Christmas Scents
Is there anything that can trigger a memory faster than the sense of smell? Just one whiff of some special scent and you are immediately transported to a different place and time. The smell of Black Cherry tobacco always reminds me of my grandfather and anytime I smell leather I think of my high school boyfriend. As for Christmas? Well, that has an assortment of smells all its own.
For me, Christmas isn’t Christmas without the aroma of a live pine tree. I know that live trees are a lot more bother and expense but I can’t imagine not smelling the tree on Christmas morning before I even see the gifts. Growing up, our house was very small so the scent of pine was in every room. No matter where you were, eyes open or closed, you knew what time of year it was.
Fortunately, my Hubby feels the same so he doesn’t mind hauling the tree in and sawing off the base (which is also very aromatic). My kids are purists too. They would insist on a live tree even if we didn’t.
Of course you have to make sure it has water and you can’t keep it up as long as an artificial tree, and then there’s the mess of needles when you drag it outside, but that’s a small price to pay. The minute the tree goes up I breath in and all my childhood Christmases are right there in front of me.
There are many other scents that remind me of Christmas too. What’s your favorite?
The View from the Porch 
Even though we had a fake tree, I still filled the rooms with pine scented candles and air fresheners (good ones from Bath & Body Works). The real pine smell from my real trees years ago are unmatched. I love pine all year long because it reminds of my favorite places: Lake Tahoe and Yosemite 🙂
I have some of those candles too. I can keep the scent going after the tree is gone!
Fresh cut cedar boughs on all available decorative surfaces, almond paste, and gingerbread!
Excellent! Just like Santa’s house.
I agree, the tree 🙂
I’d also add the warm smell of vanilla, from baking.
Yes, the smell (and taste) of cookies is always good!😊
I love the smell of a real tree, too. Although my personal favorite are fir trees. One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is walk around a Christmas tree lot and just enjoy the wonderful scent.
Yes, even better if its a crisp day with a few flurries!
We’ve always had a live tree. These days I order mine from Oxfam. They get the dollars for their charity and the local 4WD clubs deliver the trees so it gets delivered to my door. It’s a win-win.
We have some Christmas decorations made from cinnamon wood and the combination of pine and cinnamon is one of my favourite scents of Christmas.
One of my faves too! My grandma’s apricot nut bread recipe baking is very nostalgic to me, and I have to make every year. I also love cinnamon smell this time of year.
Cinnamon would be on my list too! I bet I would like your grandmothers bread too!
Like you, a fresh cut pine tree has to be number one on my list. I also like the smell of all different kinds of fresh baked cookies, though I may swayed that way because I taste them all as they come out of the oven.
Well at least pine trees are better for the waist line! 😊