I'm a homes writer and checked 100s of Amazon listings to bring you awesome home fragrance finds from just $9 – to keep your home smelling great all fall and winter

If there's one essential in winter, it's a cozy candle or festive fragrance to fill your home with scent, lifting your space and your mood.

From sweet gourmand scents to fresher, lighter fragrances, the way your home smells can have a real effect on the way you feel. Here, we spoke to fragrance and home experts to find out which Amazon home fragrance finds they recommend, so you can purchase with confidence.

These are our top picks of the best candles, diffusers and air fresheners to keep your home smelling great all winter.

5 scents to keep your home smelling great all winter

Berry

When it comes to festive, wintery scents, warm berry candles are the perfect way to make your home feel cozy and smelling great, and are a clever home scenting secret to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder.

'I am a big fan of berry scents in winter, says Larry Snider, vice president of operations at Casago, with over 20 years of experience in scenting vacation rentals. 'I find that it's a great winter scent that isn't too Christmas-centric.

'Don't get me wrong, I love the smell of pine, but once Christmas has passed, I find that I am a bit over that smell. Instead, berry scents are nice and sweet, and I don't get tired of them.'

All prices correct at time of publication.

Citrus

If you prefer a fresher scent, citrus scents are a home fragrance classic for a reason – and are particularly good if you like to make a home smell nice when sensitive to fragrance.

'I'm a real estate investor who has flipped over 30 homes,' says Harpreet Saini, CEO of We Buy Houses in Metro Detroit. 'I noticed that a nice-smelling home can make a huge difference in how long it takes to sell a house. Once, we flipped a home where simply adding fresh scents to the house make it smell 20% faster.

'It was amazing to see how a small change can make a big impact.'

I recommend the Fresh Wave Lemon Odor Eliminator Spray & Air Freshener available at Amazon, which is a non-toxic spray infused with lemon plant oils, perfect for refreshing fabrics without harsh chemicals and only $8.99.

Pine

My winter scent of choice is undoubtedly pine, and I love the Skandinavisk Skog Scented Candle, available at Amazon. It's a more unusual take on the classic scent, and smells much more fresh than overly woody, with notes of pine needles, fir cones, birch sap and lily of the valley.

It's also sustainably-farmed with non-GMO Swedish rapeseed wax with an FSC-certified beech wood lid. And, if you're wondering what to do with a candle when it's burnt out, I also love reusing the Scandinavian glass jars after use for makeup and brushes. Our dedicated-guide on how to get candle wax out of jars makes it easy to reuse candle jars around your house.

Karina Toner, operations manager at Spekless, also recommends pine scents for winter, and recommends using a diffuser such as the PRISTINE Balsam Pine Reed Diffuser available at Amazon.

She says, 'Pine fragrance brings a fresh, woodsy scent reminiscent of the outdoors during the colder months. Its subtle, long-lasting aroma adds warmth without being overpowering. Also, as reed diffusers are flame-free, they're safer than candles.'

Place the reeds in the diffuser to allow the natural, woody fragrance oils to diffuse into the air. 'Flip the reeds periodically to refresh the scent,' adds Toner.

Linen

The scent of fresh laundry and linen makes your home smell nice year round, so why not recreate it with a diffuser, suggests real-estate expert, Saini.

'The COCORRÍNA Reed Diffuser Set in Clean Linen available at Amazon is a game-changer for creating a welcoming atmosphere in living rooms and entryways,' she says. 'Its fresh, crisp aroma reminds me of freshly laundered sheets. This 6.7oz diffuser lasts for weeks, providing a consistent, pleasant fragrance that potential buyers always comment on.'

If you're considering reed diffusers vs scented candles, there are pros and cons to both a flickering candle and elegant reeds. Either can be suited to different homes and spaces, and our run-down of the best reed diffusers are all effective products to make a home smell expensive.

Firewood

Is there anything as synonymous with winter as a burning log fire? For the crackling sound and woody scent, there is nothing more cozy than curling up in front of one.

'During the winter months, it's all about creating a warm and inviting atmosphere with the right home fragrance,' says Mark Crames, CEO & chief perfumer at Demeter Fragrances, who recommends a firewood scent for this.

I love candles which recreate this smell, and recommend the Craft & Kin Smokey Fireside Candle available at Amazon, which has notes of cedar, smoke, patchouli and vetiver.

If you do have and use an actual one, make sure you know how to clean a fireplace, and how to start a fire in a fireplace to get set for winter.

FAQs

What is the longest-lasting way to scent a home?

While burning candles look beautiful and autumnal, if you want something that will really last, opt for a diffuser. Not only can these be refilled, the reeds will continue to dissipate scent throughout your home at all times, with long-lasting aroma.

You can also make a reed diffuser with essential oils, for a quick, easy and unique home-scenting trick.

When burning candles to keep your home smelling great all winter, our candle care guide details wick tips, vessel tips and how to avoid candle tunneling.