Sunday, December 1, 2013

The Scent of Christmas

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Aren't there just some smells that remind you of something?

From the sudden whiff of school cabbage to the pungent smell of hospital disinfectant.  The smell of Old Spice reminding you of that first kiss.  Or the smell of brisket baking in the oven makes you think of your childhood.  Nothing transports people back to their childhood more than an unexpected smell.
Scents really do get 'etched' onto the brain.  Who knew?

Evidently, studies have shown that memories triggered by smells are more vivid and more emotional than those triggered by sounds, pictures or words.

So, with that in mind, how about a scent that reminds you of Christmas?  You can make it yourself...no plug in required!


www.make-it-do.com has a a great concoction that evokes those memories!

one whole orange or just the orange peel
1/2 cup cranberries
1 Tbsp. whole cloves
3 sticks of cinnamon or a small handful of small pieces of cinnamon
a bit of grated nutmeg if desired
Quarter the orange.  Put all the ingredients into a saucepan.  Fill pan with water.  Place on the stove on the smallest burner, on the lowest setting.  Refill water as needed.

Your house will smell DIVINE!


You may also want to prepare a package of the scent of Christmas for your neighbors.  What a great alternative to cookies!



What a great idea from www.dandee-designs.com!

Just take the following, place them in a clear cellophane bag and create a paper topper off your computer.
5 cinnamon sticks
1 dried lemon slice
1 dried orange slice
1/2 cup whole cloves
1 tbs. nutmeg
1/4 cup whole allspice
1 tbs. bay leaf pieces
3 dried apple slices

Add the directions on the back of the paper topper:  "Combine ingredients. Add water to simmer on stovetop."  Then you are good to go.  Very clever of you and I'm sure your neighbor's waistline will love you!  You may be wondering where to get dried lemon and orange slices?  Well, if you have a dehydrator, you can make your own.  You can order them on line or you can dry your own slices in your oven.  See, it is possible!

Pine tree, cinnamon, peppermint and eggnog all are just some of the scents of the season.  Enjoy the scents you smell this time of year!

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet!

Christine

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