The smells of the holiday season can transport us to magical places; a sniff of peppermint and balsam can bring to mind frosty starlit sleigh rides through snow-caked woods, or snuggling up beneath a glowing Christmas tree with the family. Fresh-baked shortbread can bring to mind warm nights next to a crackling fire – or better yet, the thought of catching a glimpse of Saint Nick himself, draped in red velvet, about to munch on fresh cookies as the clock strikes twelve.
All-natural holiday fragrances
Recreating those festive scents can be as easy as adding a balsam-scented candle to your living room, but the problem is, many of those holiday candles or other fragrances are made from artificial chemicals – which can often end up irritating your senses.
5 ways to make your home smell like Christmas – naturally!
We’ve made a list (and checked it twice) of some DIY all-natural ideas to make your home smell like Christmas without releasing unpronounceable chemicals into the air. The bonus is, each idea below can double as beautiful and festive holiday decor!
1. Cinnamon-Peppermint Pine Cones
This one sounds like something your friendly neighborhood porcupine might whip up for a snack in his burrow. For your own burrow, these essential oil-infused pine cones are simple to make yet will infuse your living room, dining room or even bedroom with a natural potpourri of fresh peppermint and warm cinnamon. Careful not to take a bite!
Recipe:
- Spread 10 – 15 large pine cones on a baking sheet and bake them in the oven at 200°F for 45 minutes. This will kill any bugs, melt away any sap, and the heat will also open up the pine cone increasing its ability to soak up the essential oils in the next step.
- Allow the pine cones to cool, then place them inside a large plastic bag or lidded container. Add 5 drops cinnamon essential oil and 5 drops peppermint essential oil. Seal the bag or container, gently shake them up, then allow the pine cones to sit for a day.
- Pour pine cones into a bright, festive bowl and place on coffee tables, kitchen tables, or end tables. For an added bit of festive decor, attach the pine cones to some hemp string and hang them above a mantle or along a staircase!
2. Festive Cranberry-Orange and Balsam Simmer Pot
Other than a roaring fireplace, nothing heats you up faster than a bubbling stovetop simmer pot! This festive option will have your senses soaring as the smell of fresh oranges, spicy cloves, and tart cranberries float through your kitchen and throughout the rest of your home.
Recipe:
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- ½ stalk vanilla bean (or one tablespoon vanilla extract)
- 1 sprig rosemary
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger
- 2 whole star anise
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 3 sprigs fresh balsam
- 3 sprigs fresh pine
- 5 whole cloves
Keep topping up the water as it boils off, and enjoy the sweet and tart fragrance as well as the natural humidifying action!
3. Christmas Wax Melts
Homemade wax melts infuse the same joyous scents into the air as a Christmas candle, but the best part is you know exactly what ingredients are going into them. This makes an excellent craft you can do with the kids – or with friends and family. Enjoy the quality time these temptingly delicious wax melts bring!
Recipe:
- In a double boiler, melt ½ cup coconut oil and ½ cup beeswax granules. Grate 1 orange peel into the heating mixture.
- Remove mixture from heat and stir in:
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp whole cloves
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 tsp dried rosemary
- 1 tbsp allspice berries
Allow mixture to cool, pour into an ice cube tray mold, then let sit until firm. Pop-out the wax melts and store them inside a glass jar with a lid. Use one to two melts on your warmer at a time and enjoy the rich and spicy-sweet aroma!
4. Simple Sage Wreath
Sage is oh-so-fragrant, and with its silvery green foliage, it’s perfect fodder for a gorgeous wreath you can hang anywhere – from the kitchen to the bathroom! Another great family-craft, you can get everyone involved and create beautiful designs with just a hoop and a bundle of sage sprigs!
Recipe:
- Gather fresh sage, a small styrofoam wreath form or hoop, some green floral wire, and some festive-colored ribbon.
- Cut off sprigs of fresh sage, then arrange each around your form, securing each sprig with green floral wire.
- Once you’ve filled your hoop or form with sage, wrap festive ribbon around one end, and hang up to enjoy the fresh smell and the beautiful silvery greenery.
5. Holiday-Scented Sachets
Stuff extra tree or wreath trimmings into a cloth sachet, then stick them inside sock drawers, linen closets – even kitchen cupboards! For an added punch of fragrance, add a few drops of balsam, sage, orange, or pine essential oils into the sachet too!
Recipe:
- Grab extra bits of tree trimmings, or some fresh balsam or pine sprigs and stuff them into a festive cloth sachet.
- Add 5 – 10 drops of the essential oil of your choice – such as balsam, spruce, pine, peppermint, or even orange.
- Tuck the sachets into anywhere that can use a little bit of Christmas ‘flavor!’ Hide them inside sock drawers, inside the pantry and anywhere else you’d like.
Don’t forget to do some Christmas baking!
Adding these Christmas scents to your house adds that little bit of ‘je ne sais quoi’ – Noël-style, and will truly make your home a winter wonderland.
If you really want to top it off right, homemade seasonal baking, from shortbread to gingerbread, not only creates a gloriously delicious ambience in your kitchen that’s sure to draw guests in – it will also fill every belly with warmth and Holiday cheer.
But that’s just our opinion ;)
Feature Photo by carolyn christine on Unsplash
