Sweet smelling Gifts 2

Over the past few weeks I have used salt dough to show you how to make gifts and items for your home.

I have also given a recipe for play dough as well as an edible play dough for children and I think by now many of you have searched the net and found a few other variations on the original salt and/or play dough recipe. If not, you can have a look here at the "strange" ingredients that are used to make play dough.Read more...

Today I have yet another variation, namely aromatic or scented salt dough. Great for a quick gift and it does not even have to be baked and painted.

Mix 125 ml flour and 125 ml salt in a bowl. Add 2,5 ml of your favourite essential oil as well as 160 ml boiling water to the mixture. You can also add food colouring (drop by drop till desired color is reached). Mix the ingredients thoroughly and form different sizes and shapes to resemble rocks. Wear rubber gloves when mixing the ingredients (see Warning at end of this post)

The mixture will smell very strong at first but once the "rocks" have dried, the smell will diminish. Drip some essential oil onto the rocks if they start losing their flavour.

Make different leaf shapes by using real leaves as templates. Gather leaves with strong veins, roll out the aromatic dough and press the leaves on top of the dough so that the veins form patterns. Cut out with a sharp knife. Remove the leaves and lift up parts of the dough leaves to obtain a more realistic look.

Tip: If you have some plain salt dough in the fridge, use it for the leaves or rocks, let dry in the oven and then just put a few drops of essential oil onto them.
(The white leaves in the photo were made from plain dough - I dripped some oil onto them and left it to air dry).

Use the leaves to scent wardrobes and drawers, but make sure that the essential oils have dried thoroughly so as not to stain clothes.

Idea: Tie a few leaves in a bunch with a pretty ribbon and hang onto hangers.

Essential oil guide for every room in your house:

Bedrooms:

Camomile,frankinscense,jasmine,lavender, orange, marjoram, vanilla and rose for a good night's sleep.
Neroli and ylang-ylang for a sensual atmosphere.

Bathrooms:

Cinnamon, citronella, eucalyptus, lemon, lemongrass, lime, orange, cypress, peppermint and tea tree oil. Refreshing and boost energy levels.

Study:

Sandalwood, juniper, lime, patchouli, peppermint, rosemary and thyme.
Strengthen concentration and help to think more clearly.

Kitchen:

Lemon and citronella

Dining room:

Ginger - stimulates appetite

Personal spaces:

Sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, jasmine, rose, vanilla and mandarin
Lighten your mood and good for meditating

Patios

Sandalwood, citronella, eucalyptus, lemon grass and patchouli
Keep insects away


Warning: Take care when working with essential oils. They are highly concentrated and may cause skin irritations. If you do accidentally get some on your hands, rinse off under cold water immediately. Never, ever take essential oils internally, unless under medical advice.

Essential oils should never be used by anyone suffering from epilepsy, as any one of them could trigger an attack.

Avoid basil, clary sage, hyssop, juniper, marjoram, myrrh and sage if you are pregnant.

If you suffer from high blood pressure, avoid hyssop, sage, rosemary and thyme.

Some oils make the skin more sun sensitive, so do not use these when you're going out in the sun:-
Angelica, bergamot, cumin, lemon, lime and orange. Fennel should be used with extreme care as it can overstimulate the nervous system - an overdose can cause convulsions.

"Take time each day to seek out stillness, to find that sacred spot. Let your mind and soul be at ease. Don't grasp and grab for the magic and miracles. When you reside in that place of stillness, the joy, miracles and magic you're seeking will find you." - Melody Beattie