1. Pine-filled pillows
Dry out some off-cuts from your Christmas tree by leaving them above a radiator or in an airing cupboard for a few days then pull off all the needles. Sew two rectangles of cotton or hessian together on three sides leaving one short side open. Fill the pocket with pine needles and sew the top. This can be used as a pine-scented drawer liner or scented accessory for your bed.
2. Stovetop pot pourri
Create your own stovetop pot pourri by filling a pan with all your favourite festive ingredients, such as pine, rosemary, lavender, bay leaves, plus some orange slices, star anise, cranberries and a handful cinammon sticks. Boil it all up and permeate the air with Christmas. There are plenty of recipe ideas online. Here’s one of our favourites from Half Baked Harvest.
3. DIY lavender and rosemary scented candles
What could be more festive than the warm flickering glow of a scented candle filling your home with a deliciously festive fragrance? But forget the overpriced shop bought varieties. This DIY project from Live Simply is simple to make and infused with the fresh, woody scents of rosemary and lavender. Or for a more blatantly Christmasy aroma, you could try this pine scented alternative from The Glitter Guide.
4. Scented sage wreath
Sage isn’t just good for stuffing up your turkey’s posterior. It can make a beautifully fragrant addition to your Christmas decorations, too. We love this super-simple DIY scented sage Christmas wreath from the Handmade in the Heartland blog, which smells as gorgeous as it looks.
What smell reminds you of Christmas? Tweet your answer to @thejoyofplants.
