The sweet scent of freshly baked cookies, the smoky aroma of a roaring fire, the earthy fragrance of the Christmas tree, the allure of the holiday feast roasting in the oven all day long – these and so many more smells mix and mingle to mean only one thing: it’s Christmastime!
Christmas is such a fragrant time of year, so powerful that it leaves an indelible imprint that reminds us of years past all while creating new memories for us to cherish. You can recreate the delicious smells of Christmas ahead of time (without needing to roast a turkey every day) with these simple, all-natural crafts and DIYs.
Here are 12 fun and easy ways to kick start your Christmas season:
1. Stove Top Potpourris
Imbue your home with the scents of the season by adding a few choice ingredients to a pot, cover with water, and set to simmer, stirring occasionally. Keep the warming smells going all evening long by topping up the water as it evaporates.
Orange Cranberry
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- 3 sticks of cinnamon
- ½ cup of fresh cranberries
- 1 tablespoon of whole cloves
Rosemary Lemon
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Spiced Apple
- 1 apple, sliced
- 2 tablespoons of whole cloves
- Lemon peels
- 5 sticks of cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons of nutmeg
Pine Fresh
- 5 fresh sprigs of pine
- 3 sticks of cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons of whole cloves
- 2 tablespoons of whole nutmeg berries
- 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil
Lavender Blend
- 5 sprigs of fresh lavender
- 2 tablespoons of cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons of cardamom
- 2 tablespoons of cloves
- 2 tablespoons of nutmeg
2. Scented Pine Cones
Pine cones can be made into a great many beautiful things, but this craft project is all about the olfactory senses. Collect a dozen or so pine cones (or purchase some from here), give them a rinse under the tap, and sterilize them by heating them up to 250°F for 20 minutes. Once cooled, pop them into container with several drops of your favorite essential oil (cinnamon, Scotch pine, spearmint, nutmeg, or frankincense and myrrh would be suitably festive choices). Seal it up and allow the oils to mingle with the cones for one week, then toss them in a bowl and place in a spot that gets a lot of foot traffic.
Read the complete tutorial here.
3. Fresh Sage Wreath
Both decorative and aromatic, the fresh sage wreath is super easy to make. All you will need is a small styrofoam wreath form, lots and lots of fresh sage, a wide ribbon, and u-shaped floral pins. Since the sage will shrink as it dries, the trick is to use it in generous amounts when pinning it to the form. When you’re satisfied with the result, hang it up with a ribbon and bask in the lovely earthy scent. And you needn’t toss it after the holidays, simply pluck off a dried leaf or two and crush before adding it to your recipe.
See the full instructions here.
4. Layered Scent Candles
These Christmas candles, striped in white, green, red, and pink are absolutely adorable. But the best part? As the candle burns through each layer, a new scent is born! To pull it off, you will need soy or beeswax pellets, essential oils, crayons, candle wicks, and small glass jars.
Follow the step-by-step instructions here.
5. Aromatic Wax Fire Starters
Sitting around a roaring fire with loved ones is among the most treasured aspects of the holiday season. Kick it up a notch by crafting these functional and fabulous fire starters. Collect an array of nice smelling things: cinnamon sticks, dried rosemary, whole cloves, small pine cones, bay leaves, and any other ingredient that smells of Christmas. Using a muffin tray and liners, distribute these elements equally and place a length of wick in the center of each “muffin”. Melt beeswax or soy wax on the stove top and pour, ensuring the ingredients are at least partially covered in wax. Allow your fire starters to cool completely before using.
See how it’s done here.
6. Scented Christmas Ornaments
A quick and easy project that takes all of 10 minutes to complete, the dough for these tree ornaments is made from items that are probably already in your kitchen: baking soda, corn starch, and water. Heated up on the stovetop until thickened, add glitter, food coloring, and Christmas-y essential oils like peppermint, spruce, orange, or cinnamon. Once cool to the touch, roll it out and use a cookie cutter for shaping. You can also use a stamp to leave decorative imprints on the surface of the dough.
View the complete tutorial here.
7. Citrus Pomander
Placed in a bowl, hung from windows, or used to decorate the Christmas tree, citrus pomanders look pretty neat and are naturally fragrant. Studded with whole cloves and traced with designs using a citrus zester, pomanders can be made using oranges, lemons, and limes. For longer-lasting fruit, hang your finished pomanders in a dark and cool spot for a week until they are completely dried.
Read the full instructions here.
8. Homemade Reed Diffuser
A gentle way to scent your home, homemade reed diffusers are so simple to make and, unlike commercial air fresheners, are entirely non-toxic. You’ll need bamboo skewers, a glass or ceramic bottle with a narrow opening, some festive essential oil blends, and either sweet almond oil, vodka, or rubbing alcohol as the base liquid.
Get the step-by-step instructions here.
9. Winter Spice Potpourri
A warm blend of cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, oranges, and apples, winter spice potpourri will stay fragrant for months at a time. When it begins to lose its scent, toss the potpourri into a pot on the stove and cover with water to get one last burst of festive aromas.
See the full instructions here.
10. Green and Red Wax Melts
Candle warmers, like this one, are a wonderful way to make your home smell amazing without worrying about compromising your indoor air quality. Although you can use any type of candle with a candle warmer, these DIY wax melts are quite cost effective and really simple to make. Dyed green and red and scented with vanilla, you can use any molds you happen to have on hand – even an old ice cube tray would do the trick.
Click here to see how it’s done.#
11. Peppermint Soap
To get crafting your own soaps, you’ll need only three basic items: shea butter or goat’s milk soap base, peppermint essential oil, and a silicone mold like this one. Make a large batch in order to place peppermint soaps in every bathroom in your home – and any extras you have would make for a thoughtful gift.
Get the full tutorial here.
12. Christmas in a Bottle
Spray and spritz your way into jolly memories of holidays past with this superbly simple essential oil recipe:
- 60 drops of sweet orange + 10 drops of cinnamon bark + 20 drops of silver fir
Using a small spray bottle (around 2 ounces is good), fill it up with water and shake. Use it in rooms that desperately need a quick dose of Christmas cheer. This spray can also be a wonderful stocking stuffer – give it a professional touch by affixing a label.