How to Get Rid of Cooking Smells: Fresh Kitchen Tips That Actually Work

There is nothing better than the smell of something delicious cooking. There is nothing worse than still smelling it the next morning. Fish, curry, fried food and burnt toast all have a habit of hanging around, especially in winter when the windows stay shut. Here is our practical guide to clearing cooking smells properly, and using fragrance the right way once you have.

The golden rule: remove first, fragrance second

The biggest mistake people make is trying to cover a cooking smell with a strong air freshener. You end up with a strange mix of fried onions and floral spray, which is often worse than either on its own. Home fragrance works best on a clean canvas, so the first job is always to get rid of the smell itself.

Before you cook

• Turn the extractor fan on before you start, not halfway through when the kitchen is already full of smoke.
• Open a window, even a crack, to give the air somewhere to go.
• Close internal doors so smells do not drift into bedrooms and living rooms.
• Use lids on pans where you can. They trap a surprising amount of steam and smell.

While you cook

• Keep the extractor running and on a high setting for strong-smelling dishes.
• Watch the heat. Smoking oil produces the most stubborn smells. Cook at the right temperature rather than as hot as possible.
• Deal with spills straight away. Food burning onto a hob or oven floor will keep smelling every time you cook.

After you cook

• Leave the extractor on for 10 to 15 minutes after you finish.
• Wash up promptly. Greasy pans and dishes left in the sink are a major source of lingering smells.
• Empty the bin if it contains food waste, especially fish skins or meat packaging.
• Wipe surfaces, including the hob, splashback and extractor hood, where grease settles.

Simple tricks for stubborn smells

• Simmer citrus. A pan of water with lemon or orange slices simmered for a few minutes freshens the air naturally.
• Bicarbonate of soda. A small bowl left out overnight can absorb odours.
• Fresh air through the house. Opening windows at opposite ends of the house for ten minutes creates a through-draught that clears smells fast.
• Wash fabrics. Tea towels, oven gloves, curtains and cushions near the kitchen absorb smells. Wash them regularly.

Do not forget the hidden culprits

If your kitchen smells stale even when you are not cooking, check these:

• Extractor hood filters, which trap grease and need cleaning or replacing.
• The fridge, where forgotten leftovers lurk.
• The dishwasher filter and seals.
• The sink drain and plughole.
• Under the cooker and behind the bin.

Now add fragrance

Once the air is clean, home fragrance can make the kitchen smell inviting rather than simply neutral. Some tips:

• Choose fresh or fruity scents. Citrus, green apple, pear and juniper work brilliantly in kitchens. Heavy, sweet or smoky scents can clash with food.
• Use a room spray for an instant lift once the cooking is done and the extractor has cleared the air.
• Keep a reed diffuser in the kitchen for a steady fresh background scent, placed away from the hob.
• Light a candle after dinner, not while you cook, so you are not competing with the food. Keep it well away from the hob and anything flammable.
• Avoid scenting near food prep. Keep candles, sprays and diffusers away from areas where food is prepared or served.

The honest bit

No fragrance can fix a kitchen with a blocked extractor filter or a forgotten bag of rubbish. If a smell keeps coming back, find the source. And some smells, like fish or burnt food, can take a day or two to disappear completely from soft furnishings. Be patient, keep the air moving and wash anything that has absorbed the smell.

Our take

Clearing cooking smells is mostly about ventilation and quick clean-ups. Fragrance is the finishing touch, not the fix. Once the air is fresh, a bright, clean scent makes your kitchen feel welcoming again. Explore our room sprays and reed diffusers, all handmade in the UK by our family-run team in Glossop.

Any designer fragrance or brand names referenced on this blog are trademarks of their respective owners. Elements of Fragrance is an independent, family-run brand and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to any of these brands.