O Xmas Tree Seasonal Scent Blend
Those who celebrate Christmas likely have their trees up and decorated by now. Some of us (like my family) put up artificial trees. Others are creative with potted plants or Christmas lights that replicate the feeling of Christmas. And so, we miss that deliciously piney seasonal scent of a freshly cut Christmas tree.
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In this Post:
⭐️O Xmas Tree Seasonal Scent Recipe
A few years ago I was really missing that beautiful fragrance and so I sat down with my essential oils. After several tries I came up with O Xmas Tree, a blend of conifers, spice, and citrus. I don’t miss the seasonal scent quite so much when I diffuse O Xmas Tree blend.
- 4 drops Siberian Fir essential oil (Abies siberica)
- 3 drops Black Spruce essential oil (Picea mariana)
- 1 drop Atlas Cedarwood essential oil (Cedrus atlantica)
- 1 drop Cardamom essential oil (Elettaria cardamomum)
- 1 drop Lemon essential oil (Citrus x limon)
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
After diffusing O Xmas Tree once I am certain you’ll want to make a stock bottle so that you’ll have it on-hand to diffuse all season long!
Get Stock Bottle Drop Counts
Here are the drop counts for a 5ml essential oil bottle. This will hold about 100 drops of essential oil (depending on the viscosity of the oil and the size of the reducer orifice).
Add your drops directly to the essential oil bottle. Then insert the reducer and cap tightly. Finally roll the bottle between the palms of your hands for at least 30 seconds. This allows the oils to fully blend with each other and it imparts a bit of your energy to the blend.
And remember: Affix a label right away!
O Xmas Tree Seasonal Scent Stock Bottle
- 36 drops Siberian Fir essential oil (Abies siberica)
- 27 drops Black Spruce essential oil (Picea mariana)
- 9 drops Atlas Cedarwood essential oil (Cedrus atlantica)
- 9 drops Cardamom essential oil (Elettaria cardamomum)
- 9 drops Lemon essential oil (Citrus x limon)
Why These Essential Oils?
When I make a blend for aroma I also consider the potential health or mood benefits. I like to combine essential oils that work synergistically to enhance those properties. I wanted this blend to be uplifting, warming, calming, and cheerful.
Siberian Fir (Abies siberica)
The classic Christmas tree comes from the family of firs, so I selected Siberian Fir for its fresh, piney, and somewhat citrusy aroma. Siberian Fir essential oil, distilled from the cones and needles of the tree, is rich in the phytochemicals bornyl acetate and pinene. It has been shown to be air cleansing—perfect for cold and flu season—as well as mentally and emotionally revitalizing. Its clean, classically seasonal scent uplifts the spirit and fosters a calm positive energy.
Black Spruce (Picea mariana)
Another common Christmas Tree is the spruce. In fact, in 2022 the towering 82-foot Christmas Tree of Rockefeller Center in New York City was a Norway Spruce. I chose a spruce not only because it’s a common Christmas Tree, but because Black Spruce essential oil is one of my favorites.
Distilled from the branches, twigs, and needles of the Black Spruce, its coniferous, green, fruity aroma is penetrating and breath-opening, causing one to pause and take a deeper breath. Also rich in bornyl acetate and pinenes, Black Spruce essential oil is synergistic with Siberian Fir with its mentally revitalizing and respiratory support properties.
☀️Essential Oil Spotlight: Atlas Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica)
Atlas Cedarwood has a rich, unctuous aroma—think back to Grandma’s cedar chest—and acts as the base note in O Xmas Tree. Distilled from the wood of the Atlas Cedar, the essential oil imparts a calming, centering energy that I find wonderfully grounding during the busyness of the holiday season.
Like Siberian Fir and Black Spruce, Atlas Cedarwood essential oil supports respiratory health, and is an essential oil I often turn to when blending for coughs and runny noses.
The Atlas Cedar is a true cedar, an evergreen native to northwest Africa. One of the oldest Atlas Cedar trees on record was planted circa 1300 CE in the Forêt de Cèdres, in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains.(1) It’s durable wood is rich in aromatic, naturally insect repelling compounds that make it much sought after for lumber and furniture making.
Cedrus atlantica is currently on the IUCN Red List for Endangered Species. The populations of Atlas Cedar around the world have been severely impacted by drought, pests, disease, and over-harvesting. Their continued decline has warranted an A2 designation.(2)
When sourcing Atlas Cedarwood essential oil please ensure the supplier provides a sustainably sourced product.
While it will change the seasonal scent profile, if you prefer, you can use Virginian Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana) in O Xmas Tree instead.
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
Ah, Cardamom, I can hardly imagine a seasonal scent blend without it! Its warm, camphoraceous, yet sweet aroma combines beautifully with the fresh aromas of fir and spruce and the richness of cedar.
Distilled from the green seed pods Cardamom promotes the ability to imagine the possibilities. It’s refreshing, invigorating, and energy-balancing, helping to reduce worry and enhance mental clarity.
Lemon (Citrus x limon)
Sweet, tart Lemon essential oil is cold pressed from the peel of the fruit. It adds a sparkle and freshness to essential oil blends. (It’s one of my most used essential oils for cleaning.)
Rich in d-limonene and pinenes, Lemon essential oil is cleansing to the air and cleansing to the mind. It invites positive outward energy, uplifts emotions, and helps reduce tension and stress. While not a classic seasonal scent, Lemon plays nicely with the citrus notes of the Siberian Fir.
Diffusing Ideas
In addition to diffusing in an ultrasonic diffuser, O Xmas Tree can be added to a passive diffuser. Plant Therapy’s miniature Winter Fir Tree is featured here—was available Winter 2022.
Or craft your own natural passive diffuser using some of Nature’s Winter gifts:
- Collect pinecones, dry overnight. Pile them in a decorative bowl. Or attach ribbons and hang in your tree or secure in a wreath.
- Assemble a holiday potpourri from pinecones, dried fruits, evergreen tips, and whole spices.
A few drops of O Xmas Tree added to the pinecones or dried potpourri will produce a gentle seasonal scent and enhance ambiance. Refresh as desired.
O Xmas Tree essential oil blend can also be used to scent natural handcrafted beeswax candles.
What is your favorite holiday essential oil or blend? Please let us know in the comments below!
References
- MonumentalTrees.com. (2015). Atlas Cedar ‘Le Nouveau Gouraud’ in the Forêt de Cèdres, Azrou, Meknès-Tafilalet, Morocco. https://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/mar/meknes-tafilalet/ifrane/12549_fortdecdres/24368/
- Thomas, P. (2013). Cedrus atlantica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013:e.T42303A2970716. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42303A2970716.en
Mom’s Shopping List
You can find everything you need to make O Xmas Tree and other seasonal scents on Mom’s Favorite Winter Essential Oils list on Amazon—features Plant Therapy and Edens Garden essential oils. Or visit one of my Preferred Essential Oil Suppliers, where you’ll find the highest quality, sustainably sourced essential oils and the best customer service around!
These are the specific essential oils I have used to make my bottle of O Xmas Tree:
- Black Spruce essential oil (Picea mariana):
- Aromatics International, organic💛
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Cardamom essential oil (Elettaria cardamomum):
- Aromatics International, organic
- Plant Therapy, conventional (Direct and Amazon).
- Atlas Cedarwood essential oil (Cedrus atlantica):
- Aromatics International, organic💛
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Virginian Cedarwood essential oil (Juniperus virginiana):
- Aromatics International, wildcrafted
- Plant Therapy, sustainable (Direct and Amazon).
- Lemon essential oil (Citrus x limon):
- Aromatics International, organic
- Edens Garden, sustainable (on Amazon)
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Siberian Fir essential oil (Abies siberica):
- Aromatics International, wildcrafted
- Plant Therapy, sustainable “Fir Needle” (Direct and Amazon).
Preferred Essential Oil Suppliers
Each one of these favorite suppliers provides a wide selection of sustainable, therapeutic, beautifully aromatic, pure essential oils. Browse their inventory and imagine the aromatic possibilities!
- Aromatics International for ethically wildcrafted, organically sourced, and Certified Organic essential oils (Mom’s AI favorites)
- Plant Therapy for Certified Organic and sustainably sourced, conventional essential oils (Mom’s PT favorites)
- Also at Plant Therapy on Amazon
- Edens Garden (on Amazon) for sustainably sourced, conventional essential oils (Mom’s EG favorites)
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.
Chris P | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator
Chris (“Mom”) enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. An avid reader, writer, and lifetime learner, Chris enthusiastically explores research rabbit holes and then writes about her discoveries.💚 (Learn more >>)
