The Old-School Hack That'll Make Your Home Smell Incredible For Holiday Guests

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Of the five basic senses, smell is the one that transports us back into our nostalgic holiday memories the fastest. This may be due to our nose's close proximity to the brain and its emotional centers. One good whiff of a sweet-and-spicy apple pie baking or steaming rosemary garlic bread can remind us of past Christmas gatherings. If you want a cool way to make your home smell like the holidays while you're hosting friends or family, you can create pretty oil candles that will send such scents as cinnamon and citrus wafting through your living space.

You can use any kind of jar or bottle for this DIY, including the vintage ones you found at the last estate sale you attended. If you'd like to buy some to ensure that your candles set the proper tone this Christmas, try MyGift Vintage Design Embossed Fleur De Lis Clear Glass Bottles. With their decorative exteriors, they're reminiscent of antique bottles and make for a candle display on a fireplace mantel or as a scent-maker in the guest bathroom.

The scents for your Christmas candles require a carrier oil. Some GEM Extra Virgin Olive Oil will work. You'll also need some DOITOOL Brass Tube Wick Holders and Wicks. Finally, dried pieces of citrus, apples, dried cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary twigs are what you'll tap to create the aromas you remember from your youth (or produce new memories for future holidays).

If you're using pre-owned bottles for this hack, check if they need to be washed, and inspect them for tiny cracks or chips. The latter may not be such a big issue, depending on how big the blemish is, but it's good to ensure the jars can hold oil. Once you're comfortable giving the project the go-ahead, start filling each bottle with the dried fruits and herbs. Some of the items may float to the top. This is okay. It adds to the beauty and charm of the bottle. 

After you've added the dry elements, gradually fill the bottle with the oil. Wipe off any that drizzles down the sides of the container. If you want to make it more fragrant, it's okay to add a few drops of Lagunamoon Christmas Essential Oils to the candle. Some of the best essential oil scents for this purpose are pine and peppermint. Pine would make your home smell like a fresh Christmas tree, while peppermint would give off the impression of candy canes. Once you've poured the oil in, drop the candle wick into it.

Finally, if you'd like to dress the bottles up a bit more, here are a couple of suggestions. Look for containers made with frosted glass instead of plain ones. Also, you can tie Christmas ribbons around the neck of the bottles to level up the look a bit. Just make sure the ends of the bows are out of the way of the flame.