The Scents of Christmas – If you choose to have a real Christmas tree, then you’ll know the lovely festive scent that it imparts. Either way, I always think it rather fun to introduce some special festive aromas to our home in the lead up to the big day. Few things transport us back in time like scent – the warmth of Christmases past can instantly be revived. I’ve a few suggestions for adding a festive fragrance to your home this Christmas, in a range of price points.
Scentair has a number of scents and ways to bring festive cheer: Pine Forest captures the unmistakable freshness of fir balsam and winter citrus (so reminiscent of that freshly cut tree with its first burst of green); Cornucopia and Cranberry Apple Marmalade tart fruits, cinnamon, and clove in vanilla. Noel combines sparkling citrus, fresh fir balsam, and sweet red berries with warm spices. Season’s Greetings blends orange, cinnamon, and clove with fir balsam and cedar boughs—the fragrance of cosy evenings, twinkling lights, and that unmistakable warmth of Christmas. ScentAir’s fragrances can be introduced to your home via a diffuser, candle tins, clever holiday hangers (adding fragrance to your tree or garlands) and infused reeds with a ceramic holder that offer spill-free fragrance. Explore the full collection at scentair.com.
A brilliant value candle and diffuser set from Tesco. For just £10 you can buy this two-in-one set, with a tree shaped glass holder that contains a diffuser as well as the bottom half containing a festive scented candle that will burn for 17 hours. Cedarwood and fir scented, this makes a lovely present as well as being affordable as a little treat for yourself.
ARRAN Sense of Scotland’s Festive Collection for 2025 is a range designed to evoke the wonder of winter on the Isle of Arran. This year’s limited-edition offering introduces two new seasonal scents: Amber Myrrh & Tonka and Jasmine Cedar & Cassis. They celebrate the natural beauty and elemental contrasts of the Scottish landscape, from spice-warmed fires to the earthy stillness of pine trees. Amber Myrrh & Tonka, is an indulgent blend that balances smoky resin with soft spice and warm tonka bean. Jasmine Cedar & Cassis, with notes of wild jasmine and sweet blackcurrant, grounded by aromatic cedarwood is reminiscent of winter sunlit forest walks and evergreen garlands. Both collections are available as a Hand Wash (£17.50), 20cl Candle (£22.50), and 100ml Reed Diffuser (£22.50).
Baylis & Harding has a festive hand wash that won’t break the bank. Widely available from major supermarkets. This 500ml bottle is a festive must have for the kitchen or cloakroom. There are various fragrances available such as Iced Snowberry, Frosted Cranberry, Vanilla Frosting, Frosted Mistletoe and Frosted Candy Apple. Excellent value at around £3
And I’m pleased to report that Purdy & Figg has reintroduced the special limited edition Frankincense & Myrrh cleaning scent. The blend has become a seasonal staple for many customers, regularly selling out within days and building a waitlist of over 30,000 people last year. Described as “the smell of Christmas morning,” it has quickly become one of Purdy & Figg’s most requested and hotly anticipated products. Rich and resinous, the scent combines the smoky depth of frankincense with the honeyed warmth of myrrh, lifted by subtle citrus and spice. It is this layered complexity that customers say makes it so evocative of the festive season. Founded in 2018, Purdy & Figg has grown into a brand known for its eco-friendly, beautifully fragranced cleaning solutions. Cult Christmas Starter Kits, starting from £15.
The Seasoned Gastronome