Lesson: One of my favorite things in life is the changing of the seasons. I just love everything about the four seasons! Yes, even the bitter Midwest winters that brings cold and snow. With each season come certain comforts and I try to incorporate those comforts into my home in several different ways. The easiest and most practical way for me to do that is through scents and aromas. I have a few basic scents that I rotate from season to season, whether it is through candles, pull-in air fresheners, homemade potpourri or yummy smells from the oven. Of course fresh air is always a part of the mix.

Here are the scents that accompany each season for me:

Fall: This is my favorite season of the year! In my home fall is all about pumpkin spice and cinnamon. I incorporate the aroma of pumpkin and cinnamon a few ways. The first way is a homemade potpourri that I make. The base of the potpourri is the core of an apple, the skin of an orange peel and a cinnamon stick. From that point I add a few drops of vanilla extract, ground cinnamon and ground pumpkin pie spice and water. All that’s left to do it boil it on the stove. Once it comes to a boil, I lower the fire to low and let it simmer for a while, adding water periodically. This is one of my favorite aromas. I also enjoy most of the fall candles! Anything with pumpkin is usually a go! White pumpkin and apple cider are my favorite fall candles!

Winter: My favorite winter aromas are pine cones, cinnamon, peppermint and vanilla. I also enjoy the aroma of fresh baked cookies and brown sugar. 🙂 During the month of December, I really enjoy the smell of a pine tree but I typically don’t want to deal with the hassle of having a real Christmas tree, so I cheat and bring the smell in through aromas. 🙂 The potpourri I like to make in the winter has a base of mini pine-cones, a few cinnamon sticks, a peppermint stick, peppermint oil, vanilla extract and ground cinnamon. I add water to that base and let it boil just like the fall one. Since I enjoy pinecones so much, I usually just have pinecones in a bowl or vase of some sort. I also love pine or evergreen candles. After the Christmas holiday I usually stick to some type of brown sugar and vanilla scent for the rest of the winter.

Spring: This season is all about fresh aromas for me. I really enjoy citrus smells during the spring. I also enjoy the crisp fresh air that accompanies the spring season, at least when it isn’t still snowing during the start of spring! When the temperature allows, I take full advantage of the days when I can by opening the windows and getting some fresh air into the house. I generally have simple citrus potpourri during this season. As different fruits start coming into season, I add them to my potpourri; however, oranges and lemons are typically my base fruits.

Summer: Summer is all about fresh flowers and fresh air! As often as I can, I try to get fresh flowers during the summertime! I love flowers! I’m hoping to get to the point when I can just cut fresh flowers from my yard and have them all over my house! I’m working on developing that green thumb. 🙂 I don’t typically make potpourris during the summer months. On the occasions that I do, I usually use mint as my base. I do however; keep the windows open everyday, all day, if it’s not too hot. I am all about fresh air over air conditioning! I also occasionally use some sort of fresh breeze or seaside candles and plug-ins during the summer months.

I know that all seems like a lot of effort put into aromas and scents but it’s one of our small points of joy when we come home and it makes our home OURS! It also brings life to each of the seasons and enjoying the goodness in each one of them is something that enriches our quality of life. 🙂

Application: Are there any aromas or scents that make you smile? Any that take you back to a special time in your life that you really enjoyed? If so, try incorporating some of those scents into your home on a regular basis.