How to Make Your Holiday Scent-sational
Aromatherapy is real … and whoever says it isn’t clearly has not smelled a MainStays cinnamon candle or a ScentSationals Honey Crisp Cider wax melt.
The power of smells to elicit feelings is truly incredible.
Being greeted by the scent of fresh baked gingerbread when you walk inside on a crisp December day is an unmatched experience.
Suddenly, all is right with the world, and I feel enveloped in a warm hug of comfort and holiday happiness. Of course, it would be best if the cookies were real every time, but in lieu of a daily baking of cookies, candles and a variety of other scent-making methods can do the trick.
Below are some of my favorite scents and methods to create the coziest of Christmas ambiences.
Candles— a classic.
Candles have been around for thousands of years and are a tried and true method to produce all of your favorite holiday scents. Mistletoe, holiday cookies, cedar, cinnamon gingersnap, holiday hearth, and warm apple pie are all various scents that call to mind countless Christmas memories of gathering with loved ones and enjoying the simple things in life. I’m not sure what exactly the north pole or Christmas wishes smell like, but there are scents for that too. My mom is allergic to real Christmas trees, but luckily, thanks to candles, we can trick our noses into thinking the plastic tree in the living room is a sappy, living fir tree.
There are countless stores and brands that sell a variety of candles at a variety of different prices. At Walmart, the MainStays brand provides large candles at a fraction of the price of other more well-known brands. Target sells Chesapeake Bay Candle as well as Nature’s Wick and several other brands at a slightly more expensive, but still very affordable price. Bath and Body Work’s candles are certainly pricier, but feature some of your favorite and familiar scents from their other products. And of course, one of the most famous brands that sells candles, and is solely dedicated to selling candles, is Yankee Candle. These candles are at the top of the price range but are classic and high quality.
However, the joy of candles does come at the price of a little responsibility. Many times, I’ve experienced the frustration of wanting to light a candle, but not being able to find a match anywhere. So, make sure you have a lighter or matches handy. Additionally, and the most important part of candle care, is remembering to extinguish it. No matter how delightful that scent of warm snickerdoodles might be, it is probably not worth burning down your house for. Other than that, candles are a no-mess, minimal-hassle way to create that perfect holiday atmosphere.
Wax warmers— a spin on the classic.
Also known as wax melters, candle warmers, or candle melters, wax warmers are a modern take on the candle and feature many of the same benefits, but a different setup. They usually consist of a ceramic base with a removable top that holds the wax. You simply put a scented wax melt into the removable top and plug in the base. The wax melts and, like any normal candle, releases your scent of choice. These are a bit more newfangled than candles, but are steadily gaining in popularity.
They differ from candles in that they do provide more variety, as you don’t have to have to have a whole separate candle for each separate scent. You can easily store a variety of wax melt cubes and choose the one you want for that particular occasion. Some of my favorite scents include frosted fir, iridescent, woodland frost, honey crisp cider, and holiday cookies.
All kinds of places sell wax melters and wax melts, including your traditional candle companies. They usually cost around $20 for the one-time purchase of the wax melter and then packs of around 6 wax melt cubes will cost a couple dollars.
Functionally, the wax melter differs from a candle. While it is still certainly not a good idea to leave the wax melter on indefinitely or when you’re not home, it is safer than a candle and is less likely to catch anything on fire. However, in my opinion, the biggest downside of the wax warmer is removing the melted wax from the warmer so you can replace it with a new melt. Scents are usually a one-time use but can be remelted once or twice for a fainter scent.
You can’t really just pour out the melted wax, and once it hardens it won’t come out either. If you try to wash it out with water, it just hardens instantly and remains partially melted into the top. There are several methods to cleanly remove the wax. I personally remove the top from the base and put it in the freezer. After a few hours the wax should just easily come out in one piece, leaving nothing behind.
I have also heard that after the wax dries, you can turn the wax melter back on for a few minutes and then it will remove easily in one piece like it does in the freezer. However, this method requires a bit more precision. If you wait too long and the wax gets too liquid-y you will have to turn it off and wait for it to harden all over again. Overall though, the wax warmer is a great investment for those dedicated to the art of aromatherapy.
There are still several other ways to bring cozy scents into your home, including essential oils diffusers, wall plug-ins, potpourri, room spray, and incense, but candles and wax warmers are perhaps the most widely used methods of diffusing scents.
This December, whether you choose to use a candle, a wax warmer, or something less traditional, welcome family and guests alike into your home with a variety of smells and scents that call forth feelings of warmth, love, and holiday happiness.
Sincerely, Hannah
Photography: Hannah B.