The day after Thanksgiving, my family can hardly wait to put up the holiday tree. And I’m more than happy to oblige.
They know by now that when I set up a tree, it’s no ordinary affair. That tree will honor not just Christmas but a host of holidays well into spring — and sometimes even beyond. To pull this off, the tree must be artificial.
Why? Because I can’t resist transforming it to match every occasion on the calendar, from Christmas to Easter, and sometimes even the first blush of summer. It started years ago when I realized how much I loved having a tree up for months. On top of the usual Christmas decorations, I began adding touches for the New Year, then Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter. One year, the tree stayed up until June, decked out for my daughter’s wedding. I adorned it with photos of her and her fiancé, wedding bells, and flowers in her chosen colors. By the time we hosted her bridal shower, the tree had become a centerpiece, complete with favors for the guests.
Hopeless romantic? Guilty as charged.
But back to the Christmas season. There’s something magical about a lighted evergreen tree glowing in the room, complemented by holiday scents like cinnamon and evergreen. I do admit, every year when we set up the artificial tree, I feel a pang for the real thing. The smell of fresh pine is unbeatable, but the mess of shedding needles and the thought of discarding a once-living tree always make me reconsider. I think about the wildlife that depends on trees, the oxygen they provide, and the carbon it absorbs, and I’m reassured that my artificial choice is the more sustainable one.
If I ever waver, I remember the living, wise trees of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. They make me wonder if trees have a natural intelligence we’ve yet to understand. That thought makes it easier to embrace my decision to stick with artificial — artificial intelligence, if you will.
To enhance the experience, I hang my scented ornaments from Belle Aroma® and use a diffuser with holiday-inspired scents.
Speaking of holiday scents, have you ever thought about mixing wax melts or tarts to create custom scents? It’s an easy and creative way to personalize your home fragrance throughout the year. For example, Belle Aroma’s No-Mess Fragrance Tarts are perfect for experimenting with mixing fragrances. You can blend scents like Pumpkin Spice and Icy Cinnamon to make your home smell like a “Christmas Dessert” or pair Evergreen and Mountain Air for a “Christmas Cabin in the Woods” aroma. Moving beyond the winter holidays, cast a love spell for Valentine’s Day with Moonlight Citrus, Mountain Air, Vanilla Bourbon and Cherry Noir. Ready for spring already? Pop in a mix of Thai Orchid and Apple Orchard to make your house smell like a spring garden. The possibilities are endless when it comes to custom scents, making your home fragrance as unique as your holiday tree.
Not sure where to start? Check out the mix-and-match recipes from the Gift of Scent blog post on No-Mess Fragrance Tarts for the holidays. These ideas are a fantastic inspiration for anyone looking to combine scents and create a personalized home fragrance that reflects their favorite holidays. Trust me, your family will love the extra touch of creativity and warmth.
Jean Greco for The Gift of Scent