Your Guide to the Holiday Scents That Define the Season
How do you know the holiday season is approaching? The simplest answer is through scent. Long before the tree is decorated or the stockings are hung, the aromas in the air signal the change. A hint of spice in the kitchen, the evergreen wreath on the door, and the comforting glow of a Colonial Candle® filling the room all say that it's time to celebrate.
Holiday traditions are cherished in countless homes across the country. Some families hang stockings by the fireplace, others set out milk and cookies for Santa, and many unwrap matching pajamas on Christmas Eve. Among these, two timeless scent-filled traditions remain popular: the Bayberry Candle Christmas tradition, which symbolizes luck and prosperity for the new year, and the Advent candle tradition, which provides a warm and reflective countdown to Christmas, marking each Sunday with significance and gentle light. Together, these small rituals create the fragrance of the season — long before the first present is wrapped.
All of these rituals point to one important truth: scent shapes the season more than anything you see or hear. This leads to a question many people ponder at least once in December:
What exactly does Christmas smell like?
The Great Holiday Divide
Team Gingerbread or Team Christmas Tree
There are two distinct scent families that most people associate with Christmas. Though they are quite different, both evoke feelings of familiarity, nostalgia, and comfort. Chances are, you already know which one you belong to.
Team Gingerbread
Warm, Sweet, and Straight from the Oven
Gingerbread evokes memories of childhood kitchens, warm ovens, and little hands sneaking cookie dough when no one is watching. It blends the sweetness of vanilla, the warmth of cinnamon, the boldness of clove, and the cozy depth of nutmeg. This fragrance reminds us of frosted gingerbread houses, iced cookies, and holiday baking afternoons that stretch into evenings.
Colonial Candle® captures this nostalgic atmosphere with scents like Iced Gingerbread, Frosted Gingerbread, and Vanilla Buttercream. Each one embodies that magical moment when the entire house is filled with the aroma of something delicious baking in the oven.
If you want your home to feel festive and welcoming, this is the perfect choice. Experience the sweet and cozy side of Christmas. Shop for gingerbread-inspired candles at Colonial Candle®.
Team Christmas Tree
Fresh, Evergreen, and Full of Tradition
The second Christmas scent family is crisp, green, and distinctly seasonal. It takes you to tree lots, winter cabins, and snowy forest walks. Fresh-cut evergreens are the heart of this category, including balsam, fir, pine, and spruce. These scents evoke feelings of freshness, coolness, and deep nostalgia.
Colonial Candle® offers a wide range for those who appreciate this fresh aspect of Christmas. The choice includes Sparkling Pine, Winter Woods, Bayberry and Fir, Woodland Retreat, Frankincense & Fir, Blue Spruce, and the holiday classic, Balsam & Berries. Each candle captures the essence of bringing home a fresh tree, filling your home with its vibrant green aroma.
If your holiday style is natural, calm, and inspired by the forest, this collection is for you.
Bring home the magic of a fresh tree. Explore Evergreen candles from Colonial Candle®.
A Look at Holiday Traditions That Create These Scents
Many Christmas scents are rooted in traditions that have been cherished for generations. From the moment the tree is adorned to the wreaths hung on front doors, each element contributes to the festive atmosphere. Here are some beloved traditions that infuse our homes with that signature seasonal aroma that we recognize instantly as “Christmas.”
Tree Decorating Day
Once Thanksgiving is over, a festive ritual begins. Families either take boxes down from the attic or go out to buy fresh evergreens. As soon as the tree arrives, the house starts to smell like Christmas, creating the perfect atmosphere for the entire month.
Holiday Baking
No holiday season is complete without gingerbread cookies. Whether families use old handwritten recipes or bake simply for enjoyment, the kitchen fills with a delightful blend of vanilla, spices, and sugar. Some neighborhoods even host cookie swaps, filling homes with a medley of warm, sweet seasonal fragrances.
The Bayberry Candle Tradition
It is believed that a bayberry candle burned down to the socket on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve brings prosperity for the year ahead. In the whirlwind of modern life, this simple ritual offers a moment of peace, reflection, and hope. Colonial Candle® keeps this tradition alive with the Bayberry Candle Christmas Edition.
Bring this good luck tradition into your home. Shop the Bayberry Candle Christmas Edition today!
The Advent Candle Tradition
Four Sundays. Four candles. A heartfelt countdown to Christmas. Each week, a candle is lit to symbolize hope, peace, joy, and love. The room gradually fills with light and a sense of quiet anticipation.
Colonial Candle® provides a comprehensive guide on how to use Advent candles for this meaningful tradition. Start your meaningful countdown with Advent candles.
The True Scent of Christmas
When you think of Christmas, you might imagine the scent of gingerbread, evergreen trees, spices, pinecones, vanilla, or baked apples. Ultimately, Christmas smells like whatever makes your home feel warm, loved, and festive. Each household has its unique scent of Christmas, beautifully brought to life by Colonial Candle®.
Some families prefer sweet fragrances, while others lean towards fresh aromas, and some enjoy a combination of both. After all, scent is deeply tied to memory, and those memories are what we cherish every holiday season.
Which Team Are You?
Here's the fun part—where do you belong? Are you on Team Gingerbread, embracing the cozy warmth of the kitchen? Or Team Christmas Tree, enjoying the crisp freshness of evergreen?
For even more inspiration, check out our blog post, "8 Must-Have Holiday Candle Scents to Make Your Home Feel Merry and Bright."
No matter which team you choose or what your traditions are, may your home be filled with fragrance, warmth, and joy.
