The intoxicating scent of cinnamon, ginger, and spices from Christmas baking, accentuating the freshness of a frosty forest and complementing the smells of real fir or pine trees. Add in notes of mandarins and citrus. The winter aroma just before the holidays reminds you of New Year’s Eve. It’s multifaceted and particularly unique, combining various notes.
Main New Year’s Scents
Regardless of how one celebrates, everyone has childhood associations with this bright winter holiday. The essential attributes, and their respective scents:
- pine needles. Even if it's not a whole fir or pine (we’ll leave the tree in the forest), a small arrangement, bouquet, or just a branch with colorful needles will fill your home with a refined scent;
- chocolate. What’s New Year’s without candy and sweet gifts?
- mandarins. Just touch the peel, and the air fills with an explosion of citrus essential oils;
- smoky notes. A crackling fireplace or simply lighting a match to burn a wish on paper fills the air with the unmistakable scents of New Year;
- spiced pastries. Gingerbread, cinnamon cookies for Santa, and a glass of milk. Not just children, but adults too, believe in miracles, especially under the intoxicating aromas.
What They Are and What They Remind Us Of
You can’t create a pre-New Year mood just by hanging garlands and ornaments around the house. No material elements are needed to spark that unique emotion and festive euphoria. To set the right atmosphere, appeal to your sense of smell. Scents serve as a background to past emotions, an imagined return to specific events.
Everyone has their own associations with what New Year smells like. Some fondly recall holidays at their grandmother’s, with the characteristic scent of homemade pastries. Hot chocolate or coffee evoke thoughts of coziness and warmth, while the crackling of firewood in the hearth reminds us of care and love.
The described New Year scents for the home often evoke similar associations for many people. This makes them a perfect set of keys for creating that festive feeling.
Does Scent Affect Coziness?
You don’t need to look at the interior to tell if you’ll feel comfortable in a space—scent will tell you right away. A scent can enhance positive emotions or, conversely, trigger an unpleasant memory. Large HoReCa establishments use this technique to create a festive atmosphere and attract customers. So why not bring this idea into your own home?
Traditional preferences in specific regions help evoke pleasant associations with New Year and create a festive atmosphere. For example, in post-Soviet countries, where candy and mandarins appeared only before New Year due to shortages, these became the symbols of celebration. In Europe and America, spices and seasonings in baked goods, mulled wine, and strong drinks are popular. Scents like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger immediately bring thoughts back to Christmas and New Year. In Scandinavian regions, with harsh winters and a love for fireplaces, homes fill with the pleasant scent of smoke, crackling firewood, and the flicker of flames on the walls as families enjoy slow-paced, festive evenings.
Scent and Atmosphere Creation
We’ve learned that New Year’s mood largely depends on the scents that surround us. To feel them, all you need is to buy candles to subtly fill the space with the desired aroma.
In winter, the flicker of live flames is especially beautiful. It evokes the feeling of a cozy fireplace. The bright reflections in Christmas ornaments bring the sense of magic closer. You can use a composition of candles of different sizes, decorated with cones and fir branches. The main thing is moderation:
- a kaleidoscope of colors is unnecessary; it’s better to use candles of similar shades;
- excessive scent saturation is not needed. A light wisp of smoke, a subtle fragrance is much more pleasant;
- pair neutral, unscented candles with aroma diffusers;
- choose ready-made perfume compositions in candle format, where all scents are balanced and thoughtfully created by experienced specialists.
