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The Smells of Christmas

December 12, 2019 by Lauren 30 Comments

Photo by Miroslava on Unsplash

Are there pleasing aromas coming from your kitchen yet?  Christmas is right around the proverbial corner, and I probably have more olfactory memories associated with Yuletide than any other time.  During my formative years, my mom often made wassail.  Traditional wassails are alcoholic, but I assure you my very Baptist mother’s was without fermentation.  She used tea brewed with cinnamon and cloves, then added orange juice and lemon.  I have to admit,  it’s not my favorite drink.  But even still, any combination of these smells takes me back to the church parties and family gatherings my parents hosted in the little house on Rita Street.

 

My sisters and I also made cream cheese cookies with Mama every Christmas.  We used cookie cutters to shape them into candy canes and snowmen, elves and angels.  When I bake a batch to golden brown and catch a whiff, I am reminded of traditions and family and cookies that were just a little extra special because of the cream cheese in the dough.

 

Maybe the smells you associate with Christmas differ from mine.  The sharp, sweet scent of peppermint or the tangy oranges you peeled straight from your stocking.  Hot cocoa or logs burning in the fireplace.  The freshness of a real evergreen Christmas tree or candied fruit cake (hey, you do you).  Or if you don’t live in the South like me, maybe the crisp smell of newly fallen snow signals the season.

 

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?”  

 

Oh, that I will be up to the task!  Just like oranges and cinnamon immediately make me think of Jesus’ birthday, I want everything about me to remind others of Him.  May He be all over me so others see Christ instead of me.    And may I spread His life-giving scent all around.

Lord, make me a pleasing aroma this season that others recognize as You.  

 

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Filed Under: Christian, Christmas, family, Jesus, Uncategorized Tagged With: aroma of Christ, christmas cookies, olfactory memories, traditions, wassail

Comments

  1. Brian Frum says

    December 12, 2019 at 6:53 pm

    Christmas always smells so good, especially turkey and ham. There were homemade rolls baking the other day and they sure did smell great. Merry Christmas from all of us.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 13, 2019 at 2:59 pm

      Merry Christmas, Brian. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  2. Martha J Orlando says

    December 13, 2019 at 4:32 pm

    I remember the distinct smell of the freshly cut Christmas tree; it’s something I truly miss since we’ve had an artificial tree for years.
    Yes, may we all exude the sweet aroma of Jesus to the world this season and beyond.
    Blessings, Lauren!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 13, 2019 at 8:31 pm

      I was very allergic to real trees as a baby, but still love the smell!

      Reply
  3. Mandy Farmer says

    December 17, 2019 at 7:52 pm

    Ah, yes! The smells of Christmas. I miss having a real tree in the house but only for the smells. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 18, 2019 at 2:36 pm

      I can only imagine.

      Reply
  4. Laurie says

    December 18, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    I have never thought about “the aroma of Christ” before. It’s a great question – what does God smell like?

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 18, 2019 at 2:35 pm

      Well now you will have me thinking about that all day!

      Reply
  5. Betty Jo says

    December 18, 2019 at 3:48 pm

    Beautiful post, and blog, Lauren. I’ve enjoyed my first visit. Laurie’s question above, “What does God smell like”? made me think of roses and lilies. (Solomon 2:1) What a heavenly combination. ♥

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 18, 2019 at 5:16 pm

      That is heavenly, Betty Jo. Thank you so much for visiting and I hope you come back! Merry Christmas.

      Reply
  6. Patsy Burnette says

    December 18, 2019 at 4:02 pm

    I love your memories of the smells of Christmas, Lauren. Many of these same smells remind me of the season as well. Thank you for sharing!

    Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements! MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours!!!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 18, 2019 at 5:15 pm

      Thank you, Patsy. Merry Christmas.

      Reply
  7. Sierra says

    December 18, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    I love the different scents of Christmas and the memories they hold. This was such a beautiful way of reflecting on it and how God has a way of incorporating aromas. Wishing you all the best this Christmas season!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 18, 2019 at 5:15 pm

      Thank you so much, Sierra. Merry Christmas.

      Reply
  8. Shelbee on the Edge says

    December 19, 2019 at 12:41 am

    I loved the imagery you created to illustrate this message. So beautiful. Our sense of smell has a longer memory than any other sense. It is amazing that so many memories can be triggered by an odor or an aromoa. It’s a very powerful analogy, too.

    Shelbee
    http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 19, 2019 at 3:10 pm

      Isn’t it crazy how a smell can bring you back? Sometimes not in a good way. You know, certain cologne’s/ old boyfriends. But I digress. Thanks for reading, Shelbee.

      Reply
  9. Veronica Lee says

    December 19, 2019 at 1:51 am

    I enjoyed reading your memories of the smells of Christmas.

    Merry Christmas, Lauren!

    #BloggerClubUk

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 19, 2019 at 3:09 pm

      Thank you, Veronica! Merry Christmas.

      Reply
  10. Lisa notes says

    December 19, 2019 at 3:19 am

    I don’t have a particular smell associated with my mom’s Christmas cooking, but I do have particular recipes. I’m looking forward to making one again this Christmas for our family gathering. Who knows? Maybe it’ll be a tradition renewed for the next generation. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 19, 2019 at 3:09 pm

      Here’s to traditions, Lisa!

      Reply
  11. Maree Dee says

    December 19, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    Your cream cheese cookies sound delicious. We, too, always have hot wassail. I had no idea it usually has alcohol in it. My Nazarene momma never added it. We still make it but with apple juice and other flavorings. I love the smell of it.

    I have to admit I haven’t been paying attention to the smell of Christmas. I am going to today. Thank you – Maree

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 19, 2019 at 8:36 pm

      I think paying attention to those little things can help us be so much more present. Thanks, Maree.

      Reply
  12. Susan Shipe says

    December 19, 2019 at 5:44 pm

    Smells can deja vu me to all kinds of memories of people and places. I remember years ago I wrote a little newspaper article, The Nose Knows, about this exact thing. I wonder what the fragrance of our worship smells like before the throne!!!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 19, 2019 at 8:35 pm

      I wonder that too, Susan!

      Reply
  13. Tammy L Kennington says

    December 19, 2019 at 11:33 pm

    Such wonderful imagery, Lauren. My grandmother always made the most delightful baked goodies– sugar cookies, spritz cookies, red and green popcorn balls, and even the dreaded fruit cake. It always looked as though it should delicious, but I never did like it. Oh, well!

    I love the parallel you’ve drawn between the scents of Christmas and the being the aroma of Christ to others. Perhaps each year He will sanctify and grow us more and more in such a way that we are more like Him. Thank you for these encouraging words.

    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 20, 2019 at 2:37 pm

      I pray I will “smell” more like Jesus every year, Tammy. Merry Christmas.

      Reply
  14. Terri says

    December 20, 2019 at 12:42 pm

    I’m am super sensitive to scent, and I love all the Christmas scents! From that first whiff of pine when you enter a Christmas tree lot, orange zest, gingerbread, sugar cookies, chocolate cake for baby Jesus, cedar, rose and tobacco candles being extinguished; the smell of wrapping paper and scotch tape, envelope adhesive, vanilla frosting, and sugar. I could go on and on!
    Merry Christmas!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 20, 2019 at 2:37 pm

      Wrapping paper and scotch tape! I hadn’t thought of those. Good ones. Merry Christmas!

      Reply
  15. Dee | Grammy's Grid says

    December 20, 2019 at 4:44 pm

    There are particular aromas that smell best during Christmas. I usually have candles and wax melts as well as my essential oil diffuser going with my fav scents. Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 7. Shared.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      December 20, 2019 at 11:12 pm

      I have recently gotten back into candles. Maybe from writing this post!

      Reply

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I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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