Open any gift guide this time of year, and you are guaranteed to be met with at least one, if not several, candle options.
The holiday candle is a staple for many, but an open flame might not be the best route if you have young kids, curious pets, or are sensitive to fragrance. So, what can you do instead to envelope your home in all the seasonal smells?
We picked the brain of Los Angeles-based interiors stylist and entertaining maven Erik Kenneth Staalberg to spill all his secrets on festive (and beautiful) aromatic workarounds.
Fresh Tree Trimmings
By far, the easiest (and most iconic) holiday scent creator can be pulled right from the pick-up line of your tree purveyor. Don’t be shy: Grab those evergreen clippings and trimmings from your tree, and take them home with you. Oftentimes, lots even have containers full of them for the taking, just be sure to ask.
The most fragrant varieties tend to come from balsam firs, Douglas firs and noble firs. Simply cross a few small branches or limbs and place a fun figurine on top, for instance. You can also take a handful, wrap a bow around the ends and hang them around the house as you would a wreath.
Fragrant Simmer Pot
“Before guests come over, I do a small uncovered pot of boiling water with cinnamon, lemon, and rosemary,” says Staalberg of one of his go-to entertaining moves this time of year. “The steam really saturates the home, and you can use whatever you have available to make different combinations of scents!”
Just be sure the heat isn’t on high or the water will evaporate too quickly. A gentle bubble is all you need to activate the fragrance.
Spice-Dotted Oranges in a Bowl
Here’s one that’s both decor and perfume. “A classic Martha [Stewart] learned tradition is a chic pedestal bowl filled with oranges that have been studded with cloves and star anise,” says the stylist. You can use both fresh and dried oranges for this task, the former lasting a few weeks, and the latter almost indefinitely. Bonus points that this is one you can involve the whole family in.
Pine Cones With Essential Oils
In the same vein as the oranges in a bowl, small or regularly-sized pine cones gathered in a vessel of your choice is a season-appropriate adornment that you can easily turn into a scent booster. Simply add a few drops of a holiday essential oil to their cores, and they’ll gently waft a bouquet of cheer every time you walk past them.
Read more at Real Simple
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