balsamic. In aromatherapy, lavender is particularly well-loved for its stress-reducing qualities. 

Sandalwood

Although it might not be as well-known as eucalyptus and lavender, sandalwood is another one of our favorite spa scents. Sandalwood can give your DIY spa a true woody, rich fragrance that will add depth to lighter, brighter scents. 

Sandalwood has a smooth, creamy smell that makes it more subtle than sharper scents like pine. It’s also earthy, sweet, and spicy, which makes it a softer, more comforting member of the woody family. 

How Can You Make Your Bathroom Smell Like a Spa?

Now that we’ve covered the three most quintessential spa-like fragrances, we need to talk about how to incorporate them into your home smell. Before you use any of the following tips on the list, just make sure to give your bathroom a good scrub first for the best results. 

When trying to achieve that spa smell in your bathroom, it’s important to start with a clean, fresh base. Making sure every part of your bathroom (including those easy-to-forget parts like the shower curtain, showerhead, and toilet paper holder) is a crucial first step before introducing new fragrance products. 

Try to use neutral-smelling cleaning products or products that have a similar scent to the ones on the list below to create a consistent, delightful fragrance in your bathroom. With that in mind, let’s dive into a few DIY tips to make your bathroom smell like a spa. 

Use an Essential Oil Diffuser

An essential oil diffuser is one of the best ways to create a spa-like ambiance in your bathroom. There are a few different types of diffusers available, so make sure to shop around before buying one to find the one that best suits your needs. Generally speaking, the two main types of diffusers are natural and mechanical.

Natural Diffuser

One example of a natural diffuser would be a reed diffuser. With this type of diffuser, small strips of wood are placed in a special jar that contains essential oils. The wood absorbs the oils and slowly disperses the fragrance throughout the room. Although reed diffusers can’t necessarily fill a large space with a fragrance, they can be ideal for a smaller space like a bathroom. 

To fill the vessel for your reed diffuser, you can use one essential oil or a combination of oils. If you plan on using a reed diffuser in your bathroom, you’ll want to flip the reeds daily or weekly so they continue to disperse the fragrance effectively. 

Mechanical Diffuser

Arguably the more common type of diffuser is a mechanical essential oil diffuser. Within this group, there are many different types to choose from as well. The general rule of thumb when using mechanical essential oil diffusers is that you only need a few drops of essential oil to make your bathroom smell good (between 5-10 depending on the size of your diffuser and bathroom).

Unlike reed diffusers, you don’t need to worry about doing anything other than turning on your mechanical essential oil diffuser, sitting back, and watching as it turns your bathroom into a DIY spa. 

Try Air Fresheners

Another hassle-free way to eliminate the bad smells in your bathroom and make it spa-level fresh is to try air fresheners. A wide variety of air fresheners are available, from crystal beads to clip-on dispensers. 

Regardless of the type of air freshener you use, make sure to look at the freshening ingredients used in the product. Try to find products that use essential oils rather than harsh chemicals. 

Include Scented Candles

If you’re looking to improve the smell of your bathroom and boost your decor game, look no further than classy scented candles. When you invest in a high-quality, long-lasting candle like our Snif candles, you can improve the fragrance and ambiance of your bathroom with one product. 

To capture the smell of an oceanside oasis, try Ditch Plains. This beach candle combines neroli, tuberose, rum, cedarwood, and amber to make a woody, floral fragrance. Birds And The Breeze will offer a slightly more subtle scent. This jasmine candle features mimosa petals, galbanum, jasmine, cyclamen, orchid, musk, and cedarwoods. 

For a slightly darker, spicy, and fruity smell, go for Instant Karma, a warm and cozy candle. Instant Karma features the dreamy blend of cardamom, nashi pear, black plum, geranium, vetiver, cedarwood, and black tea. Last but certainly not least, Off The Grid is an amber candle that brings together amber, lily, musk, and sandalwood to provide the ultimate warm, calming scent. 

Reach for Potpourri

One of the easiest ways to add a delightful, spa-inspired fragrance to your home is to use potpourri. It may sound fancy, but potpourri is just a mix of dried petals and spices that you can place in your bathroom to fragrance the space. 

When putting together your potpourri sachets, think of ingredients you love, like dried or fresh eucalyptus leaves, cinnamon sticks, or rosemary springs, and an essential oil blend to pour over them. Once you’ve made your potpourri, you can display it in a pretty paper bag or mason jar. 

Revamp Your Laundry Detergent

When you think about your bathroom, you might not immediately think about your clothes, but the smell of your clothes can impact the entire smell of your home. That’s why using a special detergent like the Rain Check Everything Wash can make all the difference. 

This wash combines bergamot, geranium, pink pepper, moss, orcanox, and vetiver. It will leave your laundry smelling clean and crisp, so any time you’re in your bathroom, you’ll contribute to its fresh scent. 

Your At-Home Spa 

If you walk into a spa and immediately feel a little bit calmer thanks to its smell, know that you can create that spa-like atmosphere at home. All you have to do is identify your favorite spa-like smells (you already know our top picks!) and figure out the best way to incorporate them into your bathroom decor. 

If you have a larger bathroom that is hard to fill with fragrance, a mechanical diffuser combined with a few scented candles may do the trick. For smaller, personal bathrooms, a jar of potpourri and a reed diffuser may be all you need. 

Sources:

Chemistry and bioactivity of Eucalyptus essential oils | Charles Sturt University

Effects of lavender on anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis | NIH

Lavender and the Nervous System | NIH

Re-discovering Sandalwood: Beyond Beauty and Fragrance | NIH