How Do You Scent A Christmas Tree?

Scented Christmas trees have become increasingly popular in recent years, with many families opting for fir tree varieties like Balsam and Fraser that emit a lovely natural pine fragrance (Farmers Almanac). The nostalgic scent of an evergreen helps set the mood for Christmas and evokes fond memories of the holidays. Beyond just enjoying the inherent fragrance of certain tree species, there are also a variety of methods for scenting a Christmas tree artificially. Potpourri, scented ornaments, essential oil diffusers, simmer pots, and more can all be used to make a tree smell like cinnamon, pine, vanilla, or other festive scents. This article will provide an overview of the most popular natural Christmas tree varieties as well as creative ideas for scenting any type of tree.

Natural Tree Scents

One of the best ways to scent a Christmas tree is to let its natural pine fragrance shine. The fresh evergreen aroma is synonymous with the holidays and can’t be replicated. Luckily, many tree varieties like firs, spruces, and pines release this quintessential Christmas scent on their own.

You can enhance the natural pine fragrance by doing things like displaying the tree in a cool location away from heating vents, or making sure the tree stand has enough water. Adding a few drops of pine or fir essential oils to the tree stand water can also boost the fresh evergreen smell.

For extra aroma, tuck fresh orange slices along with cloves or cinnamon sticks into the tree branches. The citrus and spice will complement the pine and make your home smell like Christmas morning.

Potpourri

One of the easiest ways to scent a Christmas tree is by using potpourri. You can purchase or make your own scented potpourri and place it in decorative bowls or sachets. These can then be hung on the branches of the tree to gently scent the nearby air. The great thing about using potpourri is that you have lots of options with different scented combinations. You can find Christmas-themed potpourri blends that contain classic scents like cinnamon, pine, cranberry, clove, and orange. Or you can create your own signature blend using essential oils and dried herbs, spices, fruits, and flowers. Hang a few different scented pots around the tree for a layered, custom fragrance. Be sure to shake or stir the potpourri daily to refresh the scent.

Scented Ornaments

One popular way to add scent to a Christmas tree is with scented ornaments. Many retailers sell Christmas ornaments that are infused with holiday fragrances like pine, cinnamon, and peppermint. Companies like Scentsicles and Yankee Candle offer ornaments made from scented wax and essential oils so they smell delicious when hung on the tree. A set of 6-12 scented ornaments can infuse a lovely scent through the whole room.

You can also make your own scent-infused ornaments at home. Place drops of pine, cinnamon, clove or other essential oils onto cinnamon sticks, pine cones, dried citrus slices or other porous natural materials. Allow them to fully absorb the scent before threading with ribbon and hanging on the tree. For a longer-lasting scent, pour scented oils into hollow plastic or ceramic ornaments. Adding spices like whole cloves, allspice berries, star anise pods, crushed cinnamon sticks or nuts like almonds directly into ornaments also gives off a wonderful scent. Just make a small hole to string a ribbon through and hang on the tree.

Room Sprays

Room sprays are a popular and easy way to scent a Christmas tree and the surrounding area. Many brands sell commercial Christmas tree-scented room sprays, like The Candle Lab’s Christmas Tree Room Spray and Goose Creek Candle’s Classic Christmas Tree Room Spray.

These commercial sprays provide an instant pine or fir aroma. Some contain natural essential oils like balsam, pine, and fir needle to replicate the scent of an evergreen tree. The sprays are formulated to quickly fill a room when sprayed into the air.

You can also make DIY room sprays with essential oils. Combine water, vodka, and your choice of pine/fir/spruce essential oils in a spray bottle. Shake before use and mist around your Christmas tree. Some popular scent options are:

• Balsam fir
• Pine
• Spruce
• Juniper berry
• Cedarwood

Experiment with different oil blends to create your own custom Christmas tree scent. Make sure to shake DIY sprays before each use to blend the ingredients. Room sprays allow you to easily scent a Christmas tree no matter if you purchase commercial options or make your own.

Scented Candles

Scented candles that evoke the smells of Christmas are a festive way to make your tree smell like the holidays. Candles scented with pine, cinnamon, clove, and other wintery aromas can infuse your tree and home with that signature Christmas fragrance when placed around the tree.

Pine-scented candles are an obvious choice, as they mimic the fresh scent of an evergreen tree. Candles like Yankee Candle’s Midnight Balsam, Gold Canyon’s Holiday Pine, and WoodWick’s Fresh Pine capture that realistic pine aroma.

Spices like cinnamon and clove also evoke the coziness of the season. Try cinnamon-scented candles like Yankee’s Cinnamon or Bath & Body Works’ Cinnamon Spice for that sweet, spicy scent. You can also find clove-heavy scents like Yankee’s Balsam & Clove.

Strategically placing Christmas-scented candles around the tree allows the fragrance to waft throughout the branches. Position candles on side tables or shelves near the tree, taking care to keep an appropriate distance from the tree and flammable materials.

Diffusers

Diffusers are a great way to spread holiday scents throughout your home. There are two main types of diffusers that work well for scenting Christmas trees and surrounding spaces:

Essential Oil Diffusers

Essential oil diffusers use ultrasonic technology or heat to diffuse essential oils into the air. Add your favorite festive essential oils like cinnamon, clove, pine, orange, peppermint, or fir to the diffuser’s water reservoir. As the diffuser releases a fine mist, your space will fill with seasonal scents. You can find small diffusers designed just for your tree or larger ones to scent an entire room. Look for units with auto shut-off and adjustable settings. Most need to be topped up with water and a few drops of essential oil every few hours.

Wax Warmers

Wax warmers melt scented wax to release aroma. They often use a low watt light bulb or candle to melt wax cubes or tarts placed in a dish. The heat gently wafts the scent through the air. Choose holiday wax scents like balsam, pine, cranberry, spice, snow, or vanilla. Just switch out cubes whenever you want to change fragrances. Wax warmers are affordable and easy to use. Position one near your Christmas tree to infuse it with seasonal scents.

Simmering Potpourri

One festive way to scent your Christmas tree is by simmering potpourri on the stove. Simmering fills the air with cozy holiday aromas throughout your home. To make simmering potpourri, gather pinecones, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, citrus peels, and other aromatic ingredients. Place the ingredients in a saucepan with water, apple cider or fruit juice. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle simmer on the stove. As it simmers, the lovely scent will waft through your home. You can replenish the water or juice as needed to keep it going. The cinnamon, cloves, citrus and pine will create a warm, spiced aroma perfect for the holidays. It’s an easy way to make your house smell like Christmas!

Baking Scented Goods

Baking is a great way to spread holiday cheer and make your whole home smell like Christmas. The sweet and spicy scents of baked goods like Christmas cookies, cinnamon rolls, gingerbread, and fruit pies can fill the air with seasonal aromas. As these goodies bake in the oven, the smells will waft throughout your home and around your Christmas tree. Here are some festive baked treats that can scent the air during the holidays:

Christmas sugar cookies are a classic for the holidays. Cut into fun shapes like trees, snowmen, stars, etc. and decorated with colorful frosting and sprinkles, these cookies look and smell festive. The sweet aroma of vanilla and butter will scent the air as they bake. Try adding extracts like almond, peppermint, or lemon to vary the flavors. Source: (Essential Oils Blends Perfect for Fall)

Cinnamon rolls make the house smell like Christmas morning. As the dough bakes, the scent of creamy cinnamon fills the whole home. For extra fragrance, add a cup of raisins or craisins to the dough. Source: (Cottagecore Treasures: Thrifting and Antique Store Shopping)

Gingerbread is synonymous with the holidays. Bake a gingerbread house or just a batch of cookies for a spicy-sweet ginger aroma. For best results, use fresh ginger. Decorate with peppermint icing and candy canes for extra Christmas flair. Source: (Essential Oils Blends Perfect for Fall)

Fruit pies like apple, pecan, or pumpkin give off homey baking smells. As the filling and crust bake, scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and fresh fruit will fill the kitchen and living spaces near the Christmas tree. For extra aroma, make a lattice crust. Source: (Cottagecore Treasures: Thrifting and Antique Store Shopping)

Let your Christmas baking scent the air this season! The sweet and spicy smells will get everyone in the holiday spirit.

Conclusion

In summary, there are a variety of methods to scent a Christmas tree, both natural and artificial. The most popular and effective options tend to be using potpourri, scented ornaments, room sprays, scented candles, simmer pots, and baking scented goods like cinnamon sticks or oranges.

Potpourri and room sprays can be used to directly scent the tree branches and needles. Scented ornaments and candles release fragrance into the air surrounding the tree. Simmer pots and baked goods fill the whole room with Christmas scents. Many people use a combination of methods to create an immersive sensory experience.

When choosing scents, classic Christmas tree smells like pine, balsam fir, cinnamon, cloves, and citrus tend to work best. It’s important to be careful with open flames around dry trees. Proper ventilation is also key if using strong room sprays or candles. Overall, scenting a Christmas tree can greatly enhance the holiday atmosphere.