For our final post in our Christmas Play Days series, I wanted to put together an activity for my girls that would allow us to check a very important item off of our Christmas bucket list: Make the House Smell Like Christmas.

Oh, sure. You could just light a candle. But where’s the fun in that? 😉

This was sensory play in the truest sense.

As we were exploring, my three-year-old noticed that the allspice and cloves were slightly different. Of course she asked WHY they were different. Uh? Anyone wanna help me with a good answer for that? My spice trivia knowledge is a little rusty.

We rubbed our fingers over the bumpy peel of the oranges and the smooth exterior of the cinnamon sticks.

We smelled the separate ingredients as we added them to the pot.

Naturally, the next question that followed was, “Can we eat it?” For the record, the cinnamon sticks weren’t very tasty on their own, but they made great spoons for scooping up little tastes of vanilla.

And, as you can see, there was no shortage of vanilla in our sensory soup.

What you’ll need to make your house smell like Christmas:

(Affiliate links included for your convenience.)

• Orange peels
• Whole Allspice
• Cloves
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Vanilla
• Water

Christmas Potpourri

Combine ingredients on the stove. Simmer for a lovely Christmas smell!

(Don’t let it simmer unattended. I have a feeling that charred orange peels aren’t quite the scent you had in mind.)

Did you miss our first two Christmas Play Days posts? Click on the links below for

Healthier “Gingerbread” Houses and

Christmas Discovery Boxes–Simple and FREE Play Ideas for Babies and Toddlers

While you’re thinking about fun and festive Christmas ideas, check out the other series finales from my blogging friends:

Complete the Christmas Picture by Buggy and Buddy

Decorate a Tree Sensory Play by Fantastic Fun and Learning

Eggnog Cloud Dough by My Nearest and Dearest

White Christmas Train Play by Play Trains!

Christmas Contact Paper Art by Fun-A-Day!