Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Christmas scents

So I've been reading Jennifer Donnelly's new book, REVOLUTION, and I'm admiring all the sensory details. Like, I can really smell and taste Paris as I read this novel. Feeling all inspired, I started a list of scents I associate with the holidays. Didn't get too far. Would HEART it very much if you added some of your own.

The flesh and rinds of clementines (Oooo! That could be a line in a poem!)
Cocoa flavored with peppermint
The sharp, peppery scent of air right before a snow storm
Fir and balsam, juniper berries and pine
Fat waxy candles
Wood and wood smoke

Go for it, guys!

13 comments:

Amelia said...

Cloves and cardamom. Two spices that seem very christmassy to me.

Becca said...

Fake cinnamon-scented pine cones. I love it, but I'd only admit it here.
(my word-veri is "warvxqd" and I am not making that up. were that a real word, I'd kick scrabble's booty.)

wjmom said...

I walked into our house the other day when our daughter was "building" her gingerbread house. The gingerbread smelled glorious earlier in the day. But when she was decorating I walked in and thought, "Mmm, it smells like our house is candy-coated." (On the bad side, that smell is guaranteed to add intake calories.)

LucindaF said...

I'm assuming you're sniffing modern Paris. Cuz I don't think I'd like open sewer smell. :)

Oooh, Becca, I love me some scrabble too. My husband won't play with me. He doesn't like to lose. ha ha

Favoritis smells, huh?
Hot Apple Cider - although I don't like the taste.
Icy fog - it has a smell, yes it does
The Christmas Ornament Box
The Colorado Blue Spruce in my living room. Yum.

Alyosha said...

Mine are all food. Apple cider, egg nog, gingerbread, candy canes, peanut brittle, fudge. I think I gained two pounds just writing that.

candace said...

The heater. It smells so good to cold feet.

cmjeppsen said...

Mint and Chocolate! Fudge anyone!

BBB said...

The smell of homemade candy being made at the stove: caramel, toffee, taffy, fondant.

Mystery Girl said...

That sharp tang of pine trees when you're snow-shoeing.

raehink said...

Bayberry candles.

Jenny said...

The fragrance of cinnamon-sugar almonds still floating in my house since I made them yesterday.

Amy said...

Mmmm homemade bread.

Bob the Woodworker said...

I'm with Lucinda - as much as I have always loved Paris, the smells I associate with it come from 1970, when I first visited, and it was not pleasant. I love the smells of wassel, Finnish pulla (mostly because the cardamon), fresh Christmas tree scent, a (really) crisp Finnish morning with new snow and evergreen trees.