For many, the holidays are defined by the comforting scents that fill the air, each fragrance evoking cherished memories and traditions. For Paola, our Senior Director of Business Development and Merchandising, the holidays are marked by the comforting aroma of cinnamon. “The smell of cinnamon sticks that I boil in tea this time of year tells me it’s Christmas time,” she shares, capturing the essence of the season. For others, like our CMO Elena, it’s the crisp scent of pine needles that fills the car after bringing home the perfect tree. For me, it’s the bright, citrusy burst of oranges and tangerines—a fragrance tied to childhood memories of being a Koledar, a part of the Slavic Christmas Eve tradition of collecting fruits, coins, and candies door to door.
At Scentbird, our team is a beautiful melting pot of cultures and traditions, each with its own unique holiday scents. Stay with us as we share our musings on the aromas and fragrances that define this festive season and the memories they inspire.
Table of Contents
Pine
“I love burning pinecones during the holidays,” says Joel, our highly creative Art Director. “They perform a special kind of magic in the fireplace. Resinous and almost incense-like, they fill the air with a warm, earthy aroma.” But for Joel, it’s not just about the scent. “Honestly, it’s more for the visual,” he admits. “There’s something mesmerizing about watching the pinecone hold its shape as it transforms from its ruddy brown to a glowing ember.”
This connection to earthy, resinous aromas brings to mind Dirty Hinoki by Heretic, a perfume that evokes a similar sense of warmth and ritual.
Coconut
For Chinny, Scentbird’s CRM Coordinator who hails from the Philippines, Christmas smells unmistakably like coconut. The season is infused with the tropical aroma of coconut and warm spices, a scent that mirrors the vibrant and festive spirit of Filipino celebrations, which often begin as early as September and stretch into the new year.
Coconut takes the spotlight in beloved holiday treats like puto bumbong purple steamed rice cakes. The comforting scent of freshly steamed rice, toasted banana leaves, and rich coconut milk fills the air, bringing the joy and warmth of the season to every corner of the community.
If a white Christmas isn’t your style, transport yourself to the sun-soaked shores of the Philippines with The 7 Virtues Coconut Sun, a lush blend of coconut, vanilla, and sea salt that smells and feels like a holiday getaway.
Tangerine
In the Balkans, the scent of tangerines and oranges is synonymous with the holiday season. For me, their bright, zesty aroma captures the essence of winter celebrations. Interestingly, this connection extends beyond our region, resonating with many cultures worldwide, thanks to the enduring legend of St. Nicholas.
According to Smithsonian.com, the story goes that St. Nicholas gifted gold balls to a poor man and his three daughters by dropping them down their chimney. Over time, these gold balls were symbolically replaced with something equally precious—tangerines. In Europe, these fruits became cherished holiday gifts, not only for their sweetness but also for their rarity, making them an exotic treat during the colder months. Fortunately for us, thanks to our close proximity to Greece and Turkey, where these trees thrive, we enjoy fresh tangerines and oranges even in the depths of winter—a vibrant reminder of the sunny Mediterranean during the holiday season.
When tangerines aren’t within reach, I turn to Fugazzi’s Sugardaddy. Its blend of tangerine, cashmere, and nutmeg conjures vivid Christmas imagery—frost-bitten red noses, cozy gatherings, and festive celebrations with lots of food and laughter.
Mayonnaise
For Elizabeth, our Senior Creative Producer, the holidays smell like mayonnaise. This unique association comes from the Russian tradition surrounding New Year’s Eve, where the Olivier salad—or Russian salad—takes center stage. In Russia, New Year’s is the most significant celebration, often surpassing Christmas. During the Soviet era, religious holidays were banned, and the New Year became the alternative festivity, deeply ingrained in the country’s culture.
The Olivier salad, made with diced potatoes, carrots, peas, eggs, mayonnaise, and often ham or chicken, is a quintessential dish that’s synonymous with holiday gatherings. As Elizabeth fondly recalls, the smell of mayonnaise instantly transports her to these cherished family moments.
While we don’t yet have any mayonnaise-scented fragrances at Scentbird, we’ve heard that Will Levis No. 8 Parfum de Mayonnaise might just fit the bill!
Fried Oil
As Ricki, our Associate CRM Manager, tells us, Hanukkah is a celebration steeped in both tradition and scent. “If you ask me what the holiday smells like in one smell, it’s that distinct smell of frying oil,” she says, capturing the essence of this festive time. The miracle of Hanukkah is all about the oil, and it’s what makes the holiday truly unforgettable. From the latkes, or fried potato pancakes, to the sufganiyot (fried donuts) dusted with powdered sugar, the scent of oil fills the air, making it unmistakably the “fried holiday.”
While the Menorah was historically lit with olive oil, Ricki explains that most people now opt for the ease of wax candles. After lighting the candles, it’s customary to play a game of Dreidel, with foil-wrapped chocolate coins, or “chocolate gelt,” awarded as prizes.
As Ricki notes, the modern twist on Hanukkah includes a surge of creative variations, especially when it comes to sufganiyot. “The Kosher Donut world has exploded with all types of over-the-top donut experiences, with many people creating their own sort of competitions to try them all.” Despite the innovative spirit, one tradition remains unchanged—latkes must always be fried in oil, and the debate over whether to pair them with apple sauce or sour cream continues to stir passionate discussion within the Jewish community. One thing’s for sure: ketchup is strictly forbidden!”
I’ve scoured every corner of the internet, but to my knowledge, no one has yet created a perfume that captures the aroma of fried oil. No matter how hard they try, no perfumer has truly bottled the essence of happiness—after all, happiness takes on different shapes and forms for everyone. But many have come close. So, if we had to choose a scent to match Ricki’s Hanukkah experience, we’d simply say: wear whichever perfume brings you joy.
Happy holidays from The Scentbird’s Nest!
