How much does smell factor into impressing home buyers?

We’ve all heard the selling wisdom that says fresh-baked cookies should be on your to-do staging list. Sure, it’s a nice idea, but how much is a nice scent going to factor into a buyer’s take on a prospective property?

A candle burning can be a homey, pleasant touch. But I wonder if scents that seem nice – vanilla, cinnamon, lavender – could backfire if they don’t appeal to certain types. On the other hand, I was walking out of Trader Joe’s the other day when a couple walked in and the man said, with a clearly-pleased smile, “It smells nice in here.” Had it been a house for sale, he looked ready to buy.

For those who don’t want to go the candle route, there are electric plug ins. Reed diffusers use oil and require no burning or electricity.

But is scenting more than one room in a house ever too much? Unlikely, says Rick Ruffolo, senior vice president of brand, marketing, and innovation for Yankee Candle Company, who I saw quoted on the topic at Realty Times. (Remember, he does sell candles for a living.)

"It's not like the person who put on too much perfume. A home is a very large place and it absorbs a lot of the fragrance so it would be pretty hard to overpower a house with too much fragrance," he said.

So, sellers, how scented are the rooms in your home? Buyers: Does a nice scent make a difference one way or another? Any thoughts, agents?