Holiday Senses: Christmas in the Air
The holiday season was not haphazardly gifted the tagline, “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” It earned it. I imagine that turning the coldest, darkest months into the most heartwarming, bright, well-loved and just full-of-wonder time of the year was some feat. But somehow the holiday season manages it, despite the bone-shattering cold. One of my favorite things about this time of year hits you right in the face, like a snowball that you just can’t out run. I’m talking about the aromas that arrive along with the holidays.
Imagine warm apple pies drizzled with homemade caramel sauce just plucked from the oven, or roasted ham sizzling in pineapple juice, dotted prettily with cloves. Oh! And don’t forget the thick, creamy hot chocolate that thaws your icicle bedazzled insides after you shovel snow for five minutes and decide to quit. Clearly I’m food driven and not a fan of snow (other than on Christmas, of course). For those of you that don’t exist only to appreciate food, think about the smell of fresh cut wood crackling within your fireplace, the hint of pine wafting from the Christmas tree branches or that distinct smell that fills the air just before the first snow.
Without the scents that are manifested during the holidays, what would the holidays be? Our sense of smell is a powerful thing. Aromas can be nostalgic, emitting emotions and memories from our hearts. They can be signals, letting us know that our pumpkin pie or casserole is finished before Alexa does (Side note: I live by the timer function of my Amazon Echo Dot). Scents are everywhere, all of the time and it seems that Christmastime is enveloped in a warm blanket of aromas that has been woven just for the season.
My grandmother, Genevieve, always had something good happening in her kitchen. When I smell certain things, it feels like I’m right there with her, stirring fresh stewed tomatoes or making homemade play dough on the countertop. She loved the holidays, which is a clear indication that her kitchen often exploded with things pleasing to one’s sniffer.
One thing she always did this time of year, when she wasn’t baking, was making what she called, “Christmas in the Air.” It’s a natural, safe way to ensure your home smells perfect and welcoming this holiday season. It’s also a wonderful way to provide a simple hostess gift for all of the holiday gatherings you’ll attend.
Here’s what you need:
- A small sauce pan or a small crockpot
- Two cups of pineapple juice
- Three cinnamon sticks
- One tablespoon of whole cloves
- One tablespoon of pickling spice
Add the ingredients to your sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let simmer uncovered so that the smell of Christmas fills your home. Or you can put it in your crockpot to get it going and put it on low, removing the lid, to have the same effect. You can add water or more pineapple juice as it evaporates. You can also recycle the mixture by reheating throughout the holiday season.
If you put it in a mason jar and add a pretty bow, tag or other decoration, it makes a heartfelt hostess treat or can be a great addition to holiday gift baskets!
If your house is like mine, there are a lot of walls that get in the way of smells drifting upstairs and throughout the entire house. To solve this problem, I rely on my essential oils diffuser. This time of year, I love to diffuse Young Living’s Christmas Spirit. If you would like to purchase Christmas Spirit, you can do so by going to Young Living’s website: https://www.youngliving.com.
You can sign up as a retail customer, for a one time purchase, and use my ID number: 3138956. Or if you’re feeling really fresh, you can jump right in as a wholesale member and get 11 oils, a diffuser and a 24% off wholesale discount. Either way, you’ll enter my number (3138956) so they know who referred you. If you have any questions about Young Living essential oils or the signup process, email me at theheirloomlady@gmail.com.