Sweet Smell In Your House? 13 Most-Common Sources

Sometimes, you might get a whiff of certain odors or smells in your house, indicating that something could be wrong.

When you smell something that’s out of the ordinary, it is not advisable to ignore and dismiss it.

One example is when there’s a sweet smell in your house. In most cases, the source can be obvious, such as baking or using cleaning products.

Sometimes, it’s not what you think. While you may think it’s a pleasant smell, it could also indicate that something is wrong in the house and needs fixing.

Here are the most common sources of a sweet smell in your house, starting with the harmless ones:

1. Household Products

Household products are one of the most common sources of sweet smells.

Many household products have chemicals that give them a sweet smell, which can sometimes be overpowering.

Some examples include cleaning and disinfecting products, air fresheners, deodorizing sprays, laundry powders, fabric softeners, and oven cleaners.

Many of these products are scented; some would have a sweet floral smell or a citrusy scent, depending on the variant you buy. If you don’t like the smell of these products, you can also opt for unscented ones.

2. Food

This is another common source of the sweet smell in the house.

If you like cooking or baking, you know that certain types of food, like desserts and pastries, can produce a sweet smell in your house.

This smell lingers for a few hours after you’ve cooked or baked.

3. Perfumes

If you or someone else in the household frequently uses perfumes, colognes, and body sprays, this could leave a sweet smell.

The sweet smell from perfumes may linger for a few hours or longer, depending on how much oil was used in the formula.

Generally, the smell of colognes doesn’t linger for too long compared to the smell of perfumes.

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4. Flowers

This is another common source of sweet smells in the house.

If you display fresh flowers in the house, it can produce a sweet and pleasant smell that stays in the air.

If you have a flower garden outside your house, then the sweet smell from the flowers can flow into your house as the air carries it.

5. Scented Candles and Incense Sticks

If you have scented candles or incense sticks in the house, then these are the obvious sources if you suddenly get a whiff of a sweet smell.

These items are meant to produce certain smells depending on the scents infused in them.

Some can have earthy smells, while most of them are made to smell sweet.

6. Rain

Yes, you read that right. The rain can be a source of a sweet smell in your house.

The smell of rain can be quite comforting as it has this familiar and somewhat sweet smell. This usually happens after the rain.

This particular smell is produced when plant oils build up in the air and disperse when it rains.

For some people, the sweet smell of rain is enjoyable.

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7. Refrigerator Leakage

A leaky fridge can be another source of a sweet smell in the house.

When your fridge starts to malfunction, then it may start to leak refrigerants. This substance plays an essential role in how a refrigerator functions.

Basically, it absorbs heat while leaving cool air behind. Refrigerants usually have a sweet smell.

If you get a whiff of a strangely sweet smell in the house, then check if your fridge is leaking, and if it is, you have to get it fixed right away before you start having more problems that can risk your safety.

8. Air Conditioning Leakage

If your air conditioner starts to leak, then it produces a sweet smell in the house.

It could be due to dirty air filters, clogged condensate drain lines, damaged or rusty drain pan, broken condensate pump, or incorrect installation.

If you start getting that weird sweet smell in the house, check if your air conditioner leaks.

If it is, turn it off immediately and contact a qualified HVAC technician to have it checked, so you’ll know what the problem is.

You have to get it fixed to prevent further damage to your air conditioner and avoid potential safety and health hazards caused by broken equipment.

9. Furnace Leakage

A leaking furnace could be another source of a sweet smell in your house.

Furnaces have a heat exchanger that pumps hot air through the air ducts.

The heat exchanger is a device that aids the process of heat exchange between two fluids with different temperatures, and if the fluids spill, they can produce a sweet smell.

Although this smell may seem pleasant, it can be a safety hazard for you and your household.

So if your furnace starts giving off a sweet smell, you must shut it off immediately and have it checked by a professional.

10. Mold or Mildew Growth

Mold and mildew growth usually produces a musty smell, but some types of mold or mildew can have a sweet odor.

This may not be a common source of sweet smells in the house, but it is plausible.

So if there’s a sweet smell in your house and it’s not coming from any of the above sources, then check your house for mold and mildew.

They are typically found in damp or humid areas such as the bathroom, kitchen, or basement.

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11. Pest Infestations

Some pests, such as ants and terminates, can produce a sweet smell, especially if they live in your house and build their nests in hidden nooks.

Although it’s not very noticeable unless there is a large infestation, some insects may produce a slightly sweet smell, which can linger in the house.

Again, if there’s a sweet smell in your house and it’s not coming from the sources above, then you may have a pest infestation.

To confirm, look for other signs of infestation and contact pest control services.

12. Chloroform

Another cause of a sweet smell in the house is the presence of chloroform.

Chloroform is a colorless, sweet-smelling gas you can find in the environment and some chemical products. It is generally harmless if it’s organic, but if it’s manufactured, too much of it can be hazardous to your health.

Some sources of manufactured chloroform include chlorinated water, cleaning and disinfecting products, pesticides and herbicides, and household products such as mothballs, air fresheners, and cosmetics.

Some of these products contain chloroform as an active ingredient.

Chloroform from these sources can be harmful because they are often produced through the reaction of chlorine with other compounds such as ethanol, methane, and acetone.

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13. Gas Leaks

Even though this may not be common, gas leaks can be sources of sweet smell in your house, and they can be quite hazardous, so they should be taken seriously.

Common sources of gas leaks in the house include gas appliances, gas pipelines that supply gas to your house, gas meters, gas valves, and gas cylinders that are used for heating and grilling.

Out of these sources, the most common are gas appliances, such as ovens, stoves, water heaters, and furnaces.

These appliances can leak in their supply lines when a component is broken or worn out.

This is the most hazardous of all the sources of a sweet smell in the house.

If a gas leak causes a sweet smell in your house, you must evacuate immediately and contact the gas company or fire department. Refrain from using any appliances or electrical devices as they can cause an explosion or fire if they ignite the gas.

Sources:

Why Is There A Strange Sweet Smell In My House?

Sweet Smell In The House? Find Out Why

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