DIY scented pine cones are one of those super easy and fun projects for the whole family. It does not take up too much time, nor does it require you to buy a whole lot of stuff. This is one of those Holiday projects that fit into any budget. The scent will not last as long as the waxed pine cones (probably about a week or so), but you can easily sprinkle on more cinnamon whenever you need it. And kids love to paint on the glue and sprinkle the cinnamon. 😉 Materials Needed Control the strength– If you’re unsure of how strong you want them, use my recommended amount of essential oils first. Note that the longer they sit in the bag, the stronger the scent will be. If you find that it fades in just a few days, or it’s not as strong as you’d like, add more essential oils or allow them to sit in the bag longer.

You want the wax to be warm enough to be easy to work with, but not so cool that it barely coats the pine cone. These projects pair exceptionally well with Christmas movies, too, just sayin’. Sourcing Pine Cones Let’s get crafting. We’ll start with some larger projects for your home. Christmas Décor 1. Scented Pine Cones Place the pine cones in a gallon-size plastic storage bag. Mix several drops of your favorite essential oil or a mixture of several oils into a couple of tablespoons of neutral carrier oil such as grapeseed or apricot kernel oil in a small spray bottle. Spray the pine cones well inside the bag. Now close up the bag, and shake it well. This will ensure the oils are distributed equally among the pine cones. Let the pine cones sit in the bag for about a week. If you go this route, be sure to water the plants below the pine cones, keeping the tops dry. This will further discourage a fungus gnat infestation. 2. Scented Pine Cones Easily create a natural air freshener with pine cones and essential oils.

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I garden, even when the only space available is the rooftop of my apartment. I’ve been a knitter since age seven, and I spin and dye my own wool as well. And if you can ferment it, it’s probably in my pantry or on my kitchen counter. I can’t go more than a few days without a trip deep into the Pennsylvania State Game Lands looking for mushrooms, edible plants, or the sound of the wind in the trees. The scent will fade, so if you notice that after a few weeks, just repeat the process of adding some oil and sealing them up for a bit. Although hairspray is commonly used to preserve pine cones, it is not the best preservative. Although it could offer a short-term solution, it is not made for long-term preservation or resistance against moisture and decay. A transparent acrylic sealer or spray varnish is a more efficient approach to preserving pine cones for crafts and decor. Do you need to seal pine cones? Also, it’s so easy and inexpensive to do that you can easily do it again year after year and have wonderful, scented pinecones as part of your fall and winter decor every year!

Our luxury eco friendly gift boxes each contain 6 scented pine cones hand crafted from our studio and gift shop in Derbyshire. Well, other than the obvious reason that pinecones are perfect to use when decorating for the holiday and winter months…

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After the final dipping, if you want to add glitter or other decorations, do it while the wax is still wet. Before using pine cones in your home or for crafts, it’s a good idea to bake them to kill any unwanted pests or plant diseases. Place them on a foil or parchment-lined baking sheet and bake them at 200 degrees F for 20-30 minutes. (Your house will smell great.) This centerpiece is put together using a mirrored tray layered with natural pine cones, pearlized ornaments, and green leaves. For a clean, minimalist style, give this one a try. 3. Traditional Centerpiece For a more traditional look that doesn’t take up the whole table, try a basket or bowl. Avoid using a plastic spray bottle. Glass is a better alternative. Concentrated essential oils are very strong and can eat away at the plastic if left in the container for a long period of time. They’re slow to break down and will last for years. The natural resin coating the cones makes them water-resistant, meaning water will slowly drip down to the soil rather than being soaked up by the cones. This feature also prevents soil erosion.

Add a layer of pine cones to the bottom of each container before adding soil. Fill the container ¼ full of pine cones. This will make the containers lighter and save you money by using less soil. Not to mention it will improve drainage. These adorable little love birds are the perfect ornament for the newlyweds in your life. I got the inspiration from Lia Griffith; however, I didn’t think I needed to pay for a membership to figure out how to make these sweet little ornaments. 21. Pine Cone Reindeer Ornament Perhaps you can get Rudy to guide your sleigh this Christmas season.Pine cones are a great ‘brown’ addition to the compost pile. Because they’re so slow to break down, it’s best to break them up first. If you have access to a chipper, chipping the pine cones before adding them to the compost is the best way to go. But maybe you’re wondering what to do with these small, spiky treasures beyond a homey decoration? (Although if you do want that, I’ve got 25 festive crafts, decor and ornament ideas for using pine cones over here). But pinecones are not the only organic thing that can be scented. You might want to try adding these other found-in-nature elements to your plastic bag to scent right along with the pinecones… Ladybugs are a fantastic beneficial insect to have around the garden. These aphid-munching beetles can be lured to your garden by giving them a place to hide and reproduce. Preheat oven to 200℉. Line a large cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Spread the pine cones evenly across the foil. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes. Remove and let cool completely. (little bugs and critters can be hiding in the pine cones, so baking them is a good way to keep the critters from spreading in your house)

This will heat up the sap and allow it to drip off the pinecones onto the foil below, and will kill any critters living inside the pinecones. If your pinecones were still smooth and closed, the heat of the oven should force them to open up.When you set your holiday table, don’t forget pine cones for the centerpiece. No matter your decorating style, you can easily put together a festive spread that takes center stage on your table. 2. Minimalist Centerpiece Once you know how to make scented pine cones with essential oils, you can use them in many different ways to add an aroma and visual appeal to your home decor as well as your gifts. Scroll down to find lots more ideas on how to use your scented pinecones. If they made a balsam needle-stuffed mattress, I’d buy it. (If this is a thing, hit me up with a link, and I’ll love you forever.)