Candle crafting isn't just candles, anymore. Now, we expand our olfactory horizons to anything and everything that smells good! Fragrance Sachets are one of the ways we expand the use of our fragrance oils.
Sachets are often found in pretty little envelopes, where they're used for tucking into your dresser drawers to make things smell pretty. I do my sachets in mesh bags, marketing them in 2 ounce tins, so they make the perfect car deodorizer, as well as a drawer fragrance. They can, also, be re-fragranced, if they're marketed in the container.
Sachets begin with Fragrance Beads or Sachet Beads, which are designed to hold up to 30 percent fragrance. Use the scented beads as air fresheners in sachets, in your closets, in your car, in lockers, in your drawers, or, even in your vacuum cleaner bags. These beads can also be used to make scented ornaments, although I've not tried that trick, yet.
For a single sachet, the recipe is two tablespoons of fragrance beads to 1 1/2 teaspoons of fragrance oil.
Use a wooden skewer to stir...prolonged exposure to a plastic spoon will degrade the plastic. This particular measuring spoon has been dedicated to its purpose...that is, I never use it for anything other than fragrance oil. It will never be the same as when it wasn't a fragrance spoon! We've always got shish kebab skewers...a popsicle stick would work, too.
For this round of making, I'm doing two sachets for each fragrance that I'm pouring for the Valentine's Day dislplays at my vendors' stores.
These need to set long enough to soak up the fragrance oil. It'll take from one to five days...depending on if they're in an open container where air circulation can help speed the process, or in a closed container. When they're ready to pack, they go in these cute little organza bags, designed just for sachets! I find these at our local Dollar Tree with the wedding supplies. Love that store!!!
I fold down the top of the organza baggie and set it into the tin that will be its home...that way it stands up. I make a mess with this, and need all the help I can get! These little beads have a life of their own, seriously! They bounce, they jump, they scatter, they stick!
When you've successfully corralled your fragranced beads in the organza baggie, flip the top back to its upright position and pull the strings. Let this sit, just like that, overnight...or till dry.
These tins will have Valentines hearts on them, so I string a fragrance label from one of the ribbons that tie the baggie shut. Otherwise, the label would be applied to the top of the tin.
These smell delightful! They seem to last a bit longer than Smelly Jellies... those are made from those little white bead component they put into potting soil to retain water, water and the fragrance oil. They swell up as they absorb the fragrance and are placed in jars with slotted lids. The fragrance beads don't swell up, they just absorb the fragrance oil.
And, naturally, as they are not burned, the fragrance throw will never amount to that of an actual candle...it shouldn't be expected to. They're a nice little novelty item and make a good addition to a gift basket. But there are a few things to watch out for!
Because of the potency of our fragrance oils, Fragrance Sachets come with a few warnings: "Do not set scented beads on wood surfaces, plastic surfaces, or painted surfaces; the fragrance can damage these surfaces. Do not use aroma beads in a heated potpourri burner because they will melt. Do not use as candle wax, and do not place aroma beads near a flame. The fragrance oils in these aroma beads can eat through certain types of plastics, so be careful when storing these products. " from Natures Garden. And, from me...wash fingers well, after handling the fragrance beads, before rubbing your eyes!
Until next time, my Steemian friends, peace, love & smelly good stuff!