The Scents of Happiness: Holiday Memories

Last year, I spent a little too much time trying to get things just right.

“How long are you going to spend on that mantle?” my husband asked.
“Until it is right,” I replied tersely.
“What does that mean?”
To tell the truth, even I wasn’t sure. But growing up, my mom’s Christmas decorations were always perfect, year after year. I marvel at the way she was consistently able to recreate the same holiday feel; shiny foil buntings, hanging from the entranceway. A tree expertly trimmed with tinsel and decorated with ornaments. Lights and streamers adorning every available surface. The scent of clean floors and crisp white linen.

However, for a long time, I cringed at the “old-fashioned” décor, thinking it was so passé, so tacky. But as I matured and became a mother myself, I realized that my mom was curating a tradition. The simple act of using the same décor, in the same manner, every year brought a familiarity and sense of warmth, love and happiness. That’s why I’ve been using the same ornaments for the last several years, and was so set on creating the perfect fireplace mantle last year. I wanted to create my own traditions, my own memories.

This year, I’ve decided to mix the old with the new as a homage to my childhood.

I’ll be stealing from my mom “borrowing” a handful of vintage ornaments for my Christmas tree. I long to gaze upon the wooden nutcracker or the porcelain sleigh, just as I did for so many years as a child. I’d love to share the holiday stories of family, friends and food with my own boys, so they can revel in the spirit of the season.

I’ve downloaded Jim Reeves’ The Twelve Songs of Christmas album. Even though the record was released in 1963, my father played it continuously in the ‘80s. Could he have been introducing us to his own traditions? I’d like to think so.

I’ll be injecting the scents of happiness into my home: freshly baked Christmas cookies, hot mulled apple cider, linen-scented candles and Pine-Sol cleaned surfaces. The combination of these scents always take me back to my childhood, and my hope is that as my boys grow, they too will recall these aromas with fondness and contentment.

This year I’ll be trying a new recipe for mulled cider (fingers crossed!) and my new go-to Pine-Sol is Mandarin Sunrise, a powerful cleaner which removes dirt, grime and grease, and the odor along with it. What’s left: a shiny finish and a bright, citrus scent.

Do you have holiday traditions that are close to your heart? Do you try to replicate the traditions of the past? I’d love to hear all about them!

This post is sponsored by Pine-Sol. With a strong heritage and long legacy, Pine-Sol is a long-standing tradition in many Canadian homes.  Apart from the classic pine scent, Pine-Sol is also available in a variety of long-lasting scents – mandarin sunrise, lavender, lemon and sparkling wave.  You can use different scents throughout your home to change the mood.