18 December – Let Your Nose Lead the Way

Today’s mindful calendar invited me into one of my favourite senses of the season: smell.

Our sense of smell can be one of the most powerful gateways into the Christmas spirit. It has an uncanny ability to transport us — to places, people and moments — often faster than any song or decoration ever could.

The invitation was simple: stay alert to festive aromas throughout the day, both at home and outside, and allow your nose to take centre stage.

Fresh pine, gingerbread, incense, cinnamon, candles, nutmeg, peppermint… the list is endless. When you notice a scent you associate with Christmas, you’re encouraged to pause. Bring your nose closer, close your eyes, and focus fully on what you’re smelling — and on what it stirs within you.

Perhaps the aroma takes you back to a specific Christmas from years gone by. Perhaps it evokes comfort, excitement, nostalgia, or a quiet sense of goodwill. Whatever arises, the practice is simply to notice it, sit with it for a brief moment, and then gently return to whatever you were doing before.

There’s something beautifully grounding about focusing on scent alone. It pulls us straight into the present moment — and it can be surprisingly effective at easing anxiety too.

I was genuinely excited by today’s prompt… until breakfast.

My porridge, despite being a rather indulgent chocolate affair (leftover hot chocolate stirred in), didn’t exactly scream Christmas. Seeds, goji berries, cranberries, banana and cacao are nourishing and delicious — but not particularly festive to my nose. No jingles, no sparkle.

Orange Bitter cologne and a candle later in the morning did a much better job.

But my favourite scent of the day arrived unexpectedly: the cinnamon sticks woven into the wreath hanging on our front door.

I was soaking wet, arms full of heavy shopping bags, and in no position to linger — but I did pause for a moment. I may even have closed my eyes briefly. Sweet, warm, comforting… if something can actually smell warm, that was it.

A fleeting moment — but without question, my most festive one today.