How To Make Your Home Smell Like Christmas Naturally

Don’t we all love the beautiful aromas of Christmas — those scents that whisk us right back to childhood? Maybe it’s the smell of cookies baking for Santa on Christmas Eve, or the fresh evergreen scent of a real tree picked up at the farmer’s market. This time of year is truly special, and we’ve gathered some fun ways to fill your home with merriment-inducing aromas that capture all the love and magic December brings. And because we prefer natural scents over artificial ones, get your pen ready! These festive favorites are worth making.

Let’s start with a holiday favorite: a Christmas potpourri simmer pot!

• Warm Sugar Cookie: Simmer a tablespoon of vanilla in a small pan for that warm, fresh-baked aroma.
• Spiced Fruit: Fill a pot with water and add sliced oranges, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves. A sprig of rosemary adds a cozy herbal touch.
• Freshly Cut Trees: For a fresh, tree-like scent, simmer a handful of pine needles with a few cinnamon sticks in water.
• Sugar & Spice: Get that “kitchen in full holiday mode” scent by simmering ground cinnamon, ground cloves, allspice, and half a vanilla bean in water.

Making a simmer pot is easy. Simply combine your chosen ingredients in a pot and fill with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Keep an eye on the water level and add more as needed so the pot doesn’t dry out.

This video demonstrates how to make a Christmas simmer pot:

If you don’t want to make a simmer pot, there are other ways to naturally scent your home for the holidays:

• Citrus garland: Thinly slice oranges, limes, or grapefruits and bake them until dried. Weave the slices onto twine to create a fragrant, rustic garland you can hang anywhere.
• Fresh pine garland: Drape real pine or fir branches around doorways, mantels, or stair rails. Add ornaments or red ribbon for an extra festive touch.
• Cinnamon sticks on a vent: Tie a bundle of cinnamon sticks with fire-safe ribbon or twine and attach it to the front of a heat vent. When the heat kicks on, the warm air releases a sweet, spicy scent.
• Orange & clove pomanders: Stud whole oranges with cloves to make a classic, long-lasting holiday decoration that smells incredible.
• Essential oils: Use a diffuser with seasonal oils like cinnamon, pine, or orange. For a quick room spray, add a few drops of essential oil to a spray bottle filled with water and shake before use.
• Scented fireplace logs: Add a single drop of orange or cinnamon essential oil to each log before placing it in the fireplace for a soft, seasonal fragrance as the fire burns.

Turn on your favorite holiday movie and let the nostalgic scenes inspire you as you infuse your home with comforting scents and seasonal charm. Not sure what to watch? This list is a great place to start.