It’s no secret that a home that smells good feels good. In fact, I used to have a roommate in college that would fake a clean house by simply pouring some Pine Sol in the sink. She said that the scent fools your brain into thinking the house was clean, when, truth be told, she hadn’t picked up a broom in years. And it’s true—people were always saying how clean and cozy our house was!
But nowadays the thought of filling my home with fake, chemically scents makes me a little nauseous. Instead, I prefer natural candles, relaxing room sprays, and lately, these pretty fragrance stones. They’re so easy to make (hello, only four ingredients!) and they smell amazing. Simply stash some around the house and easily fool guests into thinking you’ve just cleaned, even if it’s been a while.
How to Make Essential Oil Fragrance Stones
When I said these were easy to make, I wasn’t kidding. All you need is flour, salt, water and essential oils. Combine everything in a bowl and knead it to form a dough. Then roll the dough into small stones and let them dry overnight.
Once completely dry, you can tuck a few stones in a bowl, use as vase filler (sans water, of course) or place in small groupings around the house. I love keeping some in the kitchen, on the coffee table and stashed around the bathroom—any place guests are sure to visit. Much like potpourri, the stones gradually release their fragrance into the air while disguising themselves as décor.
Fragrance Stone Essential Oil Blends
I like mine to look like plain, whitewashed stones, but feel free to get creative with these by adding flower petals, citrus peels, herbs or food coloring. Not only does it add interest but fresh herbs and flower petals will help boost the fragrance.
You're free to use any essential oils you like for these, but here are a few blends to get you started.
Bergamot Jasmine
-20 drops bergamot
-14 drops jasmine
-8 drop cedarwood
Orange Vanilla
-22 drops sweet orange
-16 drops vanilla
-10 drops ylang ylang
Sandalwood Grapefruit
-20 drops sandalwood
-8 drop thyme
-14 drops grapefruit
Lavender Pine
-28 drops lavender
-10 drops pine
-6 drop peppermint
Fragrance Stone FAQ
Can I add more oils once the scent starts to fade?
If you find that the scent starts to fade after a while, simply drip some essential oils onto the stones and let sink in. It will give them a temporary boost until you decide to make some fresh stones.
Will these spoil after a while?
These fragrance stones are made of something called salt dough, which can last forever if they're allowed to dry thoroughly and you store them correctly. Keep them in a cool, dry place (not in a steamy bathroom, for instance) and wipe off any dust or debris every now and then. Eventually, they may start to crumble, at which point you'll want to make new fragrance stones.
What can I use in place of the wheat flour?
Although I haven't tested it myself, an alternate recipe for airdry clay is 1 cup baking soda, ½ cup cornstarch, ¾ cup water and whichever essential oils you prefer. If you decide to give this recipe a shot, please let us know in the comments how it turned out.
DIY Essential Oil Fragrance Stones
Equipment
- Baking sheet or cooling rack
- Parchment paper
Materials
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup table salt
- ⅓ -⅔ cup boiling water
- 30-40 drops essential oils
- Flower petals, grated citrus rind or food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the flour and salt in a bowl.
- Slowly add the boiling water a little a time. While the water is hot, use a whisk to combine everything as best you can (it's going to thicken quickly). When it’s cool enough to touch, use your hands to knead the ingredients into a dough. Add more water and/or flour as needed until your dough is firm but not too sticky.
- Add the essential oils and optional ingredients (like flower petals) and continue kneading.
- Break off 1 to 2 inch pieces of dough and roll with your hands until it forms a ball. Press the ball slightly until it resembles a stone.
- Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a metal cooling rack and let dry overnight.
- Put several stones in a bowl or stash individual stones wherever you need a boost of fragrance.
