A Natural Approach to Winter Scents

The holiday season brings to mind enchanting aromas—think freshly baked cookies, spiced apple cider, and crisp evergreens. While store-bought fragrances and candles can quickly bring these delightful notes into your home, they may also increase indoor pollution and pose health risks, such as irritating your respiratory system. The good news is that there are plenty of other techniques you can use to infuse your spaces with wonderful natural scents and create a cozy atmosphere.

Create a simmer pot

Is there anything better than the richness of a delicious meal filling the air as it cooks? You can get similar results with seasonal smells by simmering a potpourri of various ingredients in water, either in a large pot on the stove or in a slow cooker. The first step is to pick your combination of fruits, spices, and herbs. A classic option is orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves, or you can go more woodsy with fresh pine needles, pear slices, and sprigs of rosemary. Aim for a ratio of one whole fruit per eight cups of water and the equivalent (or slightly less) of the other items, depending on how strong you want the pot to be.

When you’re ready to start, fill your cooking vessel three-quarters full with water, add your ingredients, and bring everything to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low, checking the pot occasionally and adding more water as needed; you’ll want to keep it at least half full to prevent scorching or a fire hazard. Maintain it carefully, and you’re sure to enjoy its comforting scent for hours on end.

Hang garlands

Draping natural garlands in your home can lend not only a traditional touch but also a fresh, festive fragrance. For example, fir, pine, and spruce needles release woody notes that evoke the season’s warmth, making them perfect choices to use as decor. You can forage for branches in your backyard or ask for leftover boughs at a local evergreen lot—many give them away for free. Once you have enough, tie their lengths together with floral wire, wearing thick gloves to protect your hands from their sharp needles and sap. To get your ideal look, shape the edges with scissors and add decorative elements like holly leaves and berries. The finished creation will make for a beautiful focal point along a banister, fireplace mantel, or wherever else you prefer.

Another equally charming option is to create a decorative chain of dried oranges to perfume the air with a sweet, citrusy smell. To begin, slice the fruit no more than a quarter-inch thick—otherwise, they’ll take much longer to dehydrate. Place the slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake them in the oven at 200°F for about three hours or until they’re completely dry, flipping them every thirty minutes. Make sure to let them cool before working with them.

Next, cut several four-inch lengths of twine, enough for every slice, as well as a longer strand to attach them to. Poke a hole with a toothpick through the flesh just below the rind of each slice, thread a short piece of twine through it, and knot the ends. The last step is to tie them onto the longer twine, spacing them out evenly and as close together or far apart as you’d like. Hang your garland in a highly visible spot, such as across a doorway or draped around your Christmas tree, so friends and family can fully appreciate its fragrance and beauty.

Craft a wreath

Alternatively, you can use those dried oranges to make a holiday wreath for your door or wall—all you need is a hot-glue gun and a wooden or bamboo floral hoop. Start by applying a drop of the adhesive to the surface, then firmly press a slice on it. Continue adding more in the same fashion, allowing them to overlap slightly, until your form is totally covered. Finish by adding a festive ribbon at the top to serve as a hanger and offer an extra touch of decoration.

For a softer scent than citrus, consider utilizing natural branches of eucalyptus as your base instead, bending them around a circular wire frame and attaching them with twine or floral wire. Tuck in some bay leaves or rosemary sprigs for an herbal, woody note, and the end result will smell like the fresh air of a winter forest.

A bonus to any of these fragrant crafts is the opportunity they provide to spend quality time with loved ones putting them together. Try one this season, and it may turn into a wonderful tradition you’ll enjoy for years to come.