DIY Gift Ideas
With rising prices, I know many people are looking for ways to save money. For many that means giving DIY gifts this Christmas. There are many wonderful and meaningful gifts you can make. I've rounded up some in this post to help you out.
Bath Bombs
So many people love adding bath bombs to their bath water. They give the benefit of Epsom salt, and if you make them yourself you can tailor the scent with essential oils. If you have ever tried making bath bombs you may have found they are not as simple as they seem. Some common issues are not enough moisture. This can cause the bath bombs to crack or are too hard to come out of the molds. Another issue is when the citric acid and baking soda react causing the bath bomb to fizz in the mold. I have found that adding the citric acid last definitely helps. Another tip is to add the wet ingredients VERY SLOWLY. This helps prevent activating the ingredients prematurely. Savvy Homemade has some great directions on how to get your bath bombs just right. Some oils you can add to them are:
Epsom Salt Bath Ornaments
A little Epsom salt, some essential oils, and clear plastic ornaments are all you need for this gift. It is as simple and easy as it gets and you are giving someone the gift of a lovely Epsom salt bath!
Homemade Sugar Scrub
This gift is great because it uses things you probably already have in your kitchen! Just get some cute little jars to put it in and you have a beautiful homemade gift!
Shower Steamers
Maybe you know someone who prefers showers to baths. That doesn't mean they can't enjoy the benefits of essential oils in their shower! Shower steamers are a great gift for shower lovers in your life.
Whipped Body Butter
How about a lovely body butter to make skin feel soft, moisturized, and healthy? This is another recipe you can customize by changing the essential oils. Remember, citrus oils cause photosensitivity. If they are used topically direct sunlight should be avoided after applying the lotion.
Ingredients
- ½ cup shea butter
- ½ cup cocoa butter
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup Fractionated Coconut Oil
- 15 drops Grapefruit oil
- 15 drops Wild Orange oil
Instructions
- Measure all butters and oils in glass jar.
- Fill a large skillet/saucepan with one to one and a half inches of water. Bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, add the glass jar to the center of the saucepan to melt and combine ingredients.
- Stir every few minutes until the ingredients are melted and combined. (10–15 minutes) Tip: Use a popsicle stick to stir for easy cleanup.
- Once everything is melted, remove from heat and let sit for 5–10 minutes. Add desired essential oils.
- Once essential oils are added, let it rest in a cool place (such as the refrigerator) until it has set.
- Once chilled, take out of refrigerator. With a stand or hand mixer, start on low and slowly turn the speed higher until the lotion becomes light and fluffy (around 3–5 minutes).
Note: Store mixture in a glass jar and keep in a cool place. If needed, re-fluff the body butter by whipping it back up to the desired consistency with a hand mixture.
Beach Waves Spray
This is a spray you can create to help someone get gorgeous beachy hair.
Personal Scents and Colognes
The perfumes and colognes you buy from stores are full of toxins and chemicals. Give someone a safe scent! There are some recipes above to try, or follow the link below to get several more recipes!
Garbage Disposal Refreshers
Do you have someone on your list that likes useful things? Then how about these garbage disposal refreshers. A stinky disposal is no fun, and these tablets are an easy way to take care of that issue!
Natural Room Sprays
Give the gift of fresh-smelling rooms without the chemicals of store-bought sprays! This is a simple recipe that is easy to personalize. Here are a few oil combinations to try.
Home & Harmony
Natural Moisturizer
Here is a natural moisturizer you can make for someone. The recipe calls for Lavender, but really you can use any oil that is safe to use topically. You can customize the smell to the person you are giving it to!
Fractionated Coconut Oil Lotion
Everyone loves soft skin. Fractionated Coconut Oil can be wonderful for this. You can use it as a moisturizer by itself, or here is a DIY lotion that can be used for body and face. Put it in a glass jar with a cute label and you have a great gift!
Ingredients
½ cup distilled water
½ cup pure aloe vera gel
½ cup beeswax
½ cup doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E
10–15 drops essential oils
Instructions
- Combine water and aloe vera gel in heat-proof bowl that fits over the top of your double boiler pan and traps the steam. Set aside.
- Place beeswax and Fractionated Coconut Oil in double boiler over medium heat until beeswax is melted.
- Remove top boiler insert and pour beeswax mixture into blender.
- Place the water and aloe mixture on the already-boiling base of double boiler, bringing the mixture to around the same temperature as beeswax mixture. Note: This is will need to be done quickly to prevent the beeswax mixture from hardening in the blender. You can also microwave the water and aloe mixture while the beeswax and coconut oil melt to speed up the heating process. The two liquids need to be a similar temperature to help the ingredients emulsify.
- Turn on blender to medium speed. Very slowly pour water and aloe mixture into blender, continuing to slowly pour as mixture starts to emulsify or come together. Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides of blender.
- Continue blending and pouring for up to 15 minutes until you are happy with the consistency of your lotion.
- Add vitamin E oil and essential oils and mix well.
- Place finished lotion in your container of choice (12 ounces or less) and use within three months.
Tip: If you don’t have a double boiler, use a taller sauce pan and find two heat-proof bowls that will fit snugly over the sauce pan.
Almond Orange Scrub
This homemade scrub will exfoliate skin and help it look and feel healthy. With only four ingredients - you know it will be simple and free from toxins. You can use this scrub in the shower, bath, or as an everyday hand cleanser.
Coconut Salt Scrub
Here is another recipe to make a scrub that will help exfoliate dry skin. Such a perfect gift for those who live in dry winter areas!
Ingredients
1 cup organic virgin coconut oil
1 cup Pink Himalayan (or Epsom) salt
¼ cup Fractionated Coconut Oil
15 drops of your favorite essential oil
Instructions
- Melt coconut oil in microwave or over double boiler.
- Once melted, remove from heat.
- Add Fractionated Coconut Oil and Pink Himalayan Salt to melted coconut oil.
- Stir until combined.
- Add essential oil.
- Let sit until coconut oil solidifies, stirring every 10 minutes. Tip: Put in refrigerator to speed up the cooling process.
- Stir until well combined and store in an air-tight container.
- To use, rub on skin and rinse with warm water.
DIY Beard Oil
There are still a lot of people out there donning beards. Natural beard oil could be a fantastic gift for them. This recipe uses Balance, Cedarwood, and Northern Escape essential oils, but you could tailor the oils to the person you are giving it to.
Do you like to make homemade gifts? Do you have a go-to DIY every year! I'd love for you to share with all of us!
