Why I Always Burn Peppermint Every January – And You Should, Too

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that, by the time January arrives, my home feels heavy with the aftermath of December. The decorations are slowly coming down, there are crumbs in all sorts of impossible places (I blame the toddler), and mentally, I’m still carrying the noise of Christmas – the gatherings, the expectations, the constant doing. It’s at this point that I reach for peppermint.

Yes, our herb garden may be hibernating right about now, but if you’ve filled yours with hardy herbs (or simply been trimming herbs and saving them for later), now is the time for yours to shine.

Why? Well, because burning peppermint is one of those small but grounding rituals to turn to at the beginning of the year that actually boasts one added, very tangible benefit: pest control.

Why I Burn Peppermint

Traditionally, peppermint has long been used to deter pests, which feels practical after a season of extra food, sweet treats, and sticky fingers.

For me, though, it’s just as much about intention as it is about function. Which means, sure, I always burn peppermint in January because its sharp, clean scent immediately cuts through that post-holiday fog and makes the house feel lighter and fresher – but it also gives me an internal shake-up, too.

Peppermint burning essentials:

While you could cheat and use something like this peppermint candle from Amazon for this job, a bundle of homegrown herbs always feels a little more bewitching (can you tell I’ve watched Practical Magic one too many times in my life?), and luckily peppermint is one of the easiest herbs to grow indoors, making it ideal even for beginners.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say the mere act of growing peppermint on a sunny windowsill feels quietly hopeful when the garden outside feels dormant and bare.

How To Burn Peppermint Safely

Using something like Fiskars' Herb Garden Scissors, available on Amazon, then, clip a few sprigs from your peppermint, and let them dry in a warm place for a week. Then, toss them into your fireplace or bundle them together with cotton string, light the tip, let them smoulder, and waft the smoke gently with a fireproof bowl beneath. You could also scatter a few in a bowl near a heat source to release their aroma naturally

Sometimes I bruise a few fresh mint leaves between my fingers before lighting a candle, breathing in the scent straight from the plant. It’s a sensory reset: one that feels grounding, calming, and invigorating all at once.

Whichever route you go for, always, always, always make sure you’ve extinguished your peppermint properly in sand or water when you’re done, and open a window to let fresh air circulate.

January can feel bleak and directionless, especially after the intensity of the holidays. Burning peppermint (and growing it) becomes a reminder, though, that renewal doesn’t have to be dramatic. You don’t need a full reset or a grand plan. Sometimes, it’s enough to clear the air, tend something living, and set a quiet intention to begin again.

Honestly, though? Anything that helps me feel more focused and grounded – ready to think about what I want the year ahead to hold, rather than reacting to the one I’ve just lived through – is enough for me. And if it comes with the added bonus of scaring pests away? I’m a very happy woman.