The holidays are nearly upon us and what better time than now to whip up some herbal goodness to give as gifts this holiday season. Everyone on your list will love receiving an herbal gift. Your handmade gifts tell your loved ones how much you value them.
Make Your Own Scented Candles
You get to customize each of your homemade candles with essential oils or blends to suit each person and
Soy Candles
Ingredients
- 4 cups soy flakes*
- 2 wicks with a metal base
- 20–30 drops lavender essential oil (you can also create your own custom scents with your favorite oils.)
- 20–30 drops rosemary essential oil
- 2 jars glass or metal
- skewer or chop-stick for stirring the wax in the jar
- 2 large clothespins
- large glass measuring cup to melt the wax in
- 2 small towels to wrap each jar.
Instructions
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In a double-boiler, bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat and place the measuring cup with the soy flakes in the pot. Stir the soy flakes every minute, until they are reduced to a liquid. This process can take 5 minutes.
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Once the soy is liquefied, turn off the heat and dip the metal ends of the wicks into the wax. Place the ends in the center of each candle jar, pressing the metal ends down with a skewer or chop-stick until set. The wax acts like glue, securing the metal end at the bottom of the candle jar.
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Once the metal end is set in the wax, gently straighten the wick and secure it at the mouth of the jar with a clothespin resting on the jar.
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Very gently, pour the wax into each jar. Add the essential oils to the wax. Add 15 drops of each oil to the hot wax. Using the skewer or chopstick, gently stir the wax and essential oils. Smell it! If you want a stronger scent add more essential oils.
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Wrap the jars in the dry towels, to prevent the wax from cooling too fast and shrinking or cracking.
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Let the candles sit for 24 hours, until fully set. Once set, remove the clothespins and washcloths, and trim the top of the wicks to 1 inch.
*4 cups of soy flakes will make 2 8-ounce candles.
Make An All-Purpose Seasoning Mix
This seasoning mix is perfect for seasoning poultry, seafood, and vegetables. A great gift for the foodie in your life.
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup fine sea salt
- 1/3 cup dried parsley
- 3 tablespoons paprika
- 3 tablespoons onion powder
- 3 tablespoons garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons dried rosemary
- 3 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 4 4 ounce mason jars
Using a tablespoon, evenly divide the all-purpose seasoning mix among four 4-ounce size mason jars. Now have fun and decorate your jars and lids with festive ribbons, jingle bells, and a gift tag!
Herb Infused Honey
No Heat Method Of Infusing Honey
Like many herbalists, I like to infuse herbs into raw honey to enjoy the benefits of both the botanicals and the unprocessed honey in each spoonful. I use dried herbal leaf and flower material, rather than fresh plant matter. Using fresh plant material risks spoilage of your infused honey.
Ingredients
- Dried organic herbs and spices of your choice (lavender, orange, cinnamon, chamomile, etc.)
- Raw honey
- Quart mason jar
Directions
- Fill a clean quart jar a little less than halfway with dried herbs and spices. Use a smaller jar if you want less.
- Pour in your honey and watch as it slowly finds its way to the bottom. Be sure that your herbs are fully submerged.
- Put a lid on the jar and place it in a cabinet or on your counter. Keeping it warm will allow the herbs to infuse better and also makes the liquid more pourable.
- Turn the jar over at least once per day.
- You will want to allow this mixture to infuse for at least one week, though I prefer to infuse for 3 to 4 weeks. The longer you leave it, the stronger the flavor will be.
- When the honey has infused to your taste, strain out the herbs.
- Store your herb-infused honey in a cool, dark place in a tightly sealed jar to help maintain optimal freshness.
Now decorate your jars with a festive touch and a gift tag and you have the perfect gift for any honey lover.
Lip Balm
Basic Lip Balm Recipe
This is a really nourishing balm and gives you the freedom to scent it however you like. Stay away from any citrus essential oils because they are photosensitive.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons beeswax
- 1 tablespoon shea butter
- 3.25 tablespoons coconut oil
- 4 drops vitamin E
- Essential oils (your choice)
- Lip balm tubes
- Chopstick
- Glass measuring cup
- Double boiler
Directions
- Add ingredients in a glass measuring cup and place it in the double boiler. Heat on the lowest setting possible. Stir until melted with a chopstick.
- Give one final stir once all ingredients are completely melted and the base is completely transparent.
- Remove from heat and add 4 drops of vitamin E. Stir with wooden skewer again. Add essential oils and stir.
- Fill each individual lip balm tube with the heated liquid balm until there is about 1/4″ of space left from the top and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
- After lip balm has hardened a bit, fill the tube the rest of the way. NO sinkholes!
- Let balms harden for another ten minutes and then cap.
Peppermint Cocoa Lip Balm
A refreshing, cooling, and nourishing lip balm with cocoa butter and peppermint. Like mint chocolate ice cream for your lips!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon beeswax pastilles
- 2 tablespoons organic sweet almond oil
- 1 tablespoon organic avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon organic cocoa butter
- 12-15 drops organic peppermint essential oil
- A few drops of Non-GMO vitamin E oil
- Glass measuring cup
- Double boiler
Directions
- Add ingredients in a glass measuring cup and place it in the double boiler. Heat on the lowest setting possible. Stir until melted with a chopstick.
- Give one final stir once all ingredients are completely melted and the base is completely transparent.
- Remove from heat and add 4 drops of vitamin E. Stir with wooden skewer again. Add essential oils and stir.
- Fill each individual lip balm tube with the heated liquid balm until there is about 1/4″ of space left from the top and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
- After lip balm has hardened a bit, fill the tube the rest of the way. NO sinkholes!
- Let balms harden for another ten minutes and then cap.
Makes approximately 1.5 oz. of lip balm, enough to fill 10 lip balm tubes.
Mexican Popcorn Seasoning
Who doesn’t like popcorn! Here are two popcorn seasonings that will spice up your treat.
Each recipe makes enough to fill a standard spice bottle, plus a little extra.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/4 teaspoon powdered Sucanat (optional, but good)
- Medium mixing bowl
- Spice bottles
Directions
Measure spices into a small to medium mixing bowl and stir well to combine. Pour into a spice bottle and label. Melt butter and pour over popcorn and sprinkle seasoning over popcorn as desired.
Barbecue Popcorn Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 1 tablespoon powdered Sucanat
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
Directions
Measure spices into a small to medium mixing bowl and stir well to combine. Pour into a spice bottle and label. Melt butter and pour over popcorn and sprinkle seasoning over popcorn as desired.
Healthy Homemade Chocolates
You can make a whole box of assorted flavored chocolates for the chocolate lover on your list. Extracts or tinctures are a helpful addition for flavoring the chocolates. When you’re done put your chocolates in a holiday-themed gift box and your chocolates are ready for gifting!
Basic Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic cocoa butter
- 1 cup raw cacao powder or cocoa powder
- 1/2 – ¾ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Nuts, raisins, dried herbs or any extras you want to add (optional)
- Pinch of salt
- Double boiler
- Measuring cup
- Silicone candy molds
Directions
- In a double boiler, melt the cocoa butter. Once melted, remove from heat.
- Using a whisk, whisk in the honey/maple syrup while VERY slowly pouring it into the melted cocoa butter (This helps to emulsify oil and water. Honey/maple syrup are water-based ingredients while the cocoa butter is oil-based. If your cocoa butter is too hot and you pour the honey in too fast, it will separate with the honey sinking to the bottom).
- Whisk in the rest of the ingredients (including extras if you are using them) and whisk until a pudding consistency is reached, maybe a minute or two. Be sure to get absolutely no water in the chocolate as this will make the chocolate have a mealy texture.
- Spoon chocolate into molds.
- Put your chocolates into the fridge to harden up over a few hours, before releasing from the molds.
The following are 2 variations for flavored chocolates. The directions are the same as the above recipe.
Mayan Spice Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut flakes
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Peppermint Patty
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon powdered peppermint leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Make your containers and jars festive by adding labels, ribbons, twine, or any other decorative elements. The holidays have just gotten sweeter!
The holidays don’t have to be stressful for gifts when you can make your own. So what will you make for holiday gifting this year?
