In a previous blog I told you about my 2-year-old daughter’s insistence that we get our Christmas decorations up on the double. Last night we finished getting up all but a few (I winced each time I unwrapped decoration after decoration–all were neatly swaddled in tissue paper—the pain derived from the thought of how long it would take me to take down all that we were putting up). But, Christmas only comes once a year and since we will be only spending part of it at home this year I figured I would indulge my daughter and get a jumpstart on decorating.
It’s been hours since the last box was opened, but I can still smell the sweet scent of cinnamon and pine. Mind you these smells came from holiday items, which evidently had been well preserved in plastic containers for more than 10 months. I am still surprised at how intense the smell is. I love it… and considering I have yet to add my “natural decorations” to our home I can only imagine what this place will smell like in the weeks to come.
The experience served as a reminder to me about how often we scurry around trying to deck our halls to achieve that “It’s-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-Christmas” feel in our homes, but often we overlook the way our home smells during the holidays.
Fragrance and scents are an essential element of the holiday season. If you aren’t incorporating “natural” scents of the outdoors inside you can purchase holiday themed sprays and potpourris. One of my favorites is Aromatique’s “The Smell of Christmas,” which blends red berries, evergreen sprigs and cinnamon sticks. Last year I received a hostess gift called “Fragrant Holiday Boughs.” They were boxes filled with branches of Noble Fir, Incense Cedar and specialty pinecones, which filled our home with the scents of the woods. These are the boxes I mentioned earlier—10 months later their intense scent has only dimmed a little.
You can also create an aromatic ambiance by spreading cinnamon and vanilla scented candles throughout the house. And don’t forget the true “natural” scents of the season—the ones from your kitchen. The aromas of freshly baked gingerbread, hot spiced cider, pumpkin pie, freshly baked cookies, and turkey all bring a naturally festive air into your home.
Related Articles:
Natural Christmas Décor Part 2
Creating A White Christmas–Indoors
Holiday Gift Ideas From Elton John