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11 Sweet + Spicy Stovetop Scents That Make Your Home Holiday Happy
You (and your nose) can thank us later.
What better way to greet autumn guests than with the comforting aroma of fresh-baked sweets wafting from your kitchen counter? The answer likely being, "greeting guests with actual fresh-baked sweets."
In theory, I can agree that yes, greeting visitors with a batch of warm, crumbly gingerbread cookies would be the ideal holiday hostess welcome. That said, sometimes you're just trying to mask that incessant (though, darling) dog odor or the notorious clothes-that-were-forgotten-in-the-wash-and-now-smell-super-questionable situation — am I right?
Looking for an easy solution that will have all your guests thinking you live in a magical, merry place that smells like Christmas and Thanksgiving all rolled into one? A solution that also requires zero baking skills, at that? Stovetop scents, people. Stovetop scents.
iStock/zi3000
To make, simply fill a pot or saucepan with 2-3 cups of water and your desired ingredients. Turn up the heat and bring contents to a boil before reducing to a simmer. Be sure to continue adding water as needed, then revel in the delightful aroma from every room in your house.
Not sure where to start? No problem. I've got 11 sinfully-easy stovetop scent combos, all of which are guaranteed to have your home smelling like happiness in a matter of minutes.
Cinnamon Apple Crumble
iStock/zi3000
- 2 sliced apples
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- lemon rind
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 3 whole cloves
Pumpkin Pie
iStock/bhofack2
- 1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 cinnamon sticks
Spiced Orange
iStock/Tartalja
- 1/3 cup fresh cranberries
- 2 oranges
- 1 lemon
- 2 whole nutmeg
- 1 tbsp. whole cloves
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 bay leaves
Cranberry + Cinnamon Spice Cobbler
iStock/brebca
- 1/2 orange, sliced
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 2 cups cranberries
- 2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
Naughty or Spice
iStock/TKphotography64
Add any combination of the following for a truly intoxicating, spicy aroma: whole cloves, anise stars, whole peppercorns, dried or fresh ginger, dried or fresh lemon peel, dried or fresh orange peel.
Gingerbread Cookie
iStock/Tartalja
- 10 slices fresh ginger
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
- 1 orange rind
Candy Cane
iStock/karandaev
- 2 vanilla beans, sliced
- 5-10 drops of peppermint essential oil
Christmas Tree
Image courtesy of The National Christmas Tree Association
- handful of fresh pine twigs
- 1 lemon rind
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 bay leaves
- 1 tsp. nutmeg
Sleepy-Time Scent
iStock/tanjichica7
- 2 sprigs of fresh lavender
- 1 tsp. whole cloves
- 1 tbsp. nutmeg
Fresh Floral + Mint
iStock/botamochi
- handful of fresh lavender sprigs
- 1 drop of eucalyptus oil
- 3 drops of peppermint oil
