Much of what makes our houses feel right at home during the holidays is the cozy décor, inviting wall decorations, and holiday decorations—but there’s one aspect of decorating that shouldn’t be overlooked: making your home smell like the holidays.
Whether it’s cinnamon and cloves blended with warming herbs, or pine and fresh wood chippings, there’s an unmistakable scent, and keeping that in mind can make your home conscious and festive this season. Here are some expert tips on how to bring this scent into your space naturally (and easily).
Create Scented Ornaments
Of course, we’ve all heard of scented candles and probably have them installed in our homes, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and more. But when it comes to Christmas decorations, you can get a little creative.
” “Mix your own dough with applesauce, cinnamon, and plain old white glue. Then use a rolling pin to partially flatten the mixture between the plastic wrap. You can then use cookie cutters to create the shape you want. Use a straw in the Poke a hole in the top to attach the string later. Cook them in the oven until set.”
Not only are they non-toxic and easy to make yourself, but these DIY designs can also be used as tree or mantel decorations.
Diffuse a Christmas Oil Mix
Whether you swear by them or just love the smell of them, an intentional blend of essential oils in your space can bring all the Christmas cheer.
“A mix of cypress, cinnamon bark, myrrh, sweet juniper berries, and wild orange creates a festive winter vibe,” says Joshua Blackburn, founder and director of design and construction at Evolving Home. You can put the mixture directly into a diffuser, or put it in a spray bottle, he says.
Some other ways you can add essential oils at home are by putting a few drops on dryer sheets or dryer balls and adding them to your laundry routine, spritzing on towels and sheets, or as a centerpiece Spray on everything (even your tree) for a whole house scent.
Keep the Drinks Flowing
One of the easiest ways to give your home a holiday vibe is to have a stacked cup of hot beverage on the stove at all times. An easy way to do this is to infuse cider with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, pumpkin or cloves. And hot chocolate, eggnog, or coffee with a festive twist.
“You can even make pine needle tea,” says RusticWise co-founder and editor-in-chief Theresa Tesolin. Simply collect and clean the pine needles, soak them on the stovetop, and season with honey or sugar.
If drinks aren’t your thing, you can infuse them with various festive ingredients just for their scent. Orange zest mixed with cloves, cinnamon, cranberries, and even rosemary can do the trick.
Clean With Intention
Sure, there are plenty of ways to improve the smell in your home, but what about changing the way you clean? Healthily Rooted Home founder Kyrie Luke shares some cleaning tips that go a long way toward getting rid of holiday smells.
“Mix baking soda and pine essential oil and sprinkle on the carpet before vacuuming,” she says. Luke also encourages the use of essential oils, but instead of spraying them everywhere, she recommends sprinkling them in trash cans to reduce bad smells.
You can also upgrade your soaps with more wintery scents: pine, cinnamon, or even vanilla, which will not only make your hands smell good, but your entire bathroom as well.
Make Homemade Potpourri
If you’re looking for another natural DIY method, make your own richly scented potpourri blend. Start with whole fruits and herbs such as orange, pine, cinnamon, apple, and more.
“Fruit is cut into thin strips and placed on an aluminum-lined baking sheet,” shares the interior design team at Retro Designers. “Bake at 200 degrees for 2 to 4 hours, turning occasionally or until dry. After baking, you can display the roasted fruit in a decorative bowl or vase and sprinkle with cinnamon sticks and pine sprigs. [Or] you can To make potpourri with roasted fruit: Simply add fruit and spices (such as cinnamon, pine, etc.) to a saucepan with 1 1/2 cups of water and simmer until fragrant.
You can also make a fragrant garland of roasted and dried fruit, strung with a needle and twine. However, be careful not to be too overpowering in terms of color and smell. Sometimes, less is more when it comes to the perfect fragrance.
Get Baking
One of the easiest (and perhaps cheapest) ways to fill your home with holiday vibes is to do more of what you’re already doing — baking. From roasting yams and chestnuts to baking Christmas cookies, there’s no doubt that baking brings festive cheer to the whole house.
Baking is a great way to liven up a house and create a “home” feeling for any of your guests. the best? You don’t have to spend more money than you already spend on ingredients.
Much of what makes our houses feel right at home during the holidays is the cozy décor, inviting wall decorations, and holiday decorations—but there’s one aspect of decorating that shouldn’t be overlooked: making your home smell like the holidays.
Whether it’s cinnamon and cloves blended with warming herbs, or pine and fresh wood chippings, there’s an unmistakable scent, and keeping that in mind can make your home conscious and festive this season. Here are some expert tips on how to bring this scent into your space naturally (and easily).
Create Scented Ornaments
Of course, we’ve all heard of scented candles and probably have them installed in our homes, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and more. But when it comes to Christmas decorations, you can get a little creative.
” “Mix your own dough with applesauce, cinnamon, and plain old white glue. Then use a rolling pin to partially flatten the mixture between the plastic wrap. You can then use cookie cutters to create the shape you want. Use a straw in the Poke a hole in the top to attach the string later. Cook them in the oven until set.”
Not only are they non-toxic and easy to make yourself, but these DIY designs can also be used as tree or mantel decorations.
Diffuse a Christmas Oil Mix
Whether you swear by them or just love the smell of them, an intentional blend of essential oils in your space can bring all the Christmas cheer.
“A mix of cypress, cinnamon bark, myrrh, sweet juniper berries, and wild orange creates a festive winter vibe,” says Joshua Blackburn, founder and director of design and construction at Evolving Home. You can put the mixture directly into a diffuser, or put it in a spray bottle, he says.
Some other ways you can add essential oils at home are by putting a few drops on dryer sheets or dryer balls and adding them to your laundry routine, spritzing on towels and sheets, or as a centerpiece Spray on everything (even your tree) for a whole house scent.
Keep the Drinks Flowing
One of the easiest ways to give your home a holiday vibe is to have a stacked cup of hot beverage on the stove at all times. An easy way to do this is to infuse cider with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, pumpkin or cloves. And hot chocolate, eggnog, or coffee with a festive twist.
“You can even make pine needle tea,” says RusticWise co-founder and editor-in-chief Theresa Tesolin. Simply collect and clean the pine needles, soak them on the stovetop, and season with honey or sugar.
If drinks aren’t your thing, you can infuse them with various festive ingredients just for their scent. Orange zest mixed with cloves, cinnamon, cranberries, and even rosemary can do the trick.
Clean With Intention
Sure, there are plenty of ways to improve the smell in your home, but what about changing the way you clean? Healthily Rooted Home founder Kyrie Luke shares some cleaning tips that go a long way toward getting rid of holiday smells.
“Mix baking soda and pine essential oil and sprinkle on the carpet before vacuuming,” she says. Luke also encourages the use of essential oils, but instead of spraying them everywhere, she recommends sprinkling them in trash cans to reduce bad smells.
You can also upgrade your soaps with more wintery scents: pine, cinnamon, or even vanilla, which will not only make your hands smell good, but your entire bathroom as well.
Make Homemade Potpourri
If you’re looking for another natural DIY method, make your own richly scented potpourri blend. Start with whole fruits and herbs such as orange, pine, cinnamon, apple, and more.
“Fruit is cut into thin strips and placed on an aluminum-lined baking sheet,” shares the interior design team at Retro Designers. “Bake at 200 degrees for 2 to 4 hours, turning occasionally or until dry. After baking, you can display the roasted fruit in a decorative bowl or vase and sprinkle with cinnamon sticks and pine sprigs. [Or] you can To make potpourri with roasted fruit: Simply add fruit and spices (such as cinnamon, pine, etc.) to a saucepan with 1 1/2 cups of water and simmer until fragrant.
You can also make a fragrant garland of roasted and dried fruit, strung with a needle and twine. However, be careful not to be too overpowering in terms of color and smell. Sometimes, less is more when it comes to the perfect fragrance.
Get Baking
One of the easiest (and perhaps cheapest) ways to fill your home with holiday vibes is to do more of what you’re already doing — baking. From roasting yams and chestnuts to baking Christmas cookies, there’s no doubt that baking brings festive cheer to the whole house.
Baking is a great way to liven up a house and create a “home” feeling for any of your guests. the best? You don’t have to spend more money than you already spend on ingredients.
