Maybe how it smells depends on variety and how fresh it is. A lot of trees on the lot may have ben there a long time.
Growing up, once I got to a certain age, Mom would send me to get a tree when Dad was at work and we were off from school. So this was well after Thanksgiving. We always used a red cedar, which have a smell when fresh. I'd find one in a fence row or in the pasture where it was pretty much alone so it had a decent shape and was thick enough. I've known people go looking for a tree in the woods where they are competing with the other trees for sunlight. You are not going to find a full tree there.
I'd cut a pretty big one, way too big. Then take the top maybe 6' for the Christmas tree. The top of the trees were pretty thick and I'd pay attention to that shape when selecting which one. I'd strip the limbs off the section below the Christmas tree and let it dry out. Once it cured it made a good fence post. Not as good as one made from cedar heartwood but still pretty good.
Now though we don't even put one up. We are hardly ever here, not since we have grandkids. We normally go there. Another son manages a movie theater in that area and has a hard enough time getting a day off during the holiday season let alone enough to make a trip. So we get most of the family together by going there.
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