We all love the warm smells that go along with the holiday seasons, like the scent of fresh-made gingerbread or mulled apple cider. But what happens after the baking and cooking are done and you want to capture those amazing, cozy smells?
Well, it turns out that creating these comforting Christmas and holiday fragrances is easy! By simmering your favorite aromatics—think cinnamon, clove and pine—and even a few leftovers (like your orange and apple peels) over the stove, you can fill your house with the sumptuous scents of the season.
How to get those simmering scents
These homemade stovetop potpourris are simple to cook up. To get the scents wafting through your home, all you need to do is fill up a sauce pan with water and your aromatics—just leave about an inch of room at the top.
As for the aromatics themselves, the options are endless! If you’re cooking up a storm over the holidays, be sure to save any orange peels, apple peels, Christmas tree clippings, and stray herbs and spices. You can use all these to make your home smell incredible.
Once you put your ingredients on the stove, just bring them to a low simmer while you spend the day at home watching your favorite Christmas movies. Be sure to never stray too far from the stove, and remember that you can always add more water to keep the scents going. For a low-maintenance version, add your aromatics and water to an uncovered slow cooker and keep it on the low setting.
With the method down, you can create your own custom blend of favorite scents. If you’re looking for a place to start, though, we’ve got a few stovetop potpourri combinations you can try.
Winter Forest
- Pine sprigs; clip a few from the base of your Christmas tree!
- Cinnamon sticks
- Bay leaves; one or two should do
- Lemon peel or even a lemon that’s been juiced for your lemon meringue muffins
- Orange or grapefruit peel
Cinnamon Bun
- Cinnamon sticks
- Vanilla extract; a teaspoon of this pricey ingredient is plenty
- Almond extract; same here—a teaspoon is a good place to start
- Nutmeg
Warm and Fuzzy
- Apple peels
- Orange peels
- Cinnamon sticks
- Whole cloves
Apple Chai
- Apple peels; if you don’t have apples or their peels on hand, substitute a cup of apple cider
- Cinnamon sticks
- Cloves
- Cardamom
- Ginger, fresh or ground
- Nutmeg
Cozy Cranberry
- Fresh cranberries
- Orange peel
- Cinnamon sticks
- Sprigs of fresh rosemary
Trust us, these fabulous scents will have you feeling warm and cozy all season long. So grab a good book and a Christmas cookie or two (or three!) and snuggle in.
Or fill your home with the aroma of fresh-baked cookies!
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Almond Spritz Cookies
These almond spritz cookies can be left plain or decorated with colored sugar and frosting. In our house, it just wouldn't be Christmas without some cookie press recipes.—Tanya Hart, Muncie, Indiana
Gingerbread Men Cookies
No holiday treat platter would be complete without gingerbread man cookies! This is a tried-and-true recipe I'm happy to share with you. —Mitzi Sentiff, Annapolis, Maryland
Vanilla-Butter Sugar Cookies
These are one of my favorite cookies to bake for Christmas. The dough recipe is versatile and you can use it for other holidays, too. Children like to help with decorating. —Cynthia Ettel, Hutchinson, Minnesota
Chocolate Thumbprints Cookies
My group of friends had a weekly "movie night" during winters on Martha's Vineyard, and we'd take turns making a chocolate treat to share. These terrific cookies were an instant success. Once they debuted, I had to make them many more times. —Laura Bryant German, W. Warren, Massachusetts
Peppermint Biscotti
Dipped in melted chocolate and rolled in crushed peppermint candy, this flavorful biscotti is a favorite. It's one of the many sweets I make for Christmas. —Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania
Italian Rainbow Cookies
My family has made these classic Italian cookies for generations, and this homemade version is so much better than the bakery version. They are always a special treat during the holidays or any time of year!—Cindy Casazza, Hopewell, New Jersey
Peanut Butter Christmas Mice
With their black licorice tails, candy noses and peanut ears, these chewy "mice" were always a hit at classroom parties. My children are in their teens now, but they still ask me to make these cookies for the holidays. —Nancy Rowse, Bella Vista, Arkansas
Christmas Sandwich Cremes
These melt-in-your-mouth sandwich cookies have a scrumptious filling. I helped my sister make these in high school when she needed a project in her home economics class. She got an A+! —Janice Poechman, Walkerton, Ontario
Buttery Spritz Cookies
This tender spritz cookie recipe is very eye-catching on my Christmas cookie tray. The dough is easy to work with, so it's fun to make these spritz cookies into a variety of festive shapes. —Beverly Launius, Sandwich, Illinois
Pizzelle
This recipe was adapted from one used by my Italian-born mother and grandmother. They used old irons on a gas stove, but now we have the convenience of electric pizzelle irons. The cookies are so delectable and beautiful, they're worth it! —Elizabeth Schwartz, Trevorton, Pennsylvania
Coconut Clouds
Coconut lovers will have extra reason to celebrate when they taste these cake-like drop cookies. The generous frosting and coconut topping make them a hit at holiday cookie swaps. —Donna Scofield, Yakima, Washington
Snickerdoodles
The history of this whimsically named treat is widely disputed, but the popularity of this classic cinnamon-sugar-coated cookie is undeniable! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Peppermint Meltaways
This recipe for peppermint meltaways is very pretty and festive-looking on a cookie platter. I often cover a plate of these peppermint cookies with red or green plastic wrap and a bright holiday bow in one corner. And yes, they really do melt in your mouth! —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan
Frosted Eggnog Cookies
Eggnog stars in both the cookie and frosting in this new-found recipe, imparting a subtle holiday flavor.—Amanda Taylor, Glen Ewen, Saskatchewan
Gingerbread Oatmeal Cookies
Cookie butter and ground ginger add a new layer of flavor. The recipe makes about 18 cookies; they go fast so you may want to make a double batch. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio
Jeweled Coconut Drops
Red raspberry preserves add a festive flair to these tender coconut cookies. Perfect for potlucks and cookie exchanges, these shaped cookies never last long when I make them for my husband and two sons. -Ellen Marie Byler Munfordville, Kentucky
Dipped Gingersnaps
I get a great deal of satisfaction making and giving time-tested yuletide treats like these soft, chewy cookies. Dipping them in white chocolate makes great gingersnaps even more special. —Laura Kimball, West Jordan, Utah
Pistachio-Cranberry Rugelach
Traditional rugelach gets dressed up for the holiday with pistachios, cranberries, and snow-white icing. Rich but not too sweet! — Deborah Hinojosa, Saratoga, California
Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
I always make these chocolate cherry cookies for family gatherings, and they never last very long. They require a little extra effort, but they're worth it. —Marie Kinyon, Mason, Michigan
Scottish Shortbread
Scottish settlers first came to this area over 150 years ago. My mother herself was Scottish, and—as with most of my favorite recipes—she passed this on to me. I make a triple batch of it each year at Christmas, to enjoy and as gifts. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba
Holiday Almond Tassies
I make so many of these fancy tassies every year, I use up a 7-pound container of almond paste! They’re one of my family’s holiday favorites. —Donna Westhouse, Dorr, Michigan
Lemon Snowflakes
You’ll need just four items to whip up these delightful cookies. Confectioners’ sugar highlights the cracked tops to give them their snowflake appearance. —Linda Barry, Dianna, Texas
Jolly Ginger Reindeer Cookies
I made gingerbread cookies for years before realizing my gingerbread-man cutter becomes a reindeer when turned upside down. They’re super crispy and fun! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Italian Pignoli Cookies
Cookies are the crown jewels of Italian confections. I can’t let a holiday go by without baking these traditional almond cookies rolled in mild pine nuts.—Maria Regakis, Somerville, Massachusetts
Fig & Almond Cookies
In our family, holiday cookies—like these nutty fig ones—are a big deal. I'm so proud to be passing on this Italian tradition to my two boys. —Angela Lemoine, Howell, New Jersey
Whipped Shortbread
These whipped shortbread christmas cookies melt in your mouth. Mostly I make them for the holidays, but I'll also prepare them year-round for wedding showers and ladies' teas. —Jane Ficiur, Bow Island, Alberta
Italian Christmas Cookies
A single batch of these ricotta cheese cookies is never enough. I usually make one to give away and two more to keep at home. The ricotta cheese makes the morsels extra moist. —Doris Marshall, Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Touch-of-Gold Christmas Trees
You can decorate these pretty Christmas trees with other types of sprinkles if you don't have the gold dust. The filling alone makes the cookies special and so delicious! —Linda Sweet, Cornwall, New York
Fruitcake Christmas Cookies
As holiday gifts, these rich fruit-and-nut filled cookies are pretty and practical. Make them ahead—the taste actually gets better over time! —Julia Funkhouser, Carson, Iowa
Callahan Christmas Wreaths
When my family asked for good old Norwegian wreath cookies, I studied several recipes for ideas, then added my own special touches. — Cassidy Callahan, Fitchburg, Massachusetts
White Velvet Cutouts
We make and decorate these cutouts for different holidays and give lots of them as gifts. Last year, we baked a batch a week before Christmas to be sure we'd have plenty to give and plenty for ourselves, too. These rich cookies melt in your mouth. —Kim Hinkle, Wauseon, Ohio
