How do you make your houses smell amazing?

[FizzyPink]

I always have candles on the go and love a really rich Christmassy smell. More spices/Oudh kind of smell than anything sweet. Two Christmas candles I’ve bought so far smell of absolutely nothing! (Sainsbury’s & H&M)
We do have more expensive ones but I like them burning pretty constantly throughout the winter so looking for an economical alternative.

I also read about putting drops of oil into your radiators which wafts the smell about when they’re on but I’m not sure if that’s recommended

Any great ideas?

@Applejack87 I got My crackers from TK Max last year, they had lovely gifts in them

I read that candles aren’t the best for us, releasing toxic fumes etc, it’s the paraffin wax. The soot is bad for our respiratory system. I try and buy soy candles that are less of a problem.

Use Reed sticks and essential oils.

@Moonflower12 here it is

@tywysoges

Thank you. I'll get some next time I'm in town. Xx

I tried a few different Christmas candles last year... none particularly good.

Zara gingerbread £15.99 - no real scent when lit
H&M peppermint £6.99 - no real scent when lit
White Company winter botanical - also fairly weak scent, the glass ones I’ve had previously seem to have a stronger smell!

I’m going to try the Winter oil and diffuser this year

For longevity and budget home bargains definitely are the best for candles.

Everyone who's got/thinking about getting diffusers; be careful-some essential oils are toxic to animals. (I mean once vaporised, not ingested)

I use M&S Frankincense candle. I used to get white company Winter but I hate their wicks and they burn so badly, I won’t buy them anymore.

@MissyB1 that smell is so evocative to me! It smells exactly like the box our Christmas decorations were stored in when I was a child.

I spray perfume on my husband when he's sleeping

Last Christmas I discovered The White Company fir tree Reed diffuser that I had in the hallway. And their winter scented candle in the living room which I lit in the evenings.

Both of those scents are pure Christmas for me

Drip some drips of a Christmassy oil onto kitchen roll and put it on top of your radiators. The smell will drift all round the house.

Pan of water on stove, put cut up satsumas (on their last legs) cloves and cinnamon. Keep simmering.

Last Christmas I was obsessed with Rebecca Tracey’s Three Kings, both the candle and drops of the essential oil in a diffuser. I still have plenty of oil left so will use it again this year.

Aldi candles are suprisingly good. I haven't been in there for 18 months, but they certainly used to sell a very good oudh one.

Best thing I’ve found is an electric wax melter but there is definitely different quality of melts. Some barely smell and others are lovely. I’ve found a small seller that using a high concentrate of oils.

@MissyB1

I use M&S Frankincense candle. I used to get white company Winter but I hate their wicks and they burn so badly, I won’t buy them anymore.

Yes, I second the M&S Frankincense candle, it's lovely! In 2019 I bought the White Company chestnut one and I was disappointed, not worth the money.

I'm really sensitive to artificial fragrances so I use a lot of essential oils. They're an expensive investment but actually work out cheaper in the long haul.

I usually either diffuse, or add to kitchen roll poked into the radiators.

My favourite blends for Christmas are:

Cinnamon, clove and orange

Frankincense and rose

Cedar and rose

Ginger and orange

I think you can buy seasonal blends but I never bothered.

Cannot really use oils, diffusers and candles as they make me ill and I have pets.

People always comment on how lovely my place smells despite having tom cats. I don't do anything special just clean with Method, steam my floors, not have loads of soft furnishing and ornaments etc that also need cleaning and open the windows. Oh and I don't use big bins, just small ones.

If you have pets, look out for Phthalates, chlorine, bleach, ammonia, ethanol, d’Limonene (citrus), Formaldehyde, paraffin wax, lead wix, synthetic oils and benzalkonium chloride as these aren't pet friendly, or. indeed their owners. Essential oils can also be toxic to pets and owners..

Absoultely agree with essential oils.
My local pharmacy stock a range. Including cinnamon and a christmas blend all year.
I recently bought a diffuser which isn't as strong as the oil burner but really beautiful. Mine turns itself off so it's really safe.

I have the white company fir candles and diffuser downstairs, and winter upstairs. We have an internal wreath on the hall door, and I buy a spiced orange oil that I dab on and it smells fantastic. No particular brand, just what's cheap on Amazon at the time.

Thoroughly recommend the scents from Wax and Melt - www.waxandmelt.co.uk. love the crumbled wax tins. Best scents I've tried

It's not Christmas specific but I always put a few drops of essential or scented oils inside loo rolls. It makes the bathrooms smell lovely and I change the scent depending on the season. I also do the loo roll in radiator trick in the winter.

Woodwick wax melts (all year round.)

My favourites are Oudwood and Fig. In my experience the aroma lasts a great deal longer than is quoted on the packaging.