There are many joys at Christmas time—family, sharing meals, giving gifts. While these are undeniably important, I look forward to a slightly more niece joy as December approaches: Christmas scents.
That’s probably because my childhood holidays were dominated by the smells of star anise and cloves simmering away on the stove in preparation for Christmas dinner. It’s a combination of scents you can’t really use at any other time of the year because they’re so closely linked to Christmas when paired together.
So, I will spend the precious weeks of the holiday season making the most of my favorite Christmas smells. Here are a few ways you can make your house smell like Christmas this year. Trying all of them might be overkill, but combining a few in different rooms will create a cozy and festive atmosphere, no matter where you are.
1. Christmas Simmer Pot
A Christmas simmer pot is one of the easiest ways to fill the house with cozy Christmas scents for the whole day (not the few minutes it takes for sprays to dissipate). It does need to be continuously heated to work, so I wouldn’t do this all day, every day, but it is my go-to for holiday parties and Christmas Day.
All you need to do is simmer fragrant ingredients that remind you of Christmas (oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and so on) in a pot of water. No complicated steps needed. The major benefit of a simmer pot is how quickly it works. Plus, it’s an effective and natural way to scent your space.
Get creative by customizing your simmer pot based on what you love. I gravitate toward the spicey notes, so I typically use a combination like this:
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 star anise
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 stems of fresh rosemary
- A few drops of vanilla extract
But there are so many ways to make the scent your own. Toss in orange slices or fresh cranberries for a fruity twist or pine needles for an earthy scent. If you don’t have the fresh ingredients at home, you can even add a few drops of essential oils like cedarwood to intensify the fragrance.
To keep the scent going all day, simply add more water as it evaporates. You can batch the ingredients in bags in advance to save yourself some time while holiday prepping. As a bonus, these cute bags also make great stocking stuffers.
2. Holiday Room Spray
If you’re looking for something more portable for rooms away from your kitchen, make your own Christmas room spray in a couple of minutes. There’s no need to purchase fancy and expensive sprays with Christmas scents—this version is far more budget-friendly and customizable to the smells you prefer.
The base of any room spray (not just a Christmas-scented one) is distilled water and witch hazel. Then, a few drops of essential oils bring the festive magic. You’ve heard the phrase oil and water don’t mix. That’s what the witch hazel is for. It helps the essential oils and water combine together to make the scents in the spray last much longer. The choice of essential oil scents is up to you.
As you would with a simmer pot, mix and match the essential oils to create your signature holiday scent. Eucalyptus, peppermint, and pine are ideal for fresh and natural scents. If you prefer something warmer and brighter, use cinnamon, vanilla, and orange. You can even make multiple sprays for different areas of your home if you want to go all out.
The trouble with room sprays is that the scent doesn’t last particularly long (at least not compared to other methods on this list). To bring the scent to life, spray fabrics like throw pillows, curtains, or even your Christmas tree. They will absorb the scent and slowly release it over time.
3. Fresh Greenery
Using fresh greenery to combine the benefits of Christmas décor and Christmas scents is a no-brainer. This is my favorite way to bring the outdoors in without actually having to go outside in the freezing cold.
The most obvious option for fresh greenery is using a real Christmas tree. You can’t get more festive than that. But for those who don’t have a real tree, there are still plenty of ways to incorporate fresh greenery into your decor.
Foliage like eucalyptus, pine, or fir have strong smells and look good in all their forms. Make a homemade foliage wreath, tie the branches together to form a garland, or use a few branches to decorate your dining table. If you don’t have the option to forage from your garden or nearby, ask a local florist. Mist your greenery with water every few days to keep it looking fresh and aromatic for as long as possible.
If fresh greenery isn’t an option, you can recreate the same effect with artificial trees and garlands. This is where your trusty room spray comes in handy. A light spritz on your fake tree or wreath will give it that real-tree smell that makes it much more convincing. Unfortunately, you will have to keep spraying to ensure the scent lasts.
4. Potpourri
I don’t think potpourri is as popular as it used to be. But it was a classic home décor option for good reason. Christmas potpourri is easy to make, long-lasting, and completely customizable. Plus, it’s great for filling decorative bowls or jars in your home to double as natural, homemade décor.
Just like you would with the previous options, create your own mix using things like dried orange slices (learn how to make your own), cinnamon sticks (Ceylon cinnamon is highly fragrant), star anise pods, and whole cloves with that unmistakable Christmas scent. Use festive foliage as a base, adding about half leaves and half other elements.
Fixatives are used in potpourri to slow evaporation, making the scents last longer.
Orris root is probably the most popular option, but there are many others available online to choose from. You can also add in some essential oils if you want a particular scent from a dried element you can’t find.
Add your ingredients together in a sealed container and leave it to cure for a couple of weeks. It’s best to start around November or even earlier so the potpourri will be ready to use over December. The great thing about potpourri is that it lasts for weeks, so you don’t have to worry about constantly refreshing it like you would with a simmer pot.
5. Christmas Candles
If you’ve already got a lot to do this holiday season, even a basic DIY may seem like too much effort. That’s where candles come in. There’s no need to shop for multiple ingredients or spend time crafting – simply choose your favorite scent, and light it.
Festive scents are not the only benefit candles offer. They’re also the best way to create instant ambiance, no matter what room you’re in. Once you get into the habit of lighting candles around your home in the evenings, it’s so hard to go back to harsh overhead lighting. And with so many Christmas-scented options out there, you’re spoilt for choice.
I like to place a couple of different candles in key areas around my home to keep the scent flowing from room to room. For extra ambiance, choose candles with wood wicks that crackle like a real fire, perfect for homes without fireplaces.
If you have pets or small children, a candle warmer is a great way to enjoy the scent of the candle without an open flame.
If you are feeling crafty but just love a good candle, why not make your own holiday candles? All you need is a wax base, candle wicks, and a few essential oils that scream Christmas. Pour the mix into a decorative jar and you’ve got a custom holiday candle that doubles as a great holiday gift.
6. Pine Cone Diffusers
Pine cones are a decorating staple of the festive season. But they’re not just beloved for their good looks.
Pine cones can also be used as natural diffusers around your home. They’re porous and absorb essential oils well, slowly releasing the scent over time.
You can find the steps to create your own pine cone diffusers here, along with a few other fun ways to use pine cones in your Christmas décor. If you’re collecting pine cones yourself, don’t forget to bake them first before you add the essential oils.
You can also use scented pine cones in your fireplace. Toss a few dried cones into the fire or use them as fire starters. As they burn, they’ll release a warm, spicy aroma.
7. Dried Garlands
Much like the potpourri, dried garlands give you the best of both worlds – festive décor and holiday scents. Depending on what Christmas theme you’re going for this year, you can pick which natural herbs, fruits, and spices you want to use to decorate your home.
Dried orange slices are one of the most popular choices for their fruity scents and bright pop of color. I also like to add whole spices with interesting shapes, like star anise. All you need to do is tie them to a piece of twine at regular intervals and hang your garland wherever it will get the most attention.
Drape your garland over your mantle, around your doorways, or even on your Christmas tree (they pair really well with Christmas lights). It adds a handmade touch to your décor that guests will definitely notice.
Once the dried fruit and spices are strung together, they’ll stay fragrant throughout the holiday season. And when Christmas is over, you can store the garland and bring it out again next year (although it may need a scented spritz to revive the fragrance).
8. Baking Christmas Cookies
The final way to make your house smell like Christmas is my family’s favorite because they get to eat cookies at the end. I’m yet to find someone who doesn’t love the smell of freshly baked cookies, especially around Christmas time. If you were planning on making them anyway, the warm and cozy scent is just an added bonus.
If you need a recipe, Editor Tracey Besemer breaks down the world’s best Christmas cookie recipe here. But any cookie recipe (particularly ones that include ginger or vanilla) is bound to fill your home with wonderful smells.
If you’re short on time, store-bought cookie dough works just as well. Simply pop it in the oven, and your home will be filled with the delicious smell of baking cookies. You get to enjoy the scent while also treating yourself to a warm, freshly baked cookie straight out of the oven.
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