How to Make DIY Holiday-Scented Pinecones

Do you know that amazing smell when you walk into a grocery or craft store in November and December? The cinnamon, nutmeg, and all other aromas of Christmas smell? That wonderful smell is usually bags of scented pinecones. Scented pinecones are super cute put out in a bowl and will scent a whole area, giving you that special cozy holiday feel. The downside is that I usually don’t want to pay the price that these stores are asking, you know, for pinecones. So, I embarked on how to make DIY holiday-scented pinecones.

This season my littles and I made our scented pinecones. It was so much fun, and they turned out marvelous! The kids loved going on a little nature hike around the neighborhood to collect as many pinecones as we could find, of course, we were trying to get the prettiest ones and ones that weren’t half smashed. They did great, and we ended up with a whole grocery bag full of pretty pinecones. We brought them back to the house and were ready to start. Read on for how to make DIY holiday-scented pinecones.

What You Will Need To Make Holiday-Scented Pinecones

Pinecones
Essential oils (I used, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Clove)
Vanilla Extract
Gallon Zip Lock Baggie
Cookie Sheet

First Things First, Clean Your Pinecones

When you get home, you will want to wash your pinecones to remove any spider webs, bugs, and debris. To do this simply fill your kitchen sink up with warm water. Place all the pinecones in the water with a little dish soap and let them soak for about an hour. I laid a plate over the top of the pinecones to help keep them submerged since they float. After an hour remove your pinecones from the water and spread them single layer on a cookie sheet. I was slightly grossed out by all the gunk left in the water and promptly added cleaning my sink to my list of chores for the day.

Bake Your Pinecones

Next, you will bake your pinecones. Doing this will help the pinecones open up and kill any remaining grossness left behind. Turn your oven to 200 degrees. Once your oven is heated place your cookie sheet with a single layer of pinecones in the oven. Cook for 30 minutes or until they are all the way dried and opening up. After that let them cool on your counter.

Scent Your Pinecones

This is the fun part! You can use whatever oils and scents you would like for your pinecones. I chose to use cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and a little vanilla extract. I used about 20 drops of each oil and a few drops of vanilla, again, scent to your liking. Close the bag and shake! Shaking the bag and moving the pinecones around will help spread the oil so they are evenly distributed. You will leave your pinecones in the sealed zip lock for around two weeks. I checked mine at the one week mark but the longer you let them sit the more the pinecones will absorb the oils.

Finishing Touches

After you a have let your pinecones sit in the closed bags for a couple weeks it is time to put them out!. You can put them on a festive tray, bowl or whatever you would like. I put some dried orange slices with mine just for looks. To learn how to dry oranges for decoration read, DIY Dried Orange Christmas Wreath.

You can also use these as little gifts, the kids and I put some on pretty dishes and gave them to neighbors, they all loved them, and it was nice to give something other than cookies.

I hope you enjoyed the post, how to make DIY holiday-scented pinecones. Have you made your own? What oils did you use? Share in the comments.

Happy Holidays!