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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The December 28, 2024, NYT Strands theme is “Just the Essentials.” The clues below move from a light nudge to the complete answer list, so stop before the spoiler section if you still want to solve the board yourself.
Hints for the December 28 Strands puzzle
Theme hint
Think of things associated with essential scents.
Category hint
The answers are fragrant plants, woods, and the practice of using scents.
Starting-letter hint
The five answers begin with EU, PA, CE, LA, and AR. The spangram runs horizontally from one side of the board to the other, according to Parade’s December 28 guide.
Individual word clues
- A fragrant shrub whose name begins with P and ends with I.
- A fragrant wood from an evergreen tree; its name begins with C and ends with D.
- A familiar purple flowering herb often associated with fragrance.
- A fragrant tree or shrub whose name begins with EU.
- The word for using scents for therapeutic purposes; this is the spangram.
Full answer reveal
Spoilers: The theme words are EUCALYPTUS, CEDARWOOD, LAVENDER, and PATCHOULI. The spangram is AROMATHERAPY.
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Why the puzzle number is not included
Identify this board by its date and theme rather than a game number: Parade labels it #300, while Xfire’s archive labels the same date’s puzzle #448. The available sources do not explain the difference, so neither number is reliable enough to present as definitive.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How Strands hints work
The dated guides say that finding three non-theme words earns an in-game hint, which highlights letters of a theme word. Letters can be connected horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
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