6 tips for making your home smell like the holidays, according to experts

The method is as straightforward as it sounds: Just fill a pot with water (about 1/2-3/4), toss in some cinnamon sticks (the more sticks, the more potent), turn the burner on low and let it simmer for about 30 minutes. This bag of cinnamon sticks from Spicy World has enough for several batches or projects.

As Gliwinska suggests, adding fruits and spices can add spice and depth to your simmer. Throw in a few pieces of star anise, a spice made from the fruit of the Chinese evergreen tree, Illicium Verum, to bring your brew to life and add a festive touch (may contain nuts).

For a (practically) ready-made alternative, “Try steeping spiced or other aromatic tea sachets on a (supervised) stovetop,” recommends Greta Pagel, fragrance director and perfume expert at Illume and Good Chemistry. “There are many delicious varieties of seasonal and limited edition tea and spice blends out there that can deliver a similar traditional holiday-spiced scent.”

Harney & Sons’ bestselling Hot Cinnamon Spice tea comes as sachets, as well as tea bags and loose leaves. Pagel’s favorite is Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Sunset, a version with orange peel and cloves that’s the perfect mix of spicy and sweet.

Each bag of dehydrated orange contains 23 to 37 slices, easily enough for a long garland (for, say, your mantel or tree). Use any extras for brightening up simmer pots, mulled wines and potpourris. 

Once you string your dried orange slices together, consider studding them with whole cloves. With this package, you should have some left over for your simmer pot (or potpourri). 

More of a “buy it, don’t DIY it” person? This festive readymade garland comes complete with cinnamon and star anise for less than $15 with expedited shipping. There are also orange- and grapefruit-only versions for those who like the effect, but don’t want the spices to compete with other scents.

If you don’t have anywhere to hang garland, Hope Freeman, senior director of scent design at Pura, recommends a “display of natural pine cones, cinnamon sticks and cloves” with orange and/or apple slices, to sprinkle some sweetness and spice throughout the home.

These kits make it easy — add them to a simmer pot, bowl or mason jar with a perforated lid. Available in packs of four or eight, they’re also great for gifting!

This fresh white pine garland, which has a near-perfect rating and can arrive by the weekend, is versatile — and flexible — enough to be used as tablescapes, mantel decor, wreaths … you name it. And because the branches are so fresh, all you need is a sharp pair of scissors or gardening shears to prune it.

These real pine leaf branches can be placed in a vase as-is, or cut into smaller pieces that can be arranged throughout the home. We also like the idea of hanging them from shower heads as a way to turn the bathroom into a winter spa.

For a ready-made wreath that’s sure to give guests a warm and fragrant welcome, we’re loving this festive arrangement. It features fresh fir and cedar evergreen, along with gold bells, red ornaments and faux red berries. There are also LED lights for a glow.

If you have a fresh tree, Aimee Majoros, fragrance expert and founder of Aimee is Beauty, suggests collecting pine needles, preferably from a balsam fir and filling a decorative bowl, particularly appealing in an entryway where guests get their first impression of the home.

She adds, “Balsam sachets and pillows are another great, unexpected way to bring the ultimate scent of Christmas indoors.” This three-pack is heavy on the balsam, while these smaller sachets also integrate another favorite of Majores’s (pinecones).

This classic scent from Nest New York features an intoxicating blend of pomegranate, mandarin orange and pine, along with a dash of spice and sweetness, for a festive scent that, as I can personally attest, is merry and bright. 

“No holiday is complete without it,” adds Freeman. “It smells amazing and, when diffused using the Pura Plus, fills up the whole room in minutes.” (More Pura-specific pods and pod/diffuser sets here.)

“If you have an artificial Christmas tree, placing a balsam scented reed diffuser at the base or close by will emulate having a real tree in the home,” says Majores. A few of our experts noted Thymes’ Frasier Fir, available as a standalone or pod diffuser, as being a holiday staple. 

“When seeking out the perfect ‘fireplace’ scent, look for home fragrances that contain woody, smoky notes like oud, cedarwood and amber,” Majores recommends. “Woodwick’s Fireside Candle features a wooden wick that crackles as you burn it, creating a fireplace-like effect.” 

We especially like this version of the soy-wax blend as a centerpiece for larger areas, and pillar candles for smaller areas, like side tables and mantels where they can really shine.

For something a little lighter, yet just as snuggle-worthy, consider Lush’s Hot Toddy. Described by Gliwinska as a”warm, cozy scent,” it’s made of vegan vegetable waxes, including coconut oil and castor oil (and you get 35 hours of burn time).

“One of my favorite ways to bring the magic of Christmas into my home is by displaying a lovely bowl with a few of Lush’s seasonal products (bath bombs, bubble bars, and soaps),” adds Gliwinska. “Their vibrant colors and enchanting scents create a truly magical atmosphere.”

Caldrea’s Countertop Spray in Gilded Balsam Birch — featuring hints of orange, cinnamon and anise star — is another great option for a cleaner that captures scents of the season without being too overwhelming. 

Use it in conjunction with your current products, or combine it with the brand’s hand soap and dish soap, for a halo effect. 

Last but not least, clear the air with this air freshener from Pourri. It eliminates unpleasant odors and replaces them with the fresh scent of balsam fir trees. The brand also sells a set of limited-edition sprays that lend a festive aroma — and look — to bathrooms.