Sure, the holidays are a feast for the eyes (twinkling Christmas lights, beautiful wreaths), and your taste buds (cookies!), but if you forget about your nose, you're skipping a seriously festive part of the season. Try these homemade ways to surround yourself in cozy, friendly scents this year.
1. Build a festive simmer pot.
If you're hosting a holiday party (and have a burner free on your stove), fill a saucepan with a bit of water and inviting aromatics like cinnamon sticks and apple slices. As the mixture heats, it will fill your home with happy, nostaligic scents — and your guests may never want to leave.
Get the tutorial at Design Improvised »
2. Or, try pine.
For a less sweet take on the simmer pot, try one with pine branches as the main ingredient (and fool yourself into thinking you bought a real tree this year).
Get the tutorial at Make+Haus »
3. Mix your own potpourri.
To make a holiday blend that's exactly to your liking, experiment with your own recipe of dried fruit and spices.
Get the tutorial at Coordinately Yours »
4. Make minty candles.
Peppermint tops off these DIY votives, but you can customize the layers with your favorite essential oils.
Get the tutorial at Hello Natural »
5. Hang a sweet-smelling garland.
Cinnamon-applesauce pomanders look lovely paired with bright dried orange slices, and (you guessed it) they smell amazing, too.
Get the tutorial at 5 Orange Potatoes »
6. Boost pine cones.
Sneak a favorite seasonal fragrance into your Christmas decor by spritzing cones with a cinnamon-scented oil.
Get the tutorial at Kleinworth & Co. »
TELL US: How do get your home smelling great for the holiday season?
Related Video: 4 Presents You Can Make, Gift, and Eat!
This article originally appeared on Goodhouskeeping.com.
Related:
14 Creative Ways to Dress Your Tree
20 Magical Ideas for Mason Jars This Christmas
12 DIY Wreaths to Get You in the Holiday Spirit
