9 Seasonal Kitchen Cleaning Products That Are Basically Spring in a Bottle

One of the best parts of spring cleaning is opening up the windows and letting the fresh air and the scents of the season flow in. Sometimes it’s even nice to give those vernal fragrances a little boost with the help of an aromatic cleaning product, candle, or room spray. 

If you’re looking for a way to bring the scents of spring into your kitchen, consider these picks, with options from classic spring fragrances, to more complex, nuanced scents, to ones that read “fresh” all year-round. (A quick note: There’s no real hierarchy here, as it’s clear that there are many, many “spring-inspired” products, encompassing a wide range of fragrance profiles. The “best” is, of course, a matter of personal preference.)

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day is known for products in straightforward, botanically inspired scents made with essential oils. The company releases a line of limited-edition scents each season (we ranked its winter collection here), and while there isn’t a bad one in the bunch, two emerged as overwhelming favorites. 

While pure floral scents aren’t for everyone, this one might be our favorite. Simple, strong (but not overbearing), and an exact dupe for the real thing — this is spring in a bottle. Available as dish soap, hand soap, room spray, multi-surface cleaner, and room spray.

Another floral profile (that technically isn’t really a spring flower), rose is part of the Mrs. Meyer’s seasonal line. It also emerged as a universally appealing scent. It’s a little more subtle than the lilac, and would be especially lovely in a room spray or candle. For something a little springier, you might opt for the new peony scent.

I can freely admit that I first encountered Imaginary Authors through a targeted ad on Instagram — and boy did the algorithm nail me, because I’m smitten. Beyond the scents, everything about the brand is a little bit magical. The company’s namesake authors are, indeed, imaginary — but fully formed in their own universe, with photos, bios, and literary works (which give the scents their names). It doesn’t stop there. The packaging is enchanting, with graphics and designs that evoke decades including the ‘20s, ‘40s, and the ‘80s, and, to really bring things full circle, often resemble actual books. It’s probably no surprise that you do pay for this high-concept and attentive design, but it’s paired with wonderfully uncommon and complex scents, and if one speaks to you, I think it’s worth it. 

The only bar soap on our list, Meet Me in the Meadow is described as “exhilaratingly fragrant” with notes of grapefruit, linden, and pinot gris. I don’t even know what linden smells like, but this is bright and fresh in the best way. 

To classify this as “floral” is a bit of an injustice, but it definitely falls into that realm. A little heady without being overwhelming, this scent is described as having notes of jasmine, tulips, frankincense, wildflower honey, pink peppercorns, silver thistle, and alpine air. I cannot confirm or deny all that, but I do recommend the $48 candle. 

I was unaware that there’s a name for the distinct, earthy fragrance that often follows when rain falls on dry soil, but apparently, lots of people were — many makers sell candles and other products in this scent! Naturally, I then tried the well-reviewed petrichor candle from Only the Best Candles. Did it transport us to summer nights after a gentle rain? Not really. But it is very pleasant, indeed a bit earthy, and among the gentler, more unusual scents I sampled. 

An especially good choice if you’re trying to reduce and reuse, Blueland utilizes a “buy once, refill forever” system with all of its products made with Earth-friendly ingredients. I tried the best-selling foaming hand soap kit, which comes with a handsome glass bottle and tablets in scents of Iris Agave, Perrine Lemon, and Lavender Eucalyptus. To use, just fill the bottle with nine ounces of warm water, drop in a tablet and let it dissolve, then put on the pump. In addition to being eco-friendly, Blueland soaps are a good choice if you want a more delicate scent. I liked them all, but I’m particularly fond of the soft floral Iris Agave. When you run out, replacement tablets will only run you about $2. 

Most of Caldrea’s scents are nuanced mixes rather than bold single-note fragrances. Examples include Rosewater Driftwood, Lavender Cedar Leaf, and Basil Blue Sage. Our pick for a delicate, lightly floral spring scent is Pear Blossom Agave. You can bring it into the kitchen in the form of hand soap and lotion, dish soap, countertop and room spray, or a candle. If you truly can’t get enough, it’s also available as a laundry detergent and fabric softener! 

Williams Sonoma’s White Gardenia is a rich and luxurious scent that will bring a little bit of the sSouth into your kitchen. In addition to the sweet perfume of gardenias, the fragrance has notes of jasmine, tuberose, and citrus. This is a popular scent at WS, and you can get it in pretty much any form you want: countertop spray, all-purpose cleaner, hand soap, hand lotion, room spray, candle, and even gift sets. One note: The countertop spray is not antibacterial, so it’s for freshening up and wiping down, not disinfecting. 

I probably don’t need to tell you that the number of scents to choose from at Bath & Body Works is overwhelming. However, I can greatly simplify your shopping and confidently direct you to the retailer’s citrus-inspired fragrances. BBW nails the fresh, lively scents of lemon and orange across a few of its lines. I loved both the Kitchen Lemon gel and foaming hand soaps, as well as the White Barn Kitchen Mandarin foaming hand soap and Fresh Lemon concentrated room spray (a mix of tart lemon, zesty lime, and fresh linen).