When you think about Christmas and the festive season, you might start to imagine all the wonderful sights, sounds and smells that go with it. Twinkling lights, the jingle of bells, and the unmistakable aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg, fruit cakes and log fires. These are the ingredients for a comforting Christmas memory. Of course, the reality post present opening might be something much less pleasant!

 

Cooking

When you’re cooking a feast to feed a dozen people at Christmas, you can easily make an error or two. Things get burnt, and steamed brussels sprouts are never a favorite odor. For some, handling the raw meats can cause a few unpleasant smells too. Still, it’s Christmas, so you grab a peg for the nose, throw the windows open wide and get on with it.

 

Delicious dinners that can cause a whiff in the kitchen. Picture origin

 

Post Dinner

This is when the pong really starts to mount up. You’ve got at least a dozen people in a small room together having stuffed their tummies full of good food. It’s too cold out to throw open the windows for some fresh air. And let’s face it, nobody really wants to take the recommended post-dinner walk on Christmas day! But someone has to walk the dog, or there will be more than festive food odors to contend with. When you come back in the house, you might be horrified about how those smells have stuck around.

 

The Week After Christmas

This is the time your poor fridge will start to complain about the food that is leftover in there. It won’t be smelling great by this time. You might need to get rid of it for safety sake! Your fresh tree might be contributing to the less than fresh aromas you’re experiencing too. So what can be done?

 

Getting Ahead

Start your Christmas with temperature, humidity and scent control. Open the windows as often as you can to let fresh air in. Use a dehumidifier to stop cooking steam complete with veggie odors get into your fabrics. Warm, stale air can be a problem too, so turn the heat down a notch.

 

How to create attractive scents at Christmas time. Picture origin

 

You might choose to use a fragrance diffuser to mask any unwanted smells. You can usually find chemical based room freshener sprays in festive ‘flavors’ in store. But if you want something that can also promote health, then try to find the best essential oil diffuser for the room you want it in. This can help scent the air without overpowering or polluting the room.

 

Food Safety

Odors in the kitchen really do need to be taken seriously. Steaming foods is the healthiest option, but you must remove the moisture from the air. Clean the fridge thoroughly with an antibacterial solution before you start to store raw or cooked foods in there. This will reduce the odors getting trapped and reduce the risk of food poisoning. Finally, make sure everything is double covered to keep it safe, fresh, and odorless for longer.

 

How do you keep your home smelling welcoming and festive all through the holidays? What’s your favorite scent for Christmas?