13 Scents to Make Your Home Smell Like Christmas

1. Orange slices. The sweet, citrusy scent of oranges as well as their bright color make them go-tos for the holiday season. Their aroma is actually proven to make you feel happier, so they're a great scent to start up the holidays on a good note! You can find citrus-based scented candles, but DIYing orange-based decor that doubles as a room perfumer is easy. You can simply cut up an orange and dehydrate the slices in your oven, or you can boil orange peels on the stove after enjoying the fruit. (Doing this will help humidify your home, as well - a win-win!)

2. Balsam fir. This quintessential ingredient is reminiscent of Christmas trees, winter greenery, holly and ivy, and even decorative garlands. It's visual Christmas decor turned into a scent - and a great way to add a natural spin to your holiday cheer. Whether you opt for a fir-scented candle or simply use sprigs from fir trees in sachets and bowls around your home, you'll definitely appreciate the way this Christmasy tree decoration smells.

3. Apples. Apples grow naturally in the fall, making them a perfect entryway to Christmas season. From apple cider to apple sauce, you may have already been enjoying apple-scented snacks. Save a few of those apples to dry, make garlands out of them, and enjoy their sweet scent throughout the winter months!

4. Cinnamon sticks. These tiny, spicy-sweet pieces pack a huge punch for their size! Tie them up with fir twigs, pair them with dried orange slices, or simply leave them in bowls about your home to amp up a festive atmosphere.

5. Pine cones: If you'd rather opt for a natural, woodsy feel for your home decor, look no further than the ground outside your home. Go on a wintry hike or take a walk among the fall foliage, pick up a few pine cones, and scatter them about your home for instant holiday vibes. For bonus points, consider using scented oils (like peppermint, cinnamon, and citrus) to scent the pine cones further, or decorate with glue and glitter to add some glam in a simple, impactful way.

6. Sage: This savory scent is perfect for bridging Thanksgiving into Christmas in a subtle, completely delicious ways. Sage is often heavily featured in Thanksgiving stuffings - so you already associate it with the holidays. Get a few fresh sprigs to keep in vases or sachets around your home, or use it dried in recipes or homemade potpourri.

7. Nutmeg: A more pungent relative of cinnamon, nutmeg goes perfectly with apples, oranges, and even pumpkins to create that pumpkin-spice, apple-pie aroma that makes you ravenous even when you're not hungry. Scatter some of this spice atop candles, select a nutmeg-scented candle, or sprinkle some on dried orange slices for a wonderfully complex scent profile.

8. Clove: Clove can be used in much the same way as nutmeg, but you'll want to use it sparingly: It can have a bit of a bitter edge to it! Pair with vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg for a rounded-out, sweet, spicy aroma to perfume your holiday occasions. It's great in drinks, baking, or as an incense or essential oil to diffuse when you're looking for an alternative to cinnamon.

9. Rosemary: Just as sage can be a savory alternative to the many sweet smells of Christmas, rosemary offers a more herbaceous way to celebrate the season. It's also a beautiful, woody green that can be featured as a decor piece on its own. Use rosemary in vases around your home, in potpourri, together with sage, and - particularly - with dried apple slices for a nuanced sweet-and-savory scent.

10.  Mint: This classic, refreshing scent is reminiscent of candy canes and snow. You can purchase room purifiers, candles, or scented oils that can breathe a cool blast of mint into your home - or you could simply place peppermint sticks as decor in pretty bowls (and even use them to stir hot chocolate for a special treat!). Alternatively, mix with vanilla oil or candles for a muted effect that still has that same invigorating feel.

11. Cranberries: Cranberries can be found quite cheaply at grocery stores this time of year. They can offer a bright pop of color to your decor, and their bright, bittersweet taste is accompanied by a strong, fruity smell that just feels like Christmastime. Cranberry tea, strings of cranberries, and even dried cranberries in potpourri can all get you the same wintry, delicious effect.

Bonus: Freshly Baked Cookies.. If you take the time to whip up a batch of vanilla, sugar, or chocolate chip cookies, your home will automatically feel more cozy, more welcoming, and more Christmasy in a flash. Don't have the time to bake? You can find gorgeous candles that smell just like warm sugar cookies or snickerdoodle cookies - but we like baking them, because then you have a treat to enjoy as well.

The most popular scented candles of the season combine all of these wintry scents into complex, intoxicating aromas that make it clear that it's time to slow down and enjoy the season. These include apple cinnamon, firewood, balsam & cedar, vanilla orange, cranberry ginger, champagne, and more!

However, with a little bit of creativity, you can use ingredients that you might already have on hand to create the same effect.

Whether you light a scented candle, decorate your home with natural fruits and candies, or simply head into the kitchen to cook up a delicious seasonal snack, there are many ways to make your home feel and smell like Christmastime! When you're planning out your holiday decor, make sure to include a couple of these scent profiles. Your home will feel even more magical when it's time to celebrate!

12. Ginger: Ginger is known in many cultures for its medicinal properties, and it can really make a room feel warmer with its sensual spice. It's particularly good when used in tandem with fruit, so dust some powdered ginger on orange slices, apple slices, or cranberries for a lovely, warm aroma to perfuse all throughout your home.

13.  Mulled Wine: If you have a bottle of wine, some fruit and spices, and room on your stove, you have the ingredients for mulled wine. Simmer the wine with orange slices, ginger, cloves and cinnamon for a lovely scent that will fill you with warmth - and then, later, enjoy the mulled wine for a spicy-sweet take on a fun holiday beverage. (You can do the same thing with cranberry or apple juice for an alcohol-free aperitif!)

Bonus: Freshly Baked Cookies. If you take the time to whip up a batch of vanilla, sugar, or chocolate chip cookies, your home will automatically feel more cozy, more welcoming, and more Christmasy in a flash. Don't have the time to bake? You can find gorgeous candles that smell just like warm sugar cookies or snickerdoodle cookies - but we like baking them, because then you have a treat to enjoy as well.

The most popular scented candles of the season combine all of these wintry scents into complex, intoxicating aromas that make it clear that it's time to slow down and enjoy the season. These include apple cinnamon, firewood, balsam & cedar, vanilla orange, cranberry ginger, champagne, and more!

However, with a little bit of creativity, you can use ingredients that you might already have on hand to create the same effect.

Whether you light a scented candle, decorate your home with natural fruits and candies, or simply head into the kitchen to cook up a delicious seasonal snack, there are many ways to make your home feel and smell like Christmastime! When you're planning out your holiday decor, make sure to include a couple of these scent profiles. Your home will feel even more magical when it's time to celebrate!