Your sense of smell is the strongest of the senses, allowing you to recall 65% of scents after one year, while we remember only 50% of visual stimuli after just three months. It’s no wonder that many of our childhood memories involve scents, and that pleasant smells positively impact our emotions.
Christmas is full of gorgeous and mouth-watering aromas, from the sweet smell of dried fruits to the gentle scent of woodland and pine. But how do you keep those festive fragrances lingering in your home in the lead-up to the big day? Here are a few easy ways to make your home smell like Christmas.
If you have a spare ring on your hob on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, creating a heat-based potpourri simmer pot is a simple and natural way to make your home smell divine. Fill a saucepan (or a slow cooker if available) with water and set it on low heat. Add festive ingredients such as cinnamon sticks, orange slices, cloves and cranberries to create a nostalgic and fragrant simmer pot. Alternatively, use pine sprigs with cinnamon sticks for a cosy winter woodland scent.
Always check the pot regularly and top up with water to prevent it from drying out.
If your hob is occupied, traditional dried potpourri is a fuss-free way to spread seasonal fragrance. Our favourite combinations for Christmas include pinecones and warm vanilla. Or, spend a relaxing afternoon making your own by drying orange slices in a 140°C oven for three hours. Combine these with pinecones, cinnamon sticks and star anise in a bowl for a festive blend.
Display matters too. Choose a decorative container like a glass tray or a wide-opening bowl to help the scent circulate and to add a touch of style to your home.
Essential oils are a calming way to infuse your home with Christmas scents, especially in the evenings. Add a few drops of rosemary, frankincense or orange into a humidifier or aroma diffuser for a continuous stream of fragrance.
Reed diffusers are another fantastic option. Many come pre-blended with unique combinations like gingerbread, mulled wine or pine, offering ready-to-use seasonal aromas.
Oil Burners combine the soft glow of candlelight with the power of essential oils. Simply place a tealight beneath the burner and add oil on top to enjoy a heady blend of scent and light.
Essential oils are a calming way to infuse your home with Christmas scents, especially in the evenings. Add a few drops of rosemary, frankincense or orange into a humidifier or aroma diffuser for a continuous stream of fragrance.
Reed diffusers are another fantastic option. Many come pre-blended with unique combinations like gingerbread, mulled wine or pine, offering ready-to-use seasonal aromas.
Oil Burners combine the soft glow of candlelight with the power of essential oils. Simply place a tealight beneath the burner and add oil on top to enjoy a heady blend of scent and light.
Candles are perhaps the easiest and most atmospheric way to fill your home with Christmas fragrance. Not only do they give off a delightful scent, but they also add a gentle, warming light perfect for chilly evenings.
Scents like caramel pecan, pomegranate and clementine are especially comforting during the festive season and create a welcoming mood.
Subtle changes in everyday items like soaps and bath products can carry festive scents throughout your home. Shower gels and bath soaks with cranberry, cassis, shea butter or warm vanilla bring warmth to your bathroom and linger on your skin.
Products with spicy notes, such as muscle soaks scented like mulled wine, not only help ease tension after long shopping trips or parties but also smell wonderfully festive.
Let’s not forget that some of the best Christmas scents come from the kitchen. Spiced fruit cakes, gingerbread biscuits and anything with chocolate-orange flavour are sure to be a hit for both taste and smell. Baking these festive favourites will naturally fill your home with comforting aromas.
Let’s not forget that some of the best Christmas scents come from the kitchen. Spiced fruit cakes, gingerbread biscuits and anything with chocolate-orange flavour are sure to be a hit for both taste and smell. Baking these festive favourites will naturally fill your home with comforting aromas.
No matter which method you choose, surrounding yourself with the scents of Christmas is a simple yet powerful way to spark joy, create memories, and make your home feel truly magical this festive season.
