As a book editor, I’m always asking writers to add some Christmas scents to Christmas stories…
The scents of the season are such a great way to evoke a happy or nostalgic mood.
Smells from our past, and especially Christmas scents, trigger memories so strongly that they can make us feel as though we’ve been transported back in time.
When I worked in advertising for a large retail chain, they experimented with diffusing Christmas smells in the stores in order to get shoppers into the holiday spirit. At the town hall, when he was demonstrating one of the diffusers, he accidentally spilled some of the scent of oil on his expensive shoes. For the rest of the day, he smelled very strongly of pine, like a walking car air freshener. There are a lot worse things to smell like. 🙂
This list focuses on Christmas scents in the U.S., so for my international readers, the smell of Christmas may be different where you are!
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List of Christmas Scents
Pine
This is probably the most classic Christmas scent, and I always have Christmas tree-scented candles burning in the house in December. Different evergreens smell a little differently. For instance, a spruce scent is a little different from a balsam scent or a cedar scent.
Bayberry
My mom and my grandma always had bayberry candles at Christmas. It’s supposed to be good luck to light one on Christmas Eve!
Peppermint
We get this scent from candy canes and from one of my all-time favorite candies—peppermint bark!
Sugar Cookies
Butter, sugar, flour, vanilla…they smell so good when they’re baking.
Gingerbread
Cinnamon
A lot of stores sell cinnamon-covered pine cones, and that Christmas scent really carries!
Cloves
Oranges
Way back when, oranges were a common stocking stuffer, and crates or baskets of oranges are still a popular Christmas gift. A lot of people make fragrant ornaments by sticking an orange full of dried cloves.
Hot Chocolate
Spiced or Spiked Apple Cider
To me this is a fall scent, but many people have this at Christmas.
Starbucks Peppermint Mocha
This isn’t quite as iconic as the pumpkin spice latte in the fall, but it’s very popular at the holidays…especially in the special Christmas cups.
Mulled Wine
People may use cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, anise, or orange slices with red wine. The last time I had mulled wine wasn’t at Christmas, but on a chilly spring day in the gardens of Versailles…so romantic!
Egg Nog
Baked Ham
Roast Turkey
I associate this scent much more strongly with Thanksgiving, but a lot of people have it at Christmas, too.
Cranberries and Cranberry Sauce
This is another one that feels more like Thanksgiving to me…but then again, it’s a festive red color, and the whole Thanksgiving/Christmas season kind of blends together, anyway.
Scotch Tape
This is one of those unique Christmas scents! Christmas can bring some wrapping gifts, and tape has a very specific scent.
“Church” Smell
In my experience, churches have a distinctive smell! I suppose it has to do with the candles and all the wood polish they use on the pews. Catholic Churches may also smell like the frankincense and myrrh incense they burn during Masses.
Burning Candles
Unscented candles, like the ones used in Christmas Eve services, have their own scent. Of course, blown-out candles have a particular scent, too, but to me that smells more like birthdays.
Fireplace
The smoky scent of a fire, combined with the crackling, is so comforting in a primal way.
Old Vinyl Records
This Christmas scent might be unique to me, but when I was growing up, we played a lot of old Christmas records in December. I love the smell of old records, even though I suppose it’s something awful like mildew.
Snow
I can’t explain why, but fresh snow, first thing in the morning, has its own scent.
Wet Woolen Coats and Mittens
Roasted Chestnuts
You don’t run into these a lot, but I think they smell amazing.
Do you have a favorite smell of Christmas?
Is it here, or did I leave it out? Let me know in the comments! I might go back and add some to this list later!
And if you’re new here, be sure to check out my book, Master Lists for Writers.
It’ll bring you lots of inspiration, all throughout the year.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Three food smells that always remind me of Christmas are fresh shortbread cookies, mince tarts and butter tarts.
I haven’t ever heard of a butter tart, but I know I’d love it. Mince tarts! I need to add that!
I absolutely agree with oranges and peppermint! Another smell I remember is newspaper. When I was a girl so many years ago, we didn’t have money to spend on disposables. Mama kept the aluminum tinsel every year and wrapped it in newspaper. When we decorated the tree the next Christmas, we carefully lifted each strand and draped it over a branch. We got so excited when we found a long one (anything over four inches)! Thanks for the reminders of the aromas of Christmas. I baked a pumpkin pie today!
Jessie, hi! Oh, that’s a really interesting one. What a great memory, too! And I’m jealous now. Pumpkin pie is my favorite pie, hands down. 🙂 Hope you’re having a good week!
I know a scientific explanation for the smell of snow, but I’m using it in my WIP. I’ll tell you soon. It’s not the same as petrichor.
Love your list.
Oh my gosh! I am so interested. I can’t wait!
…and to piggyback on Jessie, I remember some people wrapping gifts with the Sunday funnies/comics, too.
I may need to add that!
I’m sure these scents are lovely; but the list is northern-hemisphere-centric. Here, at the bottom end of Africa, our Christmas scents would probably include things such as:
The aroma of lamb or sosaties (kebabs) or even snoek braaing;
the occasional waft of beer, as Uncle Jan anoints the the meat with the contents of the can in his hand, to stop it from burning;
the scent of of sun-tan oil and the distinctive briny-fishy smell of the kelp washed up on the Cape coast;
the smell of hot tar as the road-surface softens and melts in the midsummer heat,
the acrid burning of the roostercook (bread rolls) left too long on the braai.
Hi Anne! Yes, this is absolutely a U.S.-focused list. I love reading yours! Thank you so much for sharing!
I grew up in Florida, and the scent that means Christmas to me is that first tear of a tangerine peel. We always had one or two tangerines in our stocking, and that was where we went first on Christmas morning. We (I am the oldest of six) all tumbled into the living room and the air was soon filled with the mist and perfume of peeled tangerines. Even after all these years – and wherever I’ve lived – I’ve had tangerines at Christmas, or it wouldn’t be the same. Merry Christmas to you, Bryn, and Mr. Donovan. AND a very Happy New Year, too. <3
Hi PJ! Oh, that’s such a great memory. I can almost smell them right now myself. 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful holiday, too!