I think it was during our first Christmas living together we realised OH was allergic to pine needles (cue a wheezy chest and welts all up his ams). The next year I grudgingly bought an artificial tree, investing in a good-quality one that – to be fair – actually looked pretty realistic.
But there was always one thing glaringly absent; that lovely fresh pine smell. To me, that aroma WAS Christmas. One time, when I’d just left home and was too unorganised to arrange a tree in my flat, I even tucked a sprig of pine into my pillow case, just so I could smell it. Without that scent, the festive season just didn’t feel quite right.
But obviously OH’s health and comfort came first (grumble, grumble).
This year, however, I’m getting the best of both worlds – a Christmas tree that smells like a walk through a Nordic forest and an OH who isn’t about to collapse from respiratory failure. Because a PR friend tipped me off about these amazing little inventions called SCENTSICLES. They look like big reed diffuser sticks, but instead of sitting them in a vase to release the scent, you incorporate them into a wreath, or hang them from the branches of your Xmas tree… can you see where I’m going with this?
I was sent a set of pine and a set of cinnamon ScentSicles to try out. The pine ones went straight onto our tree and for the first time in YEARS I was able to walk into the house and smell that delicious, fresh Christmassy scent. I was also challenged to make my own wreath using the ScentSicles, which I gladly accepted. I opted for a super-simple Scandi-vibe – tying a big red and white bow, and tucking three cinnamon sticks deep into the wreath, so you couldn’t see them but could still smell their warm, spicy fragrance. Delicious!
The aroma lasts for around 30 days – long enough to see you through the holiday season – then gently fades away. ScentSicles cost around £6, and are available from Amazon and John Lewis but, if you ask me, you can’t even put a price on the warm fuzzy festive feeling they evoke.
Now, if you excuse me I’m off to sniff my Christmas tree. Again.
• I was sent some scentsicles for the purpose of review
