My mom must have been baking early, and suddenly I was transported back to every Christmas morning of my life. It was like time wasn't even real—like I was five years old and forty years old at the same time.

I've been thinking about how smells do that. How they bypass all your defenses and just go straight to your heart. You can't argue with a smell or pretend it doesn't affect you. It just hits you and you feel what you feel. 💫

This year I bought my own cinnamon and star anise to make Christmas tea, and every time I brew it, I feel this rush of... something. Anticipation? Nostalgia? Joy? All mixed together in a way I can't separate. I'm wondering if I'm supposed to be this emotional about small things, or if this is just how you're supposed to feel during the season and I'm finally paying attention.

My room smells like Christmas now too. I put pine branches in a vase and lit a candle, and it's like I've created my own little sanctuary. When my friends come over, they comment on how warm and inviting it feels. They don't realize that half of it is just the smell. That fragrance is doing the work of making people feel welcomed and safe. 🕯️

Do you have a smell that makes you feel like home?

There's something magical about the way Christmas smells linger. Not just in your room, but in your clothes, in your hair, in your memories. I think I'm going to try to hold onto this feeling all year somehow.