Scented Wall Paint. Ever Tried It? Here’s What You Should Know

Scented wall paint? 

Could it be the antidote to your child's smelly bedroom, or a way to counteract bathroom odors?

Could it mean the end of having to spray fragrant aerosols or use plug-in air fresheners to keep your home smelling fresh and clean?

Could a coat of scented paint be the answer when you’ve gone nose blind to the odors inside your home?

Maybe. But how does it work? 

Scented paint additives

Scented wall paint is created by using scented paint additives, and lots of additives are available on the market. Some manufacturers advertise their products as air fresheners that simply use paint as a carrier, while others say their products are additives that transform paint into an air freshener. Toe-may-toe, toe-mah-toe.

How to use them

Most paint additives are applied in the same manner—you squirt or pour them into your paint, stir, and you’re ready to go. Some additives are only compatible with latex paints, while others can be used in both latex and oil-based paints. 

Manufacturers specify how many gallons of paint one bottle of scent will treat and indicate that the additive won’t affect the color or performance of the paint, and that the aroma can last a matter of months—usually two to four. Fragrances typically found on the market include vanilla, lavender, apple cinnamon, and linen.

If you're a renter or a landlord who wants to get rid of the scent of a previous tenant—like odors from pets, cigarette smoke, and cooking—this could be a viable option. 

Testing the scent

Although the scent of an additive may be appealing on a scratch-n’-sniff label, avoid adding it into an entire gallon of paint right away. It's best to test it out in a sample container of paint first to make sure you still find the scent appealing after it's combined. You don't want to waste an entire gallon of paint. You may even want to test the scented paint on a portion of a wall to see how the fragrance fits your space before going full-throttle.

If you get tired of the scent

If you enjoy the scent, but later grow tired of it on your walls, some additive manufacturers say you need to cover over the scented paint using a primer/sealer.