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As November gives way to December and the countdown to Christmas begins, you can feel the excitement in the air. Around this time, the air is filled with the sights, sounds, and scents of Christmas. Use these ideas on how to make your home smell like Christmas to get started. Then add your own twist to customize those scents to make them your own.
Those distinctive Christmas aromas are among the most characteristic and loved scents of the year. That warm and inviting aroma evokes feelings of joy, nostalgia, and home.
Coming up with creative ways to make your home smell like Christmas is an easy and fun way to fill your home with memories and nostalgia.
From the comforting aroma of freshly baked cookies to the crisp scent of evergreen trees, these smells can take you back to cherished memories of years gone by. They are also an invitation to create new memories.
Start with these 25 ways to make your home smell like Christmas. They are very easy and encapsulate the true scents of the season. As the season progresses, brainstorm a few more ideas of your own.
1. Craft Homemade Christmas Potpourri
Potpourri is the easiest way to add delightful seasonal scents to your home. But this is not the regular year-round potpourri.
When making Christmas potpourri, you’ll want to use an assortment of items that are evocative of the season. Think orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and other Christmas spices.
Add a few drops of Christmas-scented essential oils such as cinnamon, peppermint, or orange to enhance the fragrance.
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and place it in your living room, bathroom, or any area that could use a touch of Christmas cheer.
Get more natural Christmas potpourri recipes and ideas on how to use your creations around the house as well as gift-wrapping ideas for giving away to family and friends.
2. Create an Aromatic Simmer Pot
A simmer pot is a simple and customizable way to infuse your home with the scents of Christmas.
To create your own aromatic blend, add your favorite Christmas fruits and spices to a saucepan and let it simmer gently on the stove. The fragrant steam will fill your space with a wonderful warm and delightful aroma.
Experiment with different ingredients such as cranberries, citrus slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and pine needles to create your desired Christmas scent.
Remember to keep an eye on the pot and add more water as needed. This method is perfect for all-day use when you’re home and want to enjoy the cozy ambiance and delightful aroma.
Diffusing Christmas essential oils is an easy and convenient way to fill your home with the scents of Christmas. Simply add a few drops of your favorite holiday-themed essential oils to the diffuser, and let it disperse the aroma throughout the room.
You can also experiment with combinations of peppermint, clove, ginger, and cedarwood for a refreshing and nostalgic scent. Or choose from these Christmas diffuser blend recipes.
Don’t have an essential oil diffuser? That’s okay. These are 25 ways to use Christmas essential oils without a diffuser.
Special Mention: Take a look at Plant Therapy’s seasonal scents for 2023. It includes a set of three classic Holiday blends – candy cane, Christmas tree, and sugar cookie, Christmas-scented candles, and carpet freshener, and a beautiful Christmas ornament passive diffuser.
4. Make Orange and Clove Pomanders
Orange and clove pomanders are incredibly easy to make and can add a touch of traditional charm to your holiday decorations.
These fragrant spheres not only look beautiful but also release a pleasant, spicy scent that fills the air. This is a great activity to do with kids as it uses all natural ingredients that are safe for kids.
To make orange and clove pomanders, you’ll need firm, fresh but not-too-ripe oranges (navel oranges work well and whole cloves.
That’s it!
Simply pierce each clove bud into the orange rind. A popular design is to make rows of cloves in a crisscross or spiral pattern but that’s not absolutely necessary. They look just as great when arranged randomly.
The closer the holes, the more cloves you’ll use and the stronger the aroma will be.
To add a decorative touch, tie a ribbon or string around the orange in a crisscross pattern, securing it at the top with a bow. You can also attach a cinnamon stick at the top for a lovely finishing touch.
Place your pomanders in a cool, dry place for about 2-4 weeks. This drying process allows the orange to shrink and harden, preserving the cloves and intensifying the scent.
Once your pomanders are fully dried and hardened, they are ready to be displayed. You can hang them from a hook, place them in a decorative bowl, or use them as scented ornaments for your Christmas tree.
These homemade orange and clove pomanders will last the entire month.
5. Light Christmas-Scented Candles
Candles have long been associated with creating a cozy and festive ambiance. It’s among the first things you think about when you want to create a hygge atmosphere.
While lighting candles with any scent will create a hygge ambiance, when you looking for ways to make your home smell like Christmas, you’ll want to choose candles with Christmas-inspired fragrances. Think sugar cookies, balsam fir, cinnamon, vanilla, pine, or gingerbread.
When buying candles, make sure you’re buying from a reputed brand that uses only nontoxic ingredients. The Yankee Candle brand is among the best for candles in terms of quality as well as scent.
If you have the time, make your own beeswax candles and scent them with Christmas essential oils. Beeswax and essential oils are both natural, nontoxic substances so you needn’t worry about inhaling dangerous smoke.
Place them strategically throughout your home to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Remember to always practice candle safety and never leave lighted candles unattended.
Scented candles are just one of 12 ways to create a cozy hygge Christmas.
6. Place Christmas Wax Melts In A Wax Warmer
Using Christmas wax melts is an excellent alternative to candles if you prefer a flameless option especially if you have small kids or pets at home.
Place the wax melts in a wax warmer, and enjoy the delightful fragrance without worrying about an open flame.
Making your own Christmas-themed wax melts is a super easy and creative project.
– Melt soy or beeswax in a double boiler
– Add a few drops of your favorite Christmas essential oil or lend.
– Pour the melted wax into silicone molds and let them cool and harden.
This DIY approach allows you to customize the scents and create unique combinations for a personalized Christmas experience.
7. Use Scented Pinecones As An Decor Accessory
Pinecones make great décor accessories during the Holidays. Instead of decorating with plain pinecones, consider scenting the pinecones you collect.
Scented pinecones are a fun and festive way to add the scents of Christmas to your home décor. See how easy it is to make your own scented pinecones.
For a super simple idea, roll pinecones in a mixture of cinnamon and water and bake them in the oven for a while to dry. They’ll release a lovely cinnamon scent.
8. Bake Festive Treats
Nothing fills a home with the delightful scents of Christmas quite like the aroma of freshly baked treats.
Whip up some classic holiday recipes like sugar cookies, cinnamon rolls, or spiced apple pie. The combination of spices, vanilla, and warm baked goods will create an irresistible fragrance that will have everyone’s mouths watering.
Not only will your home smell amazing, but you’ll also have delicious treats to enjoy with loved ones.
9. Build Your Own Gingerbread House
Take your festive baking to the next level by building and decorating a gingerbread house.
Yes, it’s time-consuming but the fun you’ll have in the process is totally worth it. Don’t forget to keep your camera handy to capture the process.
The baking process and the gingerbread itself will fill your home with the comforting scent of ginger and spices.
1o. Decorate With Fresh Greenery
Decorating your home with fresh greenery is a great way to add a natural smell of Christmas to your home décor.
Collect fresh pine branches and sprigs of fir, or holly in decorative bowls or use them to decorate your mantle, tables, and doorways and let the natural scent of pine or fir will fill your space.
11. Create a Natural Garland
Make a garland using intertwining fresh pine branches, cedar, or spruce with decorative and aromatic elements such as cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices, and pinecones.
Hang the garland along stair railings, mantels, or doorways to infuse your home with the invigorating scent of the outdoors.
As a bonus, the natural greenery will add a touch of rustic charm and elegance to your holiday decor.
12. String A Cranberry Garland
String fresh cranberries on a garland and hang it in your home. As the cranberries dry, they’ll release a tart and fruity aroma.
14. Make Holiday Potpourri Sachets
Fill small muslin or jute sachets with a mixture of dried orange peel, cinnamon sticks, cloves, rosemary sprigs, and dried cranberries.
Place them in drawers and closets or hang them on your Christmas tree for a festive aroma.
For an even easier idea, fill small sachets with dried pine needles or sprigs and place them in your closets and drawers. They’ll emit a natural pine scent.
14. Switch Over To Holiday Scented Body-Care Products
Every year, several reputed brands launch a range of body-care products such as lotions, moisturizers, and body washes in the scents of the season.
My favorite Christmas-scented moisturizers are from Bath & Body Works. In addition to their products being of the highest quality, they smell divine too.
If you like the idea of scented body care products but want to go the DIY route, you’ll love these Christmas-scented sugar scrub recipes. It takes just a couple of minutes to make sugar scrubs with essential oils and they make delightful gifts. Make enough to add to Christmas gift baskets.
15. Use Holiday Scented Bath-Care Products
As with moisturizers. Bath and Body Works makes the most delightful bath care products too.
Or why not make your own? It’s amazingly simple to make soaps, bath bombs, and shower steamers at home.
Get detailed instructions on how to make bath bombs with essential oils. To achieve the desired aroma, all you need to do is switch out the regular scent mentioned in the recipe with a Christmas scent.
For an even simpler Holiday-scented bath, use Christmas essential oils in the bath or in the shower.
Or make a batch of Christmas-scented melt and pour soaps for kids and pack a few as stocking stuffers. Or let your kids help you make these soaps to give away as gifts. It’s a fun, safe and very easy activity for kids of all ages.
16. Spritz Room Sprays With Christmas Scents
Spritzing the room with a room spray is a quick and effective way to instantly freshen up any space with the scents of Christmas.
Make your own room spray by mixing water, witch hazel, or vodka with a few drops of your favorite Christmas essential oil in a spray bottle.
Shake well before each use and spritz the air, curtains, or linens to infuse the room with a delightful aroma.
Some popular holiday room spray blends include candy cane, Christmas tree, and spiced cider. Get creative and customize your own signature scent to make your home truly unique and inviting.
17. Make Your Own Natural Christmas Wreath
A fresh Christmas wreath on your front door is a beautiful and festive way to add the smell of Christmas to your home. You can make your own wreath or purchase one from a local store.
18. Use Scented Fire Logs
If you have a fireplace, consider using scented fire logs.
These logs are designed to release fragrant scents like applewood or hickory while burning.
19. Put Up A Real Christmas Tree
Putting up a real Christmas tree is a wonderful way to make your home smell like Christmas.
If you’re using a faux tree with artificial pine needles, make sure to spray the area with this Christmas tree essential oil.
20. Make a Scented Christmas Centerpiece
A beautiful Christmas centerpiece can add a touch of festive elegance to your home.
To make your house smell like Christmas, ditch the artificial option and make your own natural centerpiece with fresh pine, cedar, and fir twigs and sprigs.
Decorate your homemade creation with scented candles, scented pinecones, dried cranberries, and dried orange slices.
21. Make Homemade Vanilla Extract
It’s easy to make vanilla extract by infusing vodka with vanilla beans.
The sweet aroma of vanilla will fill your kitchen when you use it for baking.
22. Decorate With Dried Orange Slices
Oranges are a classic and versatile Christmas fruit. They have a distinctive seasonal scent and can be used in a variety of ways, from edible treats to decorations.
Dry orange slices and use them as part of the decoration on homemade Christmas centerpieces, place them in bowls along with scented pinecones or scatter them over a bed of pine leaves. Not only will they add a fresh citrusy scent to your Christmas decor but they will also intersperse the green leaves with bursts of color.
String dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and bay leaves together to create a scented garland. Hang it over doorways, on the mantel, or from your towel rack in the bathroom.
A brilliant way to use oranges to make your home smell like Christmas is to make orange peel powder and sprinkle little bits on any of your decorative items from this list. Organic orange peel powder is edible and can be safely added to your baked treats to give them a subtle citrus flavor.
Made a large quantity of orange peel powder? You’ll love these 20 creative ways to use orange peel powder for skin, hair, and home.
23. Brew A Carafe Of Christmas Coffee
Treat yourself to holiday-themed coffee with flavors like peppermint mocha or gingerbread. The coffee aroma will permeate your kitchen and nearby areas.
24. Brew A Kettle Of Chai Tea
If you’re a tea drinker, treat yourself to a mug of piping hot chai tea.
Chai tea is a special type of tea that Indians drink. To make chai tea, boil black tea leaves with a mix of cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, star anise, and cloves. Adjust the type and quantity of spices to suit your palette.
Boil the tea leaves and spices for 2 minutes, put off the fire, and cover the pot. Let it stand for a minute to let the flavors seep and meld, then strain the tea into a mug. Traditionally, chai tea is had with a little bit of milk but you can have it black too.
23. Use Holiday Scented Cleaning Products
Make your cleaning routine a festive experience by using Christmas-scented cleaning products.
Look for all-purpose cleaners, dish soaps, and laundry detergents with scents like peppermint, cranberry, or pine. Not only will you have a sparkling clean home, but the delightful aromas will linger and contribute to the festive atmosphere.
Whether it’s the soothing aroma of simmering potpourri, the spicy allure of cinnamon, or the refreshing scent of evergreen, each fragrance carries its own festive charm.
Once you know how to make your home smell like Christmas, the possibilities are limitless.
Ready to embark on your scent-sational journey? Begin by selecting one or more of these ideas above to make your home smell like Christmas.
Don’t forget to share your favorite fragrances and experiences with us in the comments below. And if you found this blog post helpful, why not spread the holiday spirit further? Share it with your friends and family, and let’s make this festive season one to remember!
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to serve as medical advice. Please consult your doctor before using any natural medication or if you experience any unusual symptoms. See Full Disclaimer here.
