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There are so many details that we want to get just right at this time of the year-decorations, lights, beautifully-wrapped packages (I see a blog on making festive bows in the near future!), recipes, and so much more. All of these Everyday Details Matter and contribute to the magic of the season but the one I want to focus on today is the wonder of scent. It is amazing how you can walk into someone's home and relive a hundred Christmas' past with just the faintest aroma of holiday smells. A hint of vanilla and I automatically think of baking cookies with my grandmother on Christmas Eve, a tradition we cherished as Christmas Eve is her birthday. A whiff of pine and I am transported to the mountains of West Virginia where we would visit family during Thanksgiving.
While baking or cooking savory dishes is often the most effective way of filling your home with holiday scents, it is just not possible to spend every waking moment in the kitchen. So, we turn to other options which add that final element to your decked out abode!
Years ago, I found an incredibly simple recipe for Holiday Scent. It takes less than five minutes to prepare and wafts incredible spiced fragrance throughout your home. There are a myriad of ways to alter this recipe, customizing it to your personal preferences or what you have on hand.
My go-to ingredients are:
1 cup of fresh cranberries
1 orange, quartered
1 tsp of nutmeg
2 or 3 cinnamon sticks
As you can see, I also love including fresh cloves when I have them on hand and I enjoy the cinnamon sticks from Williams-Sonoma. You will notice several ingredients and resources from Williams-Sonoma in different blogs as it is one of my all-time favorite places!
Just throw all of your ingredients into a sauce pan, cover with water and let simmer until just before all of the water evaporates. The cranberries will burst open and your home will smell like Christmas for hours! The best part about this process is that when finished you can store in an airtight container in the fridge and heat up a different time to get the same results. Just add more water and you are all set!
The possibilities are limitless but some other things you can simmer include apples, orange peels, fresh ginger, cardamom pods and star anise.
More recently I have discovered the Mulled Spice Ball, also from Williams-Sonoma where you can simmer these mulled spices in red wine or apple cider. Simply place your loose mulled spices or the spice sachets in the stainless steel ball, lock into place and lower into your hot liquid of choice. It takes just a few moments. You can mix and match by adding slices of orange or a cinnamon stick to the pot but the mulled spice ball really does the work for you and your home will smell amazing! Plus, you will soon have a tasty holiday beverage to enjoy.
Of course we sometimes need more of a quick fix when "holiday scenting" our home.
Personally, I have never been a fan of plug-ins or air-fresheners. Most of them are too strong for me, overpowering my spaces and seem to do more harm than good. Also, my father-in-law has allergic reactions to several of these so I have just never kept them stocked. Candles can also be hit or miss causing headaches or smelling not at all like their given name. However, one winter-themed candle that I have fallen in love with is Fresh Balsam by White Barn, Bath and Body Works. Absolutely lovely, this candle delivers the pine scent in a lighter and airier manner. I highly recommend!
I know that we have been talking about how you can include Scents of the Season in your home but let's not forget your own personal scent! If you are feeling a little adventurous and want to try a new fragrance during the holidays, there are some fun choices you can experiment with during this time of the year. I love Champagne Toast and Gingerbread Latte, both part of the holiday body spray lineup from Bath and Body Works!
So, as you are decorating, baking, cleaning, and wrapping, do not forget to to create those wonderful holiday scents in your home which will make your family and guests feel incredibly welcome and wonderfully nostalgic!
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