Homemade Christmas Scent for Your Home

Put this pot on to simmer while decorating your home for Christmas,

it will ring in everyone's Christmas spirit!

I have always loved a good scented candle.  Especially during the cold winter months when we all have a bit of cabin fever.  It lifts my mood and makes us all feel a bit more cozy.

But currently at this time in my life, I also have 3 little kids.  Kids that are generally very inquisitive about everything.

Fire!  Look, MOM, fire!

So instead of buying my typical Christmas scented candle this year, I thought I'd save myself the heart attack and make my own holiday scent.  In about 5 minutes this pot is prepped and ten minutes later your house will smell like a cross between hot apple cider, a Christmas tree farm and warm baked cookies.

It doesn't get much better than that!

With citrus fruits in season during the winter months we usually have quite a few oranges and grapefruit on hand in our fridge and inevitability one gets stuck somewhere out of sight and by the time I find it, it's mushy and bit over ripe.

Throw it in the pot!

We also have a HUGE pine tree in our front yard, so these pine branches were easy to come by.  If you don't have a pine tree, cut a few sprigs off the back of your Christmas tree.  OR...use a fresh sprig of rosemary.

Throw it in the pot!

And with holiday baking in full force {at least it is in my house} you might be using up some of those spices that get hidden for 10 months out of the year  You know the ones {cloves, allspice, etc.}

Throw it in the pot!

And what is great about this recipe is that when all is said and done {i.e. it's been simmering for 3 hours on the stove and you need to leave the house}, simply pluck out the ingredients, place them in a large mason jar, screw on the lid and stick it in your fridge.

You can use these same items to do this again when you are in the mood.  Their scents will still be strong for a 2nd time!

Homemade Christmas Scent for Your Home
Print this Recipe!

1 grapefruit sliced
1 orange sliced
2 small sprigs of pine branch needles {or a sprig of fresh rosemary}
4 cinnamon sticks
1 t. whole cloves
1 t. whole allspice berries/cloves
enough water to cover

1.  Place all ingredients in a large stock pot.
2.  Pour in enough water to cover the ingredients.
3.  Bring stock pot to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.  Place on the back burner of the stove, so it is not reachable to little ones.
4.  Allow to simmer for 2-3 hours.  If water starts to evaporate, refill.
5.  When done, strain all ingredients and place in a large mason jar with a lid and secure.  Keep in the fridge.  Use again within one month.