Christmas Makes Very Good Scents

Christmas trees, holiday wreaths and gingerbread cookies fill the house with good smells of the season. Why not bring the scent of pine and holly to the dinner table as well? If you can’t fight the season, go whole hog.

This centerpiece is not only beautiful but also is lighted with floating candles in scented water. And it’s simple to put together.

You will need:

Water

Pine needles

1 cinnamon stick

4 cloves

6 pine branches, 3 varieties

1 wire wreath base

22-gauge florist wire

3 holly branches

3 mistletoe branches

Glass bowl

Strainer

3 floating candles

Bring enough water to fill glass bowl to simmer in saucepan over medium heat. Add handful of pine needles, cinnamon stick and cloves. Bring to boil and simmer until scent of spices is released, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat and cool.

Cut and place pine branches around wire wreath base to cover, securing branches with florist wire. Place holly and mistletoe on top of pine and secure with florist wire. Place wreath in center of dining table.

Sprinkle extra pine needles in center of wreath. Place glass bowl on top of needles. Strain cooled, scented water into glass bowl. Place floating candles in water and light.

Sprinkle single pine needles sparingly around centerpiece and center of the table.