How to Make Scented Pine Cones with Essential Oils

Learning how to make scented pine cones with essential oils is a super easy process. After planning what kind of scented pine cones suit you and your purposes best, decide where you want to place them in your home, and then you can get started.

Collect your pine cones, and clean them well in soapy water with stiff brushes to help get in the nooks and crannies. You can dry them in an oven to open them and make the pine cones ‘bloom’. Then you get to the exciting bit of making your essential oil blend and infusing your pine cones with oil or fragranced wax.

We have some brand-new and luscious blends for you to try for yourself. After infusing the pine cones with oil, you can use them at the center of all your fabulous autumn/winter holiday decorations. It’s so easy.

How to Make Scented Pine Cones with Essential Oils

There are various ways of making scented pine cones. These range from boiling them in water with cinnamon sticks to adding glue on the ends and sprinkling them with ground cinnamon.

In this article, we will focus on making scented pine cones with essential oils. There are two exciting ways that I would like to share with you and encourage you to try.

    1. The first way is to wash and dry them thoroughly, bake them in the oven, add them to a zipper bag and then add oil and leave to infuse. We call this ‘The Zipper Bag Way.’
    2. The second is to use leftover wax, which is scented with essential oils, to coat the pine cones. We call this ‘The Wax Coating Way.’

Both are quite simple projects that have highly effective and very fragrant results.

You can use both variations in myriad ways to decorate and scent your home over the autumn-winter season. The only limitation here is your imagination.

Let us get your creativity rallied and fired up, and let us get started on this exciting project.

How To Clean Pine Cones

You will want to wash your pine cones thoroughly, as they often are quite dirty and have sticky sap residue that can attract dirt and dust. They can even harbor a few little wild beasts. Small as they may be, you probably don’t want them crawling over your sofa.

You do need to exercise a little care In washing your pine cones. Do not use scented soap because the scent can linger and affect the natural scent of the gorgeous essential oils you will use.

Grab a couple of different brushes. A nice stiff scrubbing or vegetable brush helps eliminate any sticky sap residues. A stiff paint brush gets into the nooks and crannies to dislodge dirt, debris, and any beasties that might still hang on for dear life.

Set them out on the drainer to drain most of the excess water. Leave them for at least 30 minutes before starting the rest of the project.

Grab a quick cuppa, perhaps? 

Go on, put the kettle on!

Also Read: How to Make Body Butter with Essential Oils

You May Ask, ‘Why Bake My Pine Cones’?

Baking your pine cones does more than just drying your pine cones after the washing process.

It helps the pine cones to open fully and will open up all the tiny microscopic ‘pores’ in the pine cone. This will help you get maximum absorption of the essential oils which helps the fragrance last longer.

Finally, it’s one last attempt to kill lingering critters!

What Do I Need to Think About Before I Start?

Remember, there are two ways to scent your pine cones; read through both sets of instructions in full, and see which suits you best.

Waxed pine cones are flammable. These are not a good choice if you want to use them over a fireplace or with candle decorations. Go for the Zipper bag-infused ones instead.

If you plan to make a scented door wreath to welcome guests to your home, then the waxed pine cones will be perfect because they’ll waterproof them. That said, inclement weather will fade your fragrance faster.

If you construct your wreath so that you can attach the pine cones very quickly and easily, with wire loops, you could replace the fading ones with new ones to keep the fragrance fresh all season long. All it takes is some creative thinking and planning.

Read ahead and see what you think will best serve your purposes and creative ideas.

Also Read: How to Make Face Serum with Essential Oils

Instructions for the ‘Zipper Bag Way’

Equipment and Materials

      1. Pinecones
      2. Stiff scrubbing or vegetable brush
      3. Medium stiff paint brush
      4. Oven set to 200F
      5. Baking tray
      6. Foil
      7. Essential oils
      8. Decorative plate or container to put the pine cones in.
      9. Zipper bags
      10. Optional - Spray bottle with 5ml of vodka or rubbing alcohol

    Directions

        • Carefully clean the pine cones using unscented soap, remove any sticky, resinous sap dirt, get the paintbrush right into all the nooks and crannies, and loosen any dirt and debris caught.
        • Leave on the dish drainer to drain for at least 30 minutes before moving to the next step.
        • After 30 minutes, place all the pinecones on a baking tray lined with foil and place in the oven for 40 minutes at 200F - though check carefully every so often that the cones are not burning. This should take care of any remaining beasties you might have missed or managed to evade you.
        • Remove from the oven after 40 minutes and leave to cool.
        • Once completely cooled, put them all into a large zipper bag; if you have many cones, you may wish to use more than one bag, which is fine.
        • Now you have two choices here;
      You can either
            • Drop 10 drops of essential oil onto the pinecones into the bag. Seal the zipper bag immediately, shaking it thoroughly to distribute the oils, squeeze out any excess air and re-seal the zipper bag.
      Or
            • Put 10 drops of oil into the spray bottle with 5ml of vodka or rubbing alcohol, shake the bottle well, and then spray the cones in the bag. Close the bag and shake the pine cones well. Then leave the bag open for 5 minutes for the alcohol to mostly evaporate, and seal the zipper bag, squeezing out any excess air.
        • Once the zipper bag is sealed, please place it in a dark cupboard with an ambient temperature and leave it for a week to infuse the pinecones with all those beautiful fragrant oils.
        • After a week, you can take them out and use them to decorate your home through the autumn/winter season. Remember, you may need to protect your furniture and furnishing from any potential oils on the cones that did not absorb fully.
        • You may find that after a few weeks, they need a boost; pop them back in the zipper bag and drop another 10 drops of oil on them, give them a good shake and leave them for a week to infuse again. It may sound daft, but keep the zipper bag and reuse it because it will become scented with the oils and help the process.

        Instructions for the ‘Wax Coating Way’

        Equipment and Materials

          • Pinecones
          • Stiff scrubbing or vegetable brush
          • Medium stiff paint brush
          • Oven
          • Baking tray
          • Foil
          • Essential oils
          • Decorative plate or container to put the pine cones in
          • Double Boiler
          • Leftover white-colored wax
          • Glitter
          • Disposable stirrer
          • Old kitchen tongs
          • Parchment paper

        Directions

          1. Carefully clean the pine cones using unscented soap, remove any sticky, resinous sap dirt, get the paintbrush right into all the nooks and crannies, and loosen any dirt and debris caught.
          2. Leave the dish drainer to drain for at least 30 minutes before moving to the next step.
          3. After 30 minutes, place all the pinecones on a baking tray lined with foil and place in the oven for 40 minutes at 200F - though do check carefully every so often that the cones are not burning. This should take care of any remaining Beasties you might have missed.
          4. Remove from the oven after 40 minutes and leave to cool.

        How Much Wax? 

        Now, obviously, it is hard for me to gauge how much wax you need, that will depend entirely on how many pine cones you have and what size they are. But plan to have enough wax to dip each cone 2-3 times. If you have many cones, you will need much wax! You can use scraps left over from candles you may have burnt and worn out.

        Also Read: How to Make Facial Toner with Essential Oils

        Working With Your Wax 

        If you are using scraps, remove any wicks, sustainers, or sooty bits to keep your wax as clean and clear as possible. You want the white wax to look like snow. But you can use any color you like.

          1. Place the wax in the top part of the double boiler over medium heat and melt gently until all of the wax is melted through. If you don’t have a double boiler, use an old saucepan filled ⅓ way with hot water and a tin can, putting the wax in the tin can to melt.
          2. Once the wax is thoroughly melted, remove the heat and add your drops of essential oils. Use 10 drops to about a cup of melted wax. Stir thoroughly to combine
          3. Using an old pair of kitchen tongs, dip each pine cone into the wax to cover it completely and then remove and set it upright on the baking tray lined with parchment paper.
          4. Repeat the process for all of the pine cones. Wait for the wax to harden on the pine cone - this should only take a few minutes before dipping again.
          5. The last dip you do is the one where if you want to add sprinkles of glitter or decorations, then this is the time to do it. It is also the time to add a direct drop of scented oil to the molten wax for a stronger scent.
          6. Set aside and allow to dry thoroughly; overnight is best.

        Using Your Pine cones

        You can use them immediately to decorate your home through the autumn/winter season. Remember that you may need to set these cones in a decorative bowl or plate to protect your furniture and furnishings from any potential oils or wax on the cones.

        Caution!

        Remember that being made of pine cones, wax, and oil, they will be highly flammable, do not place them near any open heat source, like a fire or candle, as they could spontaneously ignite.

        This high volatility makes them wonderful firelighters, though. Once the scent has diminished, you can re-dip or use it as a firelighter.

        Notes

        As you can see now, there is more than one way to do this project, both with or without essential oils.

        I have come across many of these scented pine cone recipes that rely on candle fragrances or fragrance oils meant for diffusers. For experimentation, and to save you the time and effort of having to work it out for yourself, I have already done it for you.

        These Were My Results:

          • The candle fragrance dissipated an enormous amount, even before I took the pine cones out of the bag; not only had it faded, but the fragrance was ‘dimmed’ and what I would call ‘one dimensional. The top notes of the fragrance had completely dissipated.

        Not sure what a top note is? Check out this article on how to make perfume with essential oils for more information.

          • The fragrance designed for a diffuser lasted longer and was more full, but it disappeared after less than a week out of the zipper bag.
          • The essential oil lasted the longest in trials, and the fragrance body lasted much better than the others. The integrity of the fragrance, I felt, was maintained. The blend seems to hold up better than the others and for much longer.

        You do not just have to take my word for it. Experiment for yourself and see what works for you, but I think you will agree that essential oils last longer and maintain the fragrance of the blend. 

        In situations like these, you know I will always advocate using essential oils over fragrance oils, but only when it is fit to do so.

        This is why I experimented, to ensure I could say to you that essential oils are not just the best environmental and sustainable choice; they are the best product for the job.

        The fewer synthetic fragrances and chemicals we can introduce into our homes, the better.

        Choosing Your Wax

        Not sure what wax is best to use? I would recommend beeswax as my first preference, with that beautiful honeyed scent to underpin your blends. Soy wax with that beautiful luminous finish would be my second. Both hold the fragrance of the essential oils quite well and for a long time.

        For more information on the best waxes to use and why I advocate these, check out this article on how to make scented candles with essential oils.

        Homemade Scented Pine Cone Recipes

        Ohhhhh… this is the exciting part, and it is always the bit I love most. Making up blends. It is my favorite thing to do.

        You could plump for the ubiquitous and obvious holiday scents like cinnamon, orange, and vanilla. Let us be a bit more adventurous than that; shall we push the boundaries a little?

        Although, the first blend is just for you holiday purists.

        I have tried to give a lovely variety of effective and delicious blends to use throughout the autumn and winter holiday season.

        I formulated these gorgeous essential oil blends just for you, based on 10 drops of essential oils per gallon zip lock bag of pine cones or 10 drops of essential oils to a cup of melted wax.

        Please make sure that you know and follow your safety data. Any essential oil in the tables below, with a safety data usage of less than 3%, is *asterisked. Use these with caution, please, especially around children and pets.

        Grandma’s Kitchen Essential Oil Blend
        (Wear gloves when handling the infused cones)
        2 drops of each
        Sweet Orange Essential Oil
        (Citrus sinensis L)
        Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil *
        (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
        Dermal irritant - use with caution
        Vanilla Absolute Essential Oil
        (Vanilla planifolia)
        Star Anise Essential Oil *
        (Illicium verum)
        Nutmeg Essential Oil *
        (Myristica fragrans)
        Snowy Forest Essential Oil Blend
        2 drops of each
        Scotch Pine Essential Oil
        (Pinus sylvestris)
        Vetiver Essential Oil
        (Vetiveria zizanoides)
        Himalayan Cedarwood Essential Oil
        (Cedrus deodara)
        Balsam Fir Essential Oil
        (Abies balsamea)
        Eucalyptus Essential Oil
        (Eucalyptus globulus)
        Royal Gifts Essential Oil Blend
        2 drops of each
        Frankincense Essential Oil
        (Boswellia serrata)
        Sweet Orange Essential Oil
        (Citrus sinensis L)
        Cardamon Essential Oil
        (Elettaria cardamomum)
        Myrrh Essential Oil
        (Commiphora myrrha)
        Vanilla Absolute Oil
        (Vanilla planifolia)
        Frosted Petals Essential Oil Blend
        2 drops of each
        Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil *
        (Cananga odorata)
        Rose Geranium Essential Oil
        (Pelargonium asperum var roseum)
        Eucalyptus Essential Oil
        (Eucalyptus globulus)
        Scotch Pine Essential Oil
        (Pinus sylvestris)
        Lemon Essential Oil *
        (Citrus Limon L Burm.F)

        Conclusion

        This is a wonderfully easy project for the autumn-winter season, and you can get the kids involved in collecting and cleaning the pine cones. It is the perfect excuse to take a walk in the forest or woodland and get them foraging for the perfect pine cones. Let them run a round to their heart's content seeing who can get the biggest one. Or, run around to your own heart's content. It is important to be happy.

        The kids can shake the zip lock bag and get all the oils onto the pine cones. Just be careful of any oils on your little hands; wash them thoroughly with plenty of soap and warm water. Do not let children play with the oil-infused cones.

        You can then use these fabulous fragranced pine cones in tumbling heaps upon beautifully decorated plates or bowls. Perhaps, you could get creative and make them into wonderful wreaths or cascading garlands bedecked with curling ribbons?

        Last holiday season, I used these gloriously scented pine cones as decorations on gift bags. I tied some ribbon around a pine cone and a sprig of pine needles, added a wooden heart with the person’s name written on it and tied it onto the bag's handle. They looked fabulous, but they smelt even better.

        They were so well received that I am thinking of doing the same this year. You know what - it was super quick - a very easy but highly effective way to decorate the gift bags, and the fragrant dimension set it apart from the others.

        Why not give it a go? After all, you now know how to make scented pine cones with essential oils in more ways than one. Enjoy!

        Also Read: How to Make Night Cream with Essential Oils

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