Table of Contents
- Capture the Last-Minute Shoppers
- Stay Consistent on Social Media
- Show Up During Christmas Week
- Launch a “Treat Yourself” Campaign
- Lean Into Self-Care & Wellness Messaging
- Refresh Your Website for January
- Use Email Marketing to Drive Sales
- Keep Stock Moving (Smartly)
- Leverage New Year Resolutions
- Build Excitement for What’s Coming Next
- Final Thoughts: Keeping Momentum Through the Festive Season
- FAQs
The lead-up to Christmas is often one of the busiest times of the year for small businesses - especially those selling home fragrance, bath and body products, skincare, and cosmetics. But once the last postal dates pass and shoppers finish their main gifting, things can feel quieter. For many makers, this period between Christmas and New Year can feel like a slump.
But it doesn’t have to be.
With the right strategy, mid-December through to early January can be incredibly profitable. Customers are still shopping -just with a different mindset. Whether you sell wax melts, whipped soaps, room sprays, bath bombs, skincare, or cosmetics, there are so many ways to keep the momentum going.
Here’s how to continue making consistent sales through Christmas, Boxing Day, and into the New Year.
Capture the Last-Minute Shoppers
Even after the main rush, people are still buying. They’re looking for forgotten gifts, self-care treats, and little luxuries.
How to take full advantage:
Offer local collection or click-and-collect
Perfect for last-minute home fragrance gifts, bath bombs, body butters, or beauty sets.Promote digital gift cards
Ideal for skincare and cosmetics when customers aren’t sure about someone’s scent preference(s) or required product type.Push “ready-to-ship” products
Highlight items that don’t need curing, batching, or long prep times - such as room sprays, bath salts, lip balms, or pre-made gift sets.
Stay Consistent on Social Media
It’s tempting to slow down once Christmas hits, but December is when your customers scroll the most. They’re relaxed, on holiday, and browsing on their phones!
Engaging content ideas for home fragrance, bath & body, and cosmetics -
“Top scents of the season” or “Most-loved skincare products this week”
Behind-the-scenes clips of product making or packing
Routines using your products
Bath bomb demos or wax melt warming videos
“What I’m using today” self-care reels
Customer reviews and unboxings
You don’t need polished content - authenticity performs best during this season.
Show Up During Christmas Week
Many brands go quiet between Christmas and New Year, assuming customers aren’t buying. The truth? People spend more time online during this week than almost any other time of year.
Content that performs well:
Thank-you messages
Behind-the-scenes downtime or reflections
Bestsellers of the year
“Your Most-Loved Products of 2025”
Polls about scents, new product launches or scent requests
Sneak peeks of January restocks or new collections coming in 2026
Staying visible helps you stay memorable when January purchasing begins.
Launch a “Treat Yourself” Campaign
Once Christmas is over, the focus shifts from gifting to self-care. Customers want to treat themselves to something relaxing, refreshing, or confidence-boosting.
Great angles for home fragrance, bath & body, and cosmetics:
“Pamper Yourself This January”
“New Year, New Self-Care Routine”
“Winter Skin Rescue Collection”
“Cosy Night In Bundles”
“January Refresh: Clean, Fresh Home Fragrance Picks”
Offer light incentives such as:
10-15% off
Free shipping if you spend X
Buy 2 get 1 free
Curated self-care boxes
Lean Into Self-Care & Wellness Messaging
Christmas is chaotic. January is emotional - new starts, darker days, tired skin, and the need for comfort. This is the time to lean into wellness messaging.
For home fragrance:
“Create a peaceful space with calming scents.”
“Fresh, uplifting fragrances for a January reset.”
For bath & body:
“Soothe your skin after the winter weather.”
“Indulge in a warm, luxurious bath ritual.”
For cosmetics:
“Glow into the New Year with hydrating makeup essentials.”
“Boost your confidence with simple, fresh-faced looks.”
When you position your products as part of a wellness routine, they become a solution, not just a purchase.
Refresh Your Website for January
A tidy, updated website increases conversion - and the period between Christmas and New Year is the perfect time to refresh it.
Ideas for improvement:
Update banners with “New Year” themes
Refresh product photos
Add new bundles or gift boxes to sell excess/older stock
Create a “January Favourites” or “Self-Care Essentials” section
Add tags like “Bestseller” or “Back in Stock”
Ensure navigation is clean and mobile-friendly
Your customers are browsing. Make it enjoyable.
Use Email Marketing to Drive Sales
Email is one of the most powerful tools you have during this period - especially for beauty, skincare, and home fragrance products.
Strong email topics include:
Last Shipping before Xmas reminders
Christmas Eve thank-you email
Boxing Day new stock or sale
“January Skin Reset”
“Top Home Fragrance Picks to Freshen Your Space”
“Start 2025 With These Self-Care Staples”
New Year launch previews
Bestsellers of the year
A single email can boost your entire week.
Keep Stock Moving (Smartly)
You don’t need to produce huge quantities after mid-December, but stay stocked in items shoppers buy for themselves.
Home Fragrance:
Fresh, clean scents for January
Spa scents like Lavender, Eucalyptus or Aqua Minerals & Sea Kelp
Cosy scents like Egyptian Amber, Caramel Biscuit or Cafe Au Lait
Lavender Fragrance Oil
£1.99
Unleash the calming powers of lavender, infused with eucalyptus and bergamot, guaranteed to transport you to a peaceful oasis. Hints of patchouli and tonka add depth while soft moss and woody musks provide a constant, soothing aroma. … read more
Egyptian Amber Fragrance Oil
£1.99
Indulge in an opulent sultry blend of warm Moroccan amber, spicy cinnamon and bitter orange, along with hints of coriander and vanilla. The base notes of sandalwood, patchouli and ylang add a rich depth to this exotic fragrance. … read more
Caramel Biscuit Fragrance Oil
£1.99
Warm, spiced, and utterly comforting. Combining cinnamon, nutmeg and spicy top notes with a heart of sweet golden caramel biscuit and chantilly cream, supported by a buttery pastry base. It evokes the aroma of cosy Paris cafés filled with tasty… read more
Café Au Lait Fragrance Oil
£1.99
Rich espresso meets velvety milk in this evocative fragrance, inspired by Parisian cafés. Coffee beans open with a bold, aromatic punch, softened by a creamy milky heart, and resting on a base of subtle brown sugar crystals that feels cosy… read more
Bath & Body:
Whipped soaps
Bath bombs
Body butters
Shower gels
Exfoliators
Cosmetics:
Lip balms
Winter hydration essentials
Simple “daily routine” products
Leftover Christmas stock can also be bundled into “Winter Clearance” or “Seasonal Boxes” to clear space for new launches.
Leverage New Year Resolutions
January is all about improvement - better skin, better wellbeing, cleaner homes, more self-care. Your products fit perfectly into this mindset.
Angles to consider:
“Refresh your home with these clean, uplifting scents.”
“Start the year with a simple skincare routine that works.”
“Boost your confidence with easy, everyday makeup.”
“Make self-care your priority this year.”
You’re not just selling a product - you’re supporting goals and routines.
Build Excitement for What’s Coming Next
The quiet weeks are the perfect time to tease what’s coming in the new year.
Ideas include:
January scent launches
New products dropping soon
Restocks customers are waiting for
Behind-the-scenes product development
Your brand goals for the year
Polls asking what customers want next
When customers feel included, they’re more likely to return and buy.
Final Thoughts: Keeping Momentum Through the Festive Season
The Christmas and New Year period isn’t a time to expect slow sales - it’s a time to adapt to what customers are looking for. As their mindset shifts from gifting to self-care, your home fragrance, bath & body, and cosmetic products become exactly what they want.
By staying visible, showing up consistently, and positioning your products around comfort, wellbeing, and fresh starts, you can turn late December and early January into one of your strongest sales periods of the year.
Explore Our Handpicked Fragrance Oils
Looking for premium-quality options that are perfect for home use? At House of Scent, we stock a carefully curated selection of undiluted oils designed for candles, wax melts, reed diffusers, room sprays, and more. Whether you're creating your own products for fun or for your home fragrance business, our collection offers something for every scent preference.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is based on our knowledge, experience, and research at the time of writing. While we strive to ensure accuracy, we encourage readers to conduct their own research and verify information independently, especially when making business or purchasing decisions. It is the reader’s responsibility to carry out thorough product testing, particularly before commencing batch production. Customers are fully responsible for checking the latest IFRA documentation, using the correct CLP labels for their specific products, and ensuring they hold the relevant CPSR assessments where required. House of Scent is not liable for any actions taken based on the content of this blog.
FAQs
Do customers actually buy home fragrance, bath & body, and cosmetic products after Christmas?
Yes! Sales often shift from gifting to self-care and personal treats. Many customers use the week between Christmas and New Year to relax, refresh their homes, and revamp their skincare or beauty routines. Products like wax melts, bath goodies, body butters, and everyday cosmetics sell extremely well during this time.
What type of products sell best between Christmas and New Year?
Customers gravitate toward items that help them feel calm, refreshed, or pampered, such as:
Fresh or cosy home fragrance scents
Bath bombs, whipped soaps, body butters, and exfoliators
Hydrating skincare and simple, everyday cosmetics
Gift sets, self-care boxes, or treat-yourself bundles
Anything that supports well-being or a “January reset” tends to perform brilliantly.
How can I encourage repeat sales after the Christmas rush?
Consistency is key. Keep posting on social media, send engaging emails, and highlight January-friendly products. Launching “Treat Yourself” promotions, self-care themed bundles, and sneak peeks of upcoming releases also encourages customers to return. The more you stay visible and helpful, the more likely your customers will continue shopping with you throughout the New Year.




