The sights and sounds of the season are quickly becoming evident everywhere we go – bells are ringing, lights are twinkling, and holiday music fills the air.

And how about the warm, baked goodies and luscious candies and cakes that seem to pop up everywhere this time of year?

There are certain aromas that say, “holiday time is here” – the warm, spicy, smell of cinnamon; the fresh, fruity, tang of citrus; cranberry and bayberry – light, sweet and earthy, and, of course, the pungent, invigorating air of evergreen.

The scents and fragrances of the season-citrus, ever- green, cinnamon and bayberry-help make celebrations festive and become part of long-lasting memories.

Cinnamon
In ancient times, cinnamon was called the “golden spice” and the Chinese regarded the cinnamon tree as “the tree of life.” Cinnamon was known and used by man since before Medieval times and was valued as so precious that it was often used as a gift to be given to royalty.

Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of a tropical evergreen that grows in Sri Lanka and South India. These trees can reach heights of 56 feet but they are maintained as shrubs of about 10 feet. These bushes are continually pruned back to produce new, tender stems. These stems are scraped of their outer bark pith, and cork, and the inner stems are left to dry and curl. Several of these are then rolled together to produce “quills” of cinnamon, which we call cinnamon sticks. The bark of these quills is deliciously aromatic due to an abundance of aromatic natural oils.

In rolls, cookies, cakes, candies, pies, potpourris, candles, etc., the warm, sweet, smell of this “golden” spice is a must for the holidays.

Citrus
The tradition of giving and receiving citrus fruits likely began with the Victorian custom of adding an orange, lemon or lime to the treasures stuffed in the stockings hung on the mantel. Like a taste of sunshine and summer, citrus fruits were a highly prized gift by young and older alike.

Citrus trees were originally grown in Southeast Asia where they were evergreen and grow to heights of five to 15 feet. Interestingly, the name “citrus” was taken from the Greek word “kedros,” meaning cedar or juniper. The fresh, fruity, fragrance of the citrus fruit is due to the flavonoids and liminoids in its rind.

Citrus can be enjoyed at Christmas time in many ways – in fruit breads, cookies, cakes or candies, or in fruit punch. Dried fruit slices can be added to potpourris or strung together on garlands. Dried and crumbled rind can be added to fillings for sachets.

Cranberry and bayberry
A member of the heath family, cranberry plants are grown in cool, wet areas in the Northern Hemisphere. The plant itself is a small shrub or vine with small, rounded evergreen leaves. The berries are harvested in the late fall later than most other types of berries.

In North America, cranberries were first used as a food by the Native Americans who then introduced them to English settlers. Reputedly, the Native Americans brought them as gifts to the starving English settlers in Massachusetts, who incorporated the berries into their holiday feasts, grateful for the “winter berry” gift.

Bayberry trees are also called “wax myrtle” and they are native to areas along the Atlantic coast of the United States. The berries are gray in color and very waxy and aromatic. The leaves of the bayberry are evergreen. From early colonial times, bayberries were made into candles and were prized for their steady burn and bright glow.

Bayberry is most often found in candles and potpourris. Either way, its aromatic scent is a delight for the holidays.

At Christmastime, cranberries can be used in sauces, breads, muffins, cakes and punch. Cranberry candles and potpourris tucked here and there throughout the house can add the sweet, delicate scent of this berry.

Evergreen
The aroma of pine, cedar, fir, etc., is unmistakable and, in the home, is a sure sign of the season. Crisp, fresh, and pungent can all be words used to describe the fabulous, fragrance of evergreens. Symbolically, the evergreen branches of the Christmas tree represent the promise of spring and life anew. Lights on the tree reflect hope and peace for the season and the new year to come.

When bringing in the scent of evergreen, don’t stop with the tree. Use evergreen boughs arranged along the mantel and on windowsills or use branches to outline mirrors or pictures on the walls. Fill baskets with branches and pinecones, and a garland of pine can be hung around door frames.

Though the sights, sounds, and tastes of the holiday are the more attention-catching signs that the season is here, often the scents of the season produce some of the longest-lasting memories.

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The scents and fragrances of the season – citrus, evergreen, cinnamon and bayberry ¬– help make celebrations festive and become part of long-lasting memories.

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