Are you carving pumpkins this year for Halloween? One of my readers sent me a simple-looking idea for making scented pumpkins, so we tried it out last weekend. Turns out it totally works and makes your house smell amazing!
A billion thanks go out to Marylou for this awesome idea! She left me a comment with this simple tip and it works great; I’m going to do this every fall from now on!
I’ll share the tip in just a bit, but first things first…this is the first pumpkin JM has ever carved. WHAT?! I know! How did he get to be 24 without ever carving a pumpkin?! So anyway, it was a very fun experience teaching my husband how to carve a pumpkin. 
Fall Scented Pumpkins:
You only need a few things to make your house smell wonderful:
- a carved pumpkin
- a votive candle
- cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice (or any spices whose scent you love)
Step 1 is to carve your pumpkin. JM just wanted a regular jack-o-lantern face, and I chose a fun little house.
NOTE: This trick still works even if you cut a hole in the bottom of your pumpkin rather than cutting the lid off.
Once your pumpkin is carved, take about 1 tsp of spices and rub them on the lid of your pumpkin. I used about 1/2 t of cinnamon and 1/2 t of nutmeg for each of these pumpkins.
Light your candle, put the lid back on, and you’re done. The heat of the candle warms the spices and the delicious scents permeate your house! As Marylou said “Your home and entryway will soon begin to have that warm scent of fall and everyone will think you have been baking all day.” Perfect!
Another simple way to make your house smell delicious is with a simmer pot. I shared a simmer pot recipe last week, but this is just as easy and you get a fun carved pumpkin out of the deal as well!
We put the pumpkins up on top of a bookshelf to try to keep them out of the cats’ reach. Seems to work so far!
So what about you, are you carving pumpkins this year? Have you ever used spices to make your home smell fabulous?
Thanks again to Marylou for this awesome idea!
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Im almost 30 and I dont think Ive ever carved a pumpkin
What, crazy! Growing up, my dad helped my brother and I carve pumpkins every year, so I guess I just sort of assumed everyone did it.
WHAT. What the WHAT. That is absolutely GENIUS!!!! We’ll have to do this with the pumpkin this year. ^_^
And the DDH had never carved a pumpkin until college. So maybe he was younger than JM, but still.
Yeah, totally genius! She left that comment back in July and I was like “Oh man, I probably can’t even find a pumpkin until like September at the earliest…”
awesome idea! I saw this on Adventures of a DIY mom
http://pleasegivepeasachance.blogspot.com/
The pumpkins look great! Nice job with the carving (especially for a rookie, JM).
Thanks Mom! And yeah, I think his little pumpkin looks great!
Both pumpkins look great! I will have to try this tip – I love a strong fall scent.
Emily recently posted..Spookiest House on the Street
Your pumpkins looks great! We can’t carve ours since the ones outside would be eaten by the chipmunks and squirrels and the ones inside would be eaten by Willow.
Thanks for sharing on Tout It Tuesday! Hope to see you next week.
K @ Claiming Our Space recently posted..Willow Wednesday
Oooh I love this ! How creative! I am a new fan. I found you through DIY Dreamer and hope you’ll come link up to my weekly blog fest. Lisa/Fresh Eggs Daily http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/10/farm-girl-blog-fest-5.html
I carve pumpkins every year, but you know – I never thought to put spices inside them! I MUST do that this year!
I would love to invite you to post this over at my link party on The Purple Pumpkin Blog! Hope to see you there
Michelle xoxo
Michelle recently posted..Trick or Treat Decorated Tub {Crafty October}
What a clever trick. I LOVE this idea. Thanks for sharing on Show & Tell at SNAP! xoxo.
Tauni recently posted..20 Easy Halloween Snacks
This is a GREAT idea!! Thanks so much for sharing!! Thanks for linking up at Romance on a dime!
Betsy @ Romance on a Dime recently posted..Day 28: Homemade Cleaner Round-up
Love your pumpkins! And would you believe I carved my first pumpkin this year too!
Must go add spices to it now! Thanks for stopping by my blog. 
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