Cinnamon. At Christmas, its scent invests our homes thanks to food preparations and decorations: we are talking about the unmistakable cinnamon. This spice is obtained from the dried bark of Cinnamomum, of which there are many varieties, and we can find it in powder or in cylinders (the sticks).
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without cinnamon. Cinnamon cookies, cinnamon waffles, mulled wine, punch...these are all refined with cinnamon. Cinnamon is obtained from the inner layer of the bark of evergreen cinnamon tree.
One of the most iconic Christmas smells is pine needles. This smell is often associated with Christmas trees, wreaths, and other decorations made from pine branches. What is this? For many people, the scent of fresh pine is synonymous with the Christmas season.
Rosemary Christmas trees are a popular holiday gift and a favorite of home chefs. They are easy to care for and add a fresh herbal flavor to any dish.
Rosemary
It is a member of the mint family, but it is also an evergreen with some visual similarities to spruce trees. In fact, because of its needle-like silvery-green leaves, rosemary plants are often sold as mini-Christmas trees during the holiday season.
The sweet, hot spiciness of cinnamon is a smell of Christmas and festive ingredient in all things Christmas. Whether it's in mulled wine, cookies or eggnog, its warm, inviting scent makes everything seem cosier and merrier – perfect for those cold winter nights.
Essential oils commonly associated with Christmas include coniferous oils like Fir Needle and Scotch Pine, minty oils like Peppermint and Spearmint, resinous oils like Frankincense and Myrrh, spicy oils like Cinnamon and Nutmeg and woody oils like Virginian Cedarwood.
Whitehill said there are several hundred terpenes found in conifers. That includes pinene, which is one of the most abundant and produces the fresh, woodsy aroma that many people associate with Christmas.
The key to simmering potpourri on the stove is to pick scents that remind you of Christmas. Some people enjoy something subtle, such as oranges and thyme. However, you can use whatever combination you want, including cinnamon, cloves, ginger, cranberries, and clippings of pine. Add them all to a pot.
Rosemary is the dried leaves of the evergreen Rosmarinus officinalis. The slender, slightly curved leaves resemble miniature curved pine needles.
Nutmeg, with its pungent aroma and warm sweet taste is another essential Christmas spice!
Simmer a Pot
Whether your base is cider or just plain water, add it to a pot with oranges, cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Simmer it on the stove to fill your home with those mulling scents. Just keep an eye on the water level and add more as it starts to evaporate.
Since rosemary comes from the mint family, the freshness of mint does carry through. However, above all, there is almost an evergreen pine scent (it does have pine-like needles, after all) that smells more woody than herby.
Balsam Fir
The Balsam fir is the most fragrant of the trees, making it the most popular Christmas tree variety. They're durable and have short, flat, dark green needles. They do dry out quickly so be sure to check their water levels often.
Hang Fresh Greenery
Nothing beats the smell of fresh-cut pine. In fact, the scent may be the most appealing thing about buying a live Christmas tree! Use fresh winter greenery wherever you can, whether it's in wreaths, garlands, sprays, or arrangements. The smell will permeate your home and put you in a festive mood.
Traditional holiday scents of a warm hearth, sugared plums and candied fruits.
Peppermint is yet another classic nostalgic Christmas scent.
Simmer some spices.
Simply take a few sticks of cinnamon and simmer them in a small pot of water on your stove. Once your house house smells all warm and cinnamon-y, switch off the burner, and fish out the cinnamon sticks. Let them dry and you can use them a few more times before they lose their potency.