12 Ideas To Make Your Home Smell Like Christmas

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Fill your home with Christmas scents like cinnamon, pine, citrus, and cloves. Easy, natural ways to make your home smell festive.

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure statement for details. 

Christmas scents instantly make a home feel warm, cozy, and festive. From simmer pots and candles to dried oranges, evergreens, and room sprays, there are so many simple and natural ways to make your home smell like Christmas.

The smells of Christmas are pure magic. They fill the air with warmth and joy and bring back treasured memories of holidays past. Whether it’s the comforting aroma of cinnamon and cloves, the sweet scent of cookies baking, or the fresh fragrance of pine and fir, these seasonal smells wrap your home in nostalgia and cheer.

No matter your favorite Christmas scent, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here to fill your home with natural Christmas scents that make it feel welcoming and festive this holiday season.

Easy Ways To Make Your Home Smell Like Christmas

Add natural Christmas scents to every room with simple ideas like simmer pots, candles, fresh greens, dried oranges, and homemade room sprays. The ideas in this post are easy, affordable, and use things you probably already have in your kitchen or backyard.

Here’s what you’ll find:

• Christmas simmer pots on the stove or in a slow cooker
• Fresh evergreen arrangements and wreaths
• Clove-studded orange pomanders
• Christmas-scented candles and wax melts
• Holiday hand soaps and room sprays
• Dried oranges, potpourri, and scented pinecones
• Paperwhites and other fragrant plants
• Baking-day scents like cookies, mulled cider, and gingerbread

Each idea brings a unique layer of scent and charm to your home, creating that unmistakable Christmas feeling we all love.

Why Certain Scents Smell Like Christmas

Certain scents instantly remind us of Christmas because they are tied to tradition and memory. Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger come from favorite holiday recipes. Pine, fir, and cedar are linked to Christmas trees and wreaths. Oranges and citrus bring a hint of freshness and light during the winter season.

When these scents fill a home, they awaken feelings of comfort, peace, and joy. That’s why a simple Christmas simmer pot or a burning candle can make your home smell like Christmas in just minutes.

Make A Christmas Simmer Pot

For decades, the scent of a simmering pot on the stove has been the unmistakable sign that Christmas is near in our home. Every December, I gather a few simple ingredients and let them gently bubble away. The warm, spicy fragrance that fills the air feels cozy and familiar — the true scent of the season.

My favorite combination includes cinnamon sticks, orange slices, fresh cranberries, star anise, whole cloves, and a sprig or two of evergreens or rosemary. It’s amazing how such simple ingredients can make your home smell like Christmas in minutes.

Whenever our son stops by, he always says, “It smells like Christmas in here!” That one comment has become part of the tradition — a reminder of how something as small as a simmering pot can bring back warm memories year after year.

Christmas Simmer Pot

It’s easy to make a Christmas Simmer Pot. Put the ingredients in a jar to make a thoughtful hostess gift or a small present for friends and neighbors.

Ingredients For A Christmas Simmer Pot

Here’s what you’ll need to create a simmer pot that fills your home with the most welcoming Christmas scent:

• Cinnamon sticks – warm and spicy, the base of every good simmer pot
• Orange slices – sweet and citrusy, adding a bright, fresh note
• Lemon slices (optional) – add a touch of tartness
• Fresh or dried cranberries – colorful and slightly fruity
• Star anise – a hint of licorice for a festive touch
• Whole cloves – deep, rich, and unmistakably Christmassy
• Evergreen sprigs – pine, fir, or cedar for that fresh forest scent
• Rosemary sprigs – herbal and clean with a subtle pine aroma
• Vanilla extract – adds a soft, sweet undertone
• Nutmeg (whole or ground) – for cozy warmth
• Apple slices (optional) – a light, cider-like fragrance

Fill a pot halfway with water, add the ingredients, and bring it to a gentle simmer. Lower the heat and let the scent drift through your home, adding more water as needed throughout the day.

This simple simmer pot is one of the easiest and most natural ways to make your home smell like Christmas.

Make your own Christmas Simmer Pot to fill your home with a natural and glorious scent.

Add Fresh Greens

Now is the perfect time to bring the scent of Christmas indoors with small arrangements of aromatic greens. Choose the most fragrant options—pine, cedar, or fir —and place them in the areas where you spend the most time. These lush cuttings stay fresh for days and fill your home with a soft, natural fragrance that feels like a walk through a winter forest.

Simple touches of greenery not only make your home smell like Christmas naturally but also add life and texture to your holiday décor. A few sprigs on a tray, tucked into a wreath, or arranged in a vase can make any room feel warm and festive.

Decorating With Fresh Christmas Greens

If you enjoy decorating with real greenery, you might like these ideas for adding it to your home. Use clipped greens to create a simple wreath or garland, or mix them with faux stems for longer-lasting arrangements.

Ideas For Using Fresh Greens

The Easiest Live Green Wreath

Create a beautiful wreath using live greenery in just a few simple steps. This easy project adds a lovely natural scent and a touch of Christmas charm to your home.

Tips For Using Organics At Christmas

Bring the beauty of nature indoors this season. You’ll find simple ways to decorate with both real and faux organics to make your Christmas home feel warm and inviting.

Most Aromatic Greens

• Juniper – fresh and fruity with hints of evergreen
• Pine – light, woodsy fragrance and soft, feathery needles
• Cedar – dense, earthy, and long-lasting
• Fir – the classic Christmas-tree scent, bright and resinous
• Spruce – crisp and sharp for a refreshing note
• Eucalyptus – subtle, clean, and slightly sweet

Simple Ways To Use Live Greens

• Small arrangements in vases or jars for kitchens and entry tables
• Greens mixed with candles on a dining table centerpiece
• A vase of eucalyptus or cedar in a bathroom for a holiday spa-like touch
• Sprigs of rosemary or juniper in the kitchen
• A small bundle of greens on a nightstand for a light holiday scent
• Tiny sprigs tied onto wrapped gifts or made into tiny wreaths for a fragrant finishing touch

Fresh greens are one of the simplest and most beautiful ways to make your home smell like Christmas and look festive all season long.

Clove-Studded Orange Pomanders

The first time I made a clove-studded orange, I was a teenager. I had read about them in a magazine and was instantly captivated by their old-fashioned charm. I’ve been making them ever since.

Orange and clove pomanders are steeped in tradition. Their warm, spicy, and citrusy fragrance has filled homes with Christmas cheer for centuries. Beyond their scent, they’re beautiful, organic decorations that can last for weeks when properly dried. Display them in bowls, hang them as ornaments, or tuck them into greenery for a naturally festive touch.

How To Make A Clove-Studded Orange

Making pomanders is easy and fun. Here’s how:

1. Choose firm, fresh oranges. Smaller varieties like clementines or mandarins work beautifully.
2. Plan your design. You can cover the orange entirely or create patterns—stripes, swirls, or simple dots.
3. Mark the pattern (optional). Use a toothpick to poke small holes where you’ll place the cloves.
4. Insert whole cloves. Push the pointy end into the orange’s skin, leaving a bit of the clove visible.
5. Optional: Roll the orange in a light mixture of ground cinnamon and nutmeg to deepen the scent and help preserve it.

I often make a bowl full of clove-studded oranges and simply enjoy their bright, fragrant skins. They’re a timeless reminder that the simplest traditions are often the most memorable. They will last for a long time, so enjoy them throughout the winter season.

Light Scented Candles

Lighting a Christmas-scented candle is one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to make your home smell like Christmas. The soft flicker adds warmth, and the fragrance fills every corner with cozy, holiday cheer.

What scent brings Christmas to mind for you? Maybe it’s the sweet aroma of cookies baking, the fresh fragrance of pine, or the comforting mix of cinnamon and cloves. For me, it’s all of them.

Since we started using a faux evergreen tree, my absolute favorite candle has been Thymes Frasier Fir. It truly smells like a freshly cut Christmas tree, and the fragrance lasts and lasts. I love how a simple candle can change the feel of a room in seconds. It’s such a small touch that makes a big difference.

Popular Christmas Candle Scents

Here’s a list of some of the most beloved Christmas candles and their signature scents:

• Thymes Frasier Fir: A blend of Siberian fir needles, cedarwood, and sandalwood for the ultimate Christmas tree fragrance.
• Bayberry Candles. A classic, colonial fragrance perfect for Christmas.
• Bath & Body Works Holiday: Fragrence notes: red cinnamon stick, Christmas clove, and ground cinnamon.
• Nest Holiday Candle: Classic holiday scents of pomegranate, pine, cloves, and cinnamon with a hint of amber and vanilla.
• Williamsburg Bayberry Candles: The iconic scent of bayberry, piney, woodsy and fresh.
• Balsam & Cedar: A fresh, foresty blend of balsam, cedar, and juniper with a hint of eucalyptus.
• The Nutcracker: Notes of cinnamon, clove, pecan, sandalwood, and winter mint, and grounded by base notes of ginger, vanilla, and musk.
• Paddywax Cypress & Fir: A natural, forest-inspired fragrance with notes of fresh pine, cypress, and juniper.
• Jo Malone Orange Bitters: Warm and citrusy with a mix of sweet orange, sandalwood, and a hint of dried fruits.
• WoodWick Fireside: A smoky blend of amber, vetiver, and musk with a crackling wick that mimics a real fire.

Ideas For Using Candles At Christmas

How To Use Tiny Wreaths In Your Christmas Home

Use small wreaths around candle bases for a charming, safe way to decorate tables and sideboards with Christmas candles.

Use Real Ribbon At Christmas

Tie bows with velvet ribbon around the base of candles to add color, texture, and a festive finishing touch to your Christmas displays.

Candles are one of those little things that make your home feel extra cozy during the holidays. Just the glow and scent together make the season feel special.

Use Holiday Soaps

One of life’s simplest little pleasures is swapping out your everyday hand soaps for ones with Christmas scents. It’s such an easy way to add a festive touch to your kitchen or bathrooms.

Holiday soaps come in the most wonderful fragrances—peppermint, pine, and spiced vanilla are some of my favorites. The simple act of washing your hands can suddenly feel like a luxury. It’s these small changes that make your home feel extra special this time of year.

Look for soaps made with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter or aloe. They’ll keep your hands soft during the colder months while adding that unmistakable holiday scent. Beautifully designed bottles can even double as decorative accents beside your sink.

Diffuse Christmas Scents

Diffusing essential oils is one of my favorite ways to make our home smell like Christmas. It’s easy, mess-free, and fills every room with beautiful seasonal scents that last for hours.

During the holidays, I love blending oils that smell like a cozy December evening—Frasier fir, cinnamon, clove, and orange are some of my favorites. Sometimes, I’ll add a drop of eucalyptus for a clean, refreshing note.

I often set the diffuser in our master bathroom and let it run from evening until morning. The scent gently drifts into the bedroom, filling the whole space with the scent of Christmas. When I wake up, the air feels warm and festive, and it’s such a peaceful way to start the day.

You’ll often find a diffuser bubbling away on the kitchen counter, too. It’s the perfect alternative to candles, especially when I’m cooking or baking. A few drops of essential oils can fill the entire house with the feeling of Christmas in minutes.

With so many essential oil combinations to choose from, you can mix and match to find your signature holiday scent!

Add A Bowl Of Christmas Potpourri To A Room

Adding a bowl of Christmas potpourri to a room is such a simple, beautiful way to make your home smell like Christmas. The dried botanicals—orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and pinecones—release a gentle, natural fragrance that fills your home with warmth and nostalgia.

Set a decorative bowl or plate of potpourri on a coffee table, sideboard, or bathroom counter, and enjoy its spicy, citrusy scent as it lingers in the air. You can even refresh the fragrance by adding a few drops of essential oil, like cinnamon, fir, or orange. Potpourri not only smells wonderful, but it also doubles as an easy seasonal accent that adds color and texture to your Christmas décor.

Make Your Own Special Christmas Potpourri Mix

Try one of these simple blends to make your own potpourri at home:

DIY Christmas Potpourri Recipes

1. Classic Christmas Potpourri
   • Dried orange slices
   • Cinnamon sticks
   • Star anise
   • Whole cloves
   • Pinecones
   • A few drops of fir or cinnamon essential oil
2. Spiced Cranberry Blend
   • Dried cranberries
   • Bay leaves
   • Whole cloves
   • Cinnamon sticks
   • Dried apple slices
   • A few drops of orange or nutmeg essential oil
3. Winter Forest Mix
   • Small pinecones
   • Dried eucalyptus leaves
   • Dried rosemary sprigs
   • Cedar chips
   • Juniper berries
   • A few drops of pine or cedarwood essential oil
4. Warm Vanilla Spice
   • Dried orange peel
   • Cinnamon sticks
   • Whole nutmeg
   • Vanilla pods (or a couple of drops of vanilla extract on dried peels)

How to Refresh Potpourri Throughout the Season

Spritz with Scented Water: Create a spray by mixing water with a small amount of vodka or witch hazel and your favorite essential oils. Lightly spritz the potpourri as needed.

Add Essential Oils: A few drops of essential oils—like cinnamon, orange, clove, or pine—on dried elements (like pinecones or orange peels) will instantly revive the fragrance.

Gently Mix the Potpourri: Stir the potpourri every few days to redistribute the oils and release fresh bursts of scent.

Use Fixatives: Mix in a teaspoon of orris root powder to help hold and prolong the fragrance.

Make Holiday Scented Pinecones

Scented pinecones are a wonderfully nostalgic way to make your home smell like Christmas. Their warm, spicy fragrance instantly fills the air with cozy holiday cheer, and they look beautiful, too.

They’re simple to make and last all season long. Use cinnamon, clove, and a bit of orange essential oil to turn plain pinecones into lovely natural decorations. Pile them in a bowl, display them in a dough bowl on your table, or tuck them into garlands and wreaths.

You can also tie them with ribbon and hang them on doorknobs or the Christmas tree for a rustic, woodsy touch.

How To Make Scented Piecones– An easy-to-make way to add visual texture, and a gorgeous scent for the holiday season.

Scented pinecones are one of those little Christmas traditions that never go out of style. Their fragrance and charm bring the season to life in the most natural way.

Bake Cookies

Is there anything more inviting than the smell of cookies baking in the oven? It’s one of the most delicious ways to make your home smell like Christmas. The aroma of butter, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla drifting through the air creates instant warmth and comfort.

When your home feels like it could use a little extra holiday cheer, bake a batch of cookies. The scent of classic Christmas treats—gingerbread, sugar cookies, or shortbread—fills the air with nostalgia and joy. Even if you don’t have time for a full baking day, a small batch of ready-made cookie dough in the oven will make your home feel merry in minutes.

And as a bonus, you’ll have something sweet to enjoy or wrap up as a thoughtful homemade gift.

Favorite Cookies And Sweet Treats

Here are a few delicious cookies and other sweet treats that will make your home smell like Christmas…

• 5 Different Cookies From One Mother Dough: Make sugar, gingerbread, chocolate, butter cookies, and Linzer sandwich cookies.
• Bacardi Rum Cake: A holiday cake made by doctoring up a box mix. Boasts the aromas of vanilla, brown sugar, and buttery rum.
• Grown-Up Gingerbread Men: These cookies will fill your home with the scents of gingerbread, molasses, and black pepper. I posted this cookie recipe the third month I began blogging. It’s a family favorite!
• Simply Perfect Sugar Cookies: Another oldie but very good. This i my all time favorite Christmas cookie. I think this is what heaven will smell like!
• Beautiful Cranberry Orange Christmas Bundt Cake: Your home will smell like a pasty shop with heady notes of sweet orange, vanilla, and a hint of tangy cranberry.

Simmer Christmas Mulled Cider

Mulled cider is one of the most aromatic and comforting ways to make your home smell like Christmas. The scent of apples simmering with cinnamon, cloves, and oranges instantly fills the air with holiday cheer. It’s one of those traditions that feels as good as it smells.

I love to keep a pot of cider warming on the stove during the holidays. It fills the house with a cozy fragrance and gives everyone something warm and delicious to sip. The blend of apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise smells heavenly, and tastes just as good. You can even add a splash of your favorite liquor or wine to make it extra festive.

Whether you’re hosting family or just relaxing at home, mulled cider creates that welcoming, cozy feeling we all love at Christmas. And as a bonus, it doubles as a natural air freshener.

Keep the ingredients on hand so you can sip Christmas Mulled Cider all season long.

Dry Oranges

Drying oranges is one of the easiest and prettiest ways to add a natural Christmas scent to your home. Their sweet, citrus fragrance and cheerful color bring warmth to any space. It’s a simple project with so many uses, and the results are always beautiful.

I love to use dried oranges in garlands, wreaths, and table centerpieces. They look so charming mixed with evergreens, pinecones, and ribbons. A single dried slice tied to a Christmas gift adds a lovely handmade touch. You can even add a drop of orange or tangerine essential oil to the rinds to refresh their scent.

Dried oranges are also wonderful in a Christmas simmer pot. Their citrusy aroma blends perfectly with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise, filling your home with the bright, cozy scent of the holidays.

How To Dry Oranges So They Stay Vibrant is one of StoneGable’s readers’ favorites! And see 8 Ways To Use Beautiful Aromatic Oranges.

Christmas Scented Room Sprays

Christmas-scented room sprays are a quick and effortless way to make your home smell warm, festive, and inviting. With just a spritz or two, you can fill any space with the nostalgic scents of the season. Room sprays are perfect for those moments when you want an instant boost of holiday cheer without the effort of lighting a candle or simmering a pot on the stove. They’re also versatile: use them to freshen up living rooms before guests arrive, give bedrooms a cozy ambiance, or add a festive touch to bathrooms.

How to Make Room Sprays

Add your chosen essential oils, shake well, and spritz throughout your home. Combine 1/2 cup distilled water and 1–2 teaspoons of witch hazel or vodka (to help disperse the oils) in a spray bottle.

DIY Christmas Room Spray Ideas

Making your own holiday room spray is simple, cost-effective, and customizable. All you need is a spray bottle, distilled water, and your favorite essential oils.

1. Classic Christmas Tree
   • Essential Oils: 10 drops of fir, 5 drops of cedarwood, and 5 drops of pine.
   • Smells like a freshly cut Christmas tree!
2. Warm Spiced Citrus
   • Essential Oils: 8 drops of orange, 5 drops of cinnamon, and 3 drops of clove.
   • A cozy blend of citrus and warm spices.
3. Peppermint Candy Cane
   • Essential Oils: 10 drops of peppermint and 5 drops of vanilla.
   • Fresh, sweet, and perfect for holiday cheer.
4. Sugar Cookie Delight
   • Essential Oils: 8 drops of vanilla, 5 drops of nutmeg, and 3 drops of cinnamon.
   • Sweet and bakery-fresh for a cozy kitchen feeling.
5. Frosted Winter Morning
   • Essential Oils: 7 drops of eucalyptus, 5 drops of peppermint, and 3 drops of lavender.
   • Crisp and clean with a hint of calm.

Force Paperwhites

The sweet, perfumed scent of paperwhites has been part of my Christmas traditions for decades. Their fragrance is soft and fresh—different from cinnamon or pine—but every bit as festive. The delicate white blooms are like little winter stars that brighten any room.

Paperwhites are easy to grow indoors, and they bloom quickly, often within three to five weeks. I love placing them where they can be seen and enjoyed every day, like on a kitchen windowsill, entry table, or beside the sink. Their graceful flowers pair beautifully with evergreens, pinecones, and candles, adding a gentle fragrance and a natural elegance to your Christmas home.

How to Plant and Water Paperwhites

1. Choose Your Bulbs
   • Select healthy, firm paperwhite bulbs free of soft spots or damage.
2. Pick a Container
   • Use a shallow bowl, vase, tall glass cylinder or planter without drainage holes if planting in pebbles.
   • For soil planting, choose a container with drainage holes.
3. Select Your Planting Medium
   • For Pebbles/Gravel: Fill the container with 2-3 inches of pebbles, small stones, or glass marbles.
   • For Soil: Fill the container halfway with moist potting soil.
4. Plant the Bulbs
   • Place the bulbs pointed side up. Gently press them into the gravel or soil, leaving the tops exposed.
   • If planting in gravel, add more pebbles around the bulbs to hold them in place.
5. Add Water
   • For Pebbles/Gravel: Add water until it reaches just below the base of the bulbs. The bulbs should not sit directly in water, or they may rot. The roots will grow towards the water.
   • For Soil: Water lightly until the soil is moist but not soggy.
6. Position the Container
   • Place the container in a bright, cool spot with light but not direct sunlight.
7. Monitor Water Levels
   • Check daily to ensure the water level stays just below the base of the bulbs. Add more water as needed.
   • If using soil, water sparingly, keeping the soil lightly moist but not oversaturated.
8. Support the Stems
   • As the stems grow taller, they may need extra support. Tie them gently with ribbon or twine, or place decorative stakes in the container.
9. Enjoy the Blooms
   • Paperwhites will bloom within 3–5 weeks. Move them to a slightly cooler area once they flower to help the blooms last longer.

More Ideas To Make Your Home Smell Like Christmas

Try these ideas to bring the smell of Christmas to your home…

• Make a Fresh Wreath or Garland: Use real evergreens like pine, cedar, and fir to bring a natural forest scent indoors.
• Simmer Vanilla Extract: Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract to a pot of water and let it simmer for a soft, sweet fragrance.
• Use Scented Wax Melts: Melt festive-scented wax cubes like gingerbread, peppermint, or pine in a wax warmer.
• Spray Linen Sprays: Lightly spritz holiday-scented sprays on curtains, pillows, and throw blankets.
• Make a DIY Cinnamon Stick Bundle: Tie cinnamon sticks together with twine and place them in vases or on trays. Add a few drops of essential oil to them to enhance their aroma.
• Burn Bay Leaves: Gently burn dried bay leaves in a fire-safe dish for a light, herbal Christmas scent.
• Decorate with Dried Herbs: Hang bundles of rosemary, thyme, or sage for a fragrant, rustic touch.
• Light a Fireplace or Firewood Candle: If you don’t have a real fireplace, candles with a smoky wood scent add a cozy feel.
• Use Scented Drawer Liners: Line drawers or shelves with cedar or holiday-scented paper for a subtle, long-lasting fragrance.
• Bake a Fresh Loaf of Gingerbread: The smell of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses is pure holiday magic.

The power of holiday scents lies in their ability to add another layer of Christmas to your home, evoking the most precious memories from Christmas past. Each scent you add to your home adds special notes to enjoy, savor, and lift your spirits.

Making your home smell like Christmas doesn’t need to be complicated or costly. A few simple touches—fresh greens, a candle, or something baking in the oven can bring that unmistakable holiday feeling to every corner of your home.

Wishing you a home that smells as wonderful as it looks this Christmas, filled with joy, love, and the simple beauty of the season.

Christmas Scents FAQs

Merry Christmas, friends!