12 of the best Christmas essential oils

The festive season has a lot of distinguishing features, and of them all, Christmas smells are among the most memorable.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, warm gingerbread, rich mulled wine, spicy cinnamon cloves, and more - the list is endless.

Ahhh, those smells…. there’s nothing that quite beats their ability to instantly add a bit of Christmas magic to your home, especially essential oils.

For us, Christmas and essential oils are the ultimate duo.

They can completely transform your home into a festive wonderland, and you don’t even have to do any baking or wreath-making for the privilege.

With that in mind, here’s our round-up of 12 of the best Christmas essential oils – one for each of the 12 days of Christmas!

1. Cinnamon

With its distinctively warming and calming aroma, cinnamon can provide instant comfort, even on the coldest of winter nights.¹

It’s one of the ingredients that can be found in recipes, such as Star Christmas Bread and Christmas Buns.^2,3

Cinnamon essential oil takes you right back to Christmases gone by.

It’s the perfect companion to cosy winter nights and snuggling up to a warm hot chocolate or tea and is guaranteed to get you feeling all festive and bright.

What does it smell like?

Spicy and sweet.⁴

Miaroma Cinnamon Leaf Pure Essential Oil, 10ml

A perfect mix of sweet and spicy, this cinnamon leaf essential oil is sure to get you feeling in the Christmas spirit.

It’s great for winding down after hectic days, relaxing your body and soothing your mind.

Key benefits

• Warming blend of the finest 100% pure cinnamon oil
• Helps to relax your body and soothe your mind
• Perfect for creating a warm and uplifting environment

What our customers think:

Bhig – Smells great – 5/5 stars
“Definitely recommend, smells amazing. Will be ideal at Christmas.”

Zebra67 – Quality – 5/5 stars
“Well this is just gorgeous, a fabulous quality cinnamon-y smell. Used in making bath bombs with other essential oils & also in massage oil. Happy with purchase, happy to recommend. Yes you can buy cheaper online but I’d rather buy a quality product from a quality retailer.”

2. Frankincense

When you say frankincense, many of us instantly think of the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh that were given by The Three Wise Men to Jesus Christ, who is widely believed to have been born on Christmas Day.⁵

In ancient times, it was considered a way to connect divine and earthly worlds and in aromatherapy today, it is used to promote calm, relaxation, and inner peace.

What does it smell like?

Musty pine, earthy, with notes of citrus and spice.⁶

Miaroma Frankincense Pure Essential Oil, 20ml

Woody, warm and full of charm, this classic essential oil is here to get you in the festive spirit.

It’s renowned for its meditative and soothing qualities to help you breathe deeply and relax.

Key benefits

• 100% pure frankincense essential oil
• Deep and comforting aroma perfect for colder months
• Helps to calm and busy mind and enhance wellbeing

What our customers think:

Angela FH – My favourite Essential Oil – 5/5 stars
“I love burning this Frankincense Essential oil in my oil burner to create a relaxing atmosphere when working from home. It’s also great value in this 20ml size.”

Anonymous – Relaxing essential oil – 5/5 stars
“I have been debating whether to purchase this oil for a while, so glad I did, and it did not disappoint. This has a calming and soothing scent, really like to have this in my diffuser as it helps me to feel relaxed and even helps me to sleep.”

3. Myrrh

In addition to frankincense, Jesus also got gifted myrrh when he was born – and it turns out they had pretty good taste

Myrhh essential oil was popular throughout Ancient Egypt, used for a variety of purposes spanning from embalming mummies to skincare solutions for affluent women.⁷

It is said to help relax the mind, dissolve negative feelings and calm the spirit – just what you need when the go-go-go festive season comes around.

What does it smell like?

Earthy, warm and spicy.⁸

Tisserand Myrrh Wild Crafted Essential Oil, 9ml

Sprinkle some spice and warmth into your home with this classic festive essential oil. The wise men approved it already – so you know it’s good!

Key benefits

• Pure essential oil extracted from Myrrh shrub branched by steam distillation
• Helps relax the mind and dissolve negative feelings
• Great for mixing with other oils for cosy winter nights

4. Fir

When it comes to the most festive scents, the smell of a ‘real’ Christmas tree really cannot be rivalled.

That’s why a lot of us opt for the real thing, right?

Well, even if you don’t have a real tree at home this Christmas, this fir essential oil is here to get you in the festive spirit.

What does it smell like? Penetrating, green, and fresh.⁹

Tisserand Siberian Fir Wild Crafted Essential Oil, 9ml

Extracted from the needles and twigs of wild Siberian Firs, this essential oil captures the fresh scents of this elegant evergreen.

You’ll be transported to crisp, verdant forests of Europe, or a cosy, warm, Christmas grotto.

Key benefits

• Steam distilled from needles and twigs of wild Siberian Firs
• Penetrating, green, fresh and unbeatably festive fragrance
• Creates a clean and welcoming environment, perfect for the colder months

5. Nutmeg

Nutmeg is known as being one of ‘the’ four Christmas spices, alongside cinnamon, cloves and ginger.

You’ll find it in lots of festive recipes, such as eggnog, cookies and cake, as well as in chai latte.^10,11

Enjoy the aromas of all your favourite Christmas bakes without having to get your mixing bowl out with nutmeg essential oil.

What does it smell like?

Intense, sweet and musky.¹²

Tisserand Total De-Stress Diffuser Oil 9ml

Enjoy two of the most festive fragrances around – warming nutmeg and sweet orange – with balancing geranium thrown in for good measure.

It’s been blended to help you de-stress, which we all need after a day of Christmas shopping or present wrapping!

Key benefits

• Musky nutmeg meets sweet orange and geranium in this blend
• Perfect for when life is hectic and your mind feels overcrowded

What our customers think:

Motylik – Beautiful scent in diffuser – 5/5 stars
“Bought this for my diffuser and surprised with how lovely the scent is. Not too over-powering but lovely and relaxing scent.”

Tine Trys – Super relaxing – 5/5 stars
“This is as close to replicating the smell in a Spa that I can find. It's great in a diffuser but I was delighted to read you can use it in an oil burner too! A few drops in a diffuser and you get a mellow scent, but in my oil burner, a few drops & the smell fills the room so fast.”

Read more: How to look after your mental health at Christmas

6. Orange

Dried orange cloves, satsumas in stockings…the zesty scent of orange is a familiar festive scent. It’s known for its uplifting, bright nature that’s sure to encourage feelings of joy.

Try pairing orange essential oil with frankincense and ginger, which it happens to blend well with, you’ve got a triple power Christmas essential oil blend.¹³

What does it smell like?

Citrusy and refreshing.¹⁴

Tisserand Orange Organic Essential Oil, 9ml

Enjoy an extra dose of Christmas cheer with this bright, zingy orange essential oil. It’s perfect for creating some festive joy on even the darkest and most drizzly days.

Key benefits

• Refreshing, bright, and welcoming
• Perfect for blending with ginger, frankincense and citronella

What our customers think:

Lucii – Favourite oil! – 5/5 stars
“Love the make, the smelling amazing and it lasts for ages in the room! Lovely.”

Seal – Lifts your spirits – 5/5 stars
“This oil is so lovely to lift your spirits. Used in a carrier oil or add a few drops to the bath or radiator.”

7. Clove

Cloved-studded Christmas pomanders have long been a traditional festivity. Cloves can also be found in mulled wine, festive hams and gingerbread – yum!^15,16

Warm and rich, spicy and sweet, cloves are said to be able to help clear the senses, especially during the colder months around Christmas time.¹⁷

What does it smell like?

Sweet, warm, woody: cloves smell like Christmas!¹⁸

Miaroma 100% Pure Clove Bud Essential Oil, 10ml

Warm up to the festive season with a little help from clove essential oil.

It’s the perfect remedy for cold winter nights – just a few pops in your diffuser can have you feeling content and relaxed in no time.

Key benefits

• High-quality 100% pure clove bud essential oil
• Known for its warming and stimulating properties
• Naturally soothing and ready to help you find calm at Christmas time

8. Pine

One whiff of pine essential oil and you’ll instantly thinking about evergreen trees, which are, of course, used by many people as their Christmas tree.

It’s said to help improve concentration and clear the mind, which may come in handy with all the chaos that Christmas can bring!¹⁹

What does it smell like? Crisp, woody and spicy – just like being outdoors.²⁰

Miaroma Pine Pure Essential Oil, 10ml

Cool, calm, and collected – this 100% pure pine essential oil can help you slow down and focus over the festive period.

It’s great for sprinkling over your artificial Christmas tree or popping in the diffuser to bring a breath of fresh air into your home.

Key benefits

• High-quality 100% pure pine essential oil
• Fresh, energising, and cooling aroma
• Can help to clear and sharpen your mind

What our customers think:

Dasha82 – Lovely smell – 5/5 stars
“Lovely, natural smell would use again. I used it on fabric decorations on my artificial Christmas tree to get more real smell. It was lovely, not too overpowering.”

Virginia – Miaroma pine oil – 5/5 stars
“Just one or two drops in my pine cone baskets makes the whole bathroom & downstairs cloakroom smell so fresh.”

Read more: Make your own DIY Christmas hamper

9. Lavender

While lavender may be associated with summer, it’s also renowned for having relaxation properties and helping people unwind at bedtime, which may come in handy if you want to get a good night’s sleep before Christmas Day arrives.²¹

What does it smell like? Floral and earthy.²²

Miaroma Lavender Blended Essential Oil, 10ml

Take time to relax and rejuvenate with the finest lavender essential oils.

Whether you pop some on your pillow, diffuser or bath, it is sure to get you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside this festive period.

Key benefits

• High-quality 100% pure lavender oil
• Helps you to relax and unwind
• Could help you get a better night’s sleep

What our customers think:

Emma – Essential oils – 5/5 stars
“Have most of the essential oils in this range but lavender has to be my favourite. It's so calming. I put a few drops on my pillow every night to help relax and fall asleep easier. It's also really great in the bath.”

Marie Joseph – The Aroma of Lavender Oils – 5/5 stars
“I have always loved the smell of lavender and a must in my garden. But since my interest in Aromatherapy and my understanding of oils, my favourite has been the Lavender oil - I use it instead of perfume - a small dot on either side of my temple; in my bath; and also mixed with other oils for cosmetic purposes. I love it.”

10. Peppermint

Red and white striped candy canes that hang on the tree (whether they stay there until the big day is another question!) and peppermint-flavoured sweets are widely associated with Christmas.^23,24

Find even more ways to enjoy this fresh, playful favour with peppermint essential oil.

What does it smell like? Menthol, sharp, cool and refreshing.²⁵

Miaroma Peppermint Pure Essential Oil, 10ml

Fill your home with sweet and zingy peppermint aromas for the festive season with this pure essential oil.

Peppermint is the perfect companion to seasonal baking, bubble baths, and cosy Christmas movie nights. It can also help keep winter pests away too, like spiders.

Key benefits

• Fresh, energising and very festive aroma to help clear your mind
• Can also help to repel those pesky spiders

What our customers think:

RD from London – Great Fragrance – 5/5 stars
 “Lovely fragrance, I use this with lavender oil in my diffuser as a relaxer to aid sleep at night! It really works!!.”

Free Spirit1 – Gave my room a lovely aroma – 5/5 stars
“Added the oil to my new Air Purifier..the room smells divine and gave it a very relaxing atmosphere .. will definitely try other aromas in the same range.”

11. Ginger

Ginger happens to be the main ingredient in mulled wine, as well as gingerbread houses and gingerbread men.

Soothing and uplifting, you can combine it with lemon, cinnamon, rosemary and peppermint oils for even more of a special Christmas essential oil blend.²⁶

What does it smell like? Peppery, sharp, aromatic, and warm.²⁷

Tisserand Organic Ginger Essential Oil, 9ml

Does your mouth water at the thought of crisp gingerbread at Christmas time, or a soothing ginger tea?

Try this essential oil over the festive period for yet another way to enjoy this aromatic spice.

Key benefits

• Positively festive warm and spicy, scent
• Blends well with lemon, rosemary, orange & frankincense essential oils

What our customers think:

Anonymous – Ginger oil – 5/5 stars
“I find the product very good. I love the fragrance and the warm feeling it gives when used for massaging.”

Philly – H&B is the best – 5/5 stars
“I bought this recently, with other items and I just love it. I have many uses for it and just love the aroma.”

12. Cedarwood

Like pine, cedarwood essential oil can smell a lot like Christmas trees, and the earthy and woody aroma can help create more of a relaxing environment at a time when people look to unwind and enjoy the magic of Christmas.²⁸

What does it smell like? Warm, woody and herbal.²⁹

Miaroma Cedarwood Pure Essential Oil, 10ml

Bring the grounding aromas of cedarwood essential oil into your house this festive period to create a safe haven of calm.

Key benefits

• Woody and herbal aromas to help calm your mind
• Helps you to unwind and relax

What our customers think:

Burbgal – Classic cedar fragrance – 5/5 stars
“The good stuff! I recently bought another, cheaper brand of cedarwood oil online and it was really vile: bright yellow, artificial and sweet smelling. The fragrance didn't seem to last long either (actually a bonus in this case). In contrast, this is the classic warm, woody smell you'd expect. It's a clear oil and the fragrance lasts. I'd recommend it and would definitely buy again.”

Giacinta – Lovely smell – 5/5 stars
"I love the smell! Use just 1-2 drops for my hair mask 2-3 time a month."

Top 5 festive essential oil blends

Here are some of our favourite Christmas essential oil blends you can pop in your diffuser and enjoy all season long:

1. Real Christmas tree: 2 drops frankincense + 2 drops fir + 1 drop pine
2. Christmas cottage: 3 drops orange + 1 drop clove + 1 drop cinnamon
3. Festive spirit: 2 drops orange + 2 drops cinnamon + 2 drops clove
4. Fresh gingerbread: 2 drops clove + 2 drops cinnamon + 3 drops ginger
5. Wiseman’s blend: 3 drops myrrh + 3 drops frankincense

Feeling inspired by this list of Christmas fragrance oils? Curious about Christmas pampering?

Have a read of our article on 7 reasons to buy a beauty advent calendar. 

The final say

Hopefully, now you have all the essential oil know-how to get your house smelling wonderfully festive!

Please remember that if you want to use essential oils in your skincare, you need to dilute the essential oils in a suitable carrier oil to prevent adverse side effects.

Good choices for carrier oils include castor oil, wheatgerm oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil and olive oil.

Read more about essential oils and how to use them here.

Last updated: 29 October 2021