I'll look into the vanilla option for sure! I'm currently using Versele-Laga Complete Rat & Mouse that contains yucca (125mg/kg) which is said to prevent odor as well.
Yeah, I'm aware of the consequences of over cleaning. I recently read this study done on the effects of different frequencies of changing the bedding as well. Seems that the mice actually don't find the cage inhospitable or dirty even after up to 21 days when it's completely soaked, but overall scientists argue that the bedding shouldn't be kept for more than 14 days.
But, in order to extinguish the smell without putting stress on the mice of high frequency cage-changes every week instead of every other, I'm looking for alternatives - such as the Odor Removing Bag.
"However, because of the scent-driven nature of mice and the fact their pheromone laden-cages are disrupted at the time of bedding replacement, cage changing could be considered to be stressful for the cage occupants. Animal users and caretakers therefore must weigh the stress induced by frequent bedding changes for ‘dirty cages’ against the realization that the perceptions of humans and mice may differ regarding what constitutes a dirty cage."
- Effects of Cage-Change Frequency and Bedding Volume on Mice and Their Microenvironment