I’m participating in the ‘Scents of the Season’ celebration today with these fabulous bloggers. . .
So let’s talk scents.
What does Christmas smell like to you?
I guess it depends a lot on where you live, the season you are having and your specific memories of Christmas.
For me, the scent of pine and cinnamon always make me think of Christmas.
The pine smell I’m sure tracks back to my childhood when we had a real Christmas tree. . . it was the norm back in the 60’s and 70’s.
These days, having a real tree for Christmas in the middle of summer is not ideal. The tree fairly quickly wilts and loses all of its needles and looks pretty crusty long before Christmas day rolls around.
A kitchen full of the heady scent of cinnamon and baking spices takes me back to those early childhood days of sitting on a stool watching the women of my family baking Christmas cakes and puddings full of exotic smelling spices.
My nan was notorious for her ‘plum duff’ which was an extra large pudding, wrapped in calico and cooked all day outside in the copper. I remember waiting patiently for my turn to turn the wooden spoon, but the mixture was always too heavy for me to stir.
Now that I have a home of my own, I like to scent it at Christmas with a ‘special blend’ of what Christmas smells like to me. . . home baking, cooking spices, dried fruits and gingerbread.
Another way to further enhance that scent is with a simmer pot of my Christmas spices, which is quite nice when friends are visiting.
Here’s the recipe I use, but you can adapt it to suit your own taste. . .
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 3 bay leaves
- 1/4 cup whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 lemon slices, fresh or 2 tablespoons dried lemon peel
- 2 tablespoons orange peel or dried orange peel
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 litre water.
- Mix all ingredients in either a medium saucepan or a slow cooker and simmer on low heat, Add more water as required.
For more ‘Scents of the Season’, please visit these lovely blogs.
Monday
Deja Vue Designs
My Soulful Home
Tuesday
Cupcakes and Crinoline
Town and Country Living
Wednesday
White Lace Cottage
Our Southern Home
Thursday
Shabby Art Boutique
Mrs. Hines’ Class
Just reading about all the wonderful scents I can almost smell them.
Thank you for the recipe – will have to give it a try.
I’ve been burning apple/cinnamon and orange/cinnamon candle for the last couple of weeks which gives the house a lovely cosy smell.
Toni xx
I think scents are a wonderful way to affect your mood. I bet the apple cinnamon is very soothing and homely Toni 🙂
Love your combination! A duff cooking in the copper! Love it!!
I think it is the worlds best pudding Kelly… made the old fashioned way by hand and cooked slow over a soft boil all day. Thanks for visiting my scents of the season.
Oh, I like your gingerbread man wreath! So cute. Love the story of the plum duff, too. Never heard of it until now. Thanks for sharing your simmering recipe, Kerryanne!
Thank you Jennifer. I loved making the ginger wreath… might have to revisit that project again this season.