Snickerdoodle Soap Cupcakes with Melt and Pour Soap & Essential Oils

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October 16, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 6 Comments

Cookies and cupcakes were a regular part of my childhood growing up. Since cutting back on sugar however, sometimes food scented soaps are the next best thing. Learn how to make homemade snickerdoodle soap cupcakes for your bath or shower. Made using melt and pour soap, this easy soap cupcakes recipe is naturally scented with essential oils and is simple enough for even beginners to craft.

Isn’t it amazing how just the scent of food can trigger so many memories? Everytime I smell the warm cinnamon sugar fragrance of a snickerdoodle cookie, I’m instantly taken back to my childhood. From as young as four I often found myself in the kitchen making snickerdoodle cookies with my mom. They were my absolute favorite cookies at the time! And while I loved licking cake and brownie batter off mom’s hand blender beaters, rolling sugar cookie dough in cinnamon and sugar was the most fun.

I still get nostalgic whenever I see snickerdoodles in the store at our local Fresh Market. Making snickerdoodles with my mom as a kid is still one of my favorite childhood memories. While I’ve (mostly) giving up baking cookies for more grown up green things, I’ve since turned the tables and have been teaching my mom some new tricks in the kitchen.

While eating snickerdoodle cookies isn’t something I do all that often (it’s hard to forget the evils of sugar and inflammation when you have fibro) making snickerdoodle soap cupcakes is a fun (sugar free) experience that allows me to enjoy their warm seasonal fragrance!

Food inspired soaps are always popular because of their fun scents. Not only do the kids have fun with these at bathtime, they’re also great for adults! After all, what’s more fun than self care for the kid in you? I used a cupcake mold to make these cute snickerdoodle soap cupcakes. This mold contains both the top and bottom mold portions of the cupcake. So not only are these soaps easy to make, you basically get two molds for the price of one!

Whether you’re selling your homemade soap creations or making them for yourself, using a mold to make the whipped icing eliminates the trial and error of making soap icing. Not only does it save you time, the tops always come out perfect.

How to Make Snickerdoodle Soap Cupcakes (with Melt and Pour Soap)

Snickerdoodle Essential Oil Blend

There are snickerdoodle fragrance oils that you can use to make snickerdoodle soaps. I wanted to use an essential oil blend because I had the essential oils already.

To make a snickerdoodle essential oil blend, combine:

5 drops sweet orange essential oil
2 drops cassia or cinnamon essential oil
1 drop clove essential oil

To be honest, I was surprised at how wonderful this smells! The three oils combine for a sugary sweet and cinnamon spice scent that’s perfect for making snickerdoodle cupcake soaps.

You can create a master blend in an empty essential oil bottle, or you can add the essential oils by the drop. I give you directions to use it either way in this recipe.

(For my snickerdoodle essential oil blend recipe I used essential oils from a past Simply Earth essential oil box. If you’d like to give them a try, use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE to receive a FREE bonus box worth $40 with your first order. You’ll also get an e-coupon for $40 off anything on your next purchase. Free diffuser anyone? Take advantage of this offer here.)

If you do use a snickerdoodle fragrance oil blend, you can use twice as much as you would an essential oil. I would start with the amount suggested in the recipe and add more as needed to get the scent that you want.

Cupcake Mold for Soap Cupcakes

I wanted to make soap cupcakes, but I don’t like piping soap on top for the icing. I consider myself pretty crafty, but cake decorating is not among my talents. My mom used to make cakes all the time however. Which worked out well enough for me. She was pretty intent on piping the perfect flowers for her cakes, so I always got to eat the icing flowers that didn’t quite make the cut. (As photographed above. Me at age six in 1981 wearing a nightgown for the evening. Remember those?)

Whipped soap isn’t an easy recipe to master. It tends to be soft, so iced soap cupcakes are hard to package for gifts or for selling.

Rather piping soap icing, I picked up this silicone cupcake soap mold instead. It makes adorable two piece cupcakes with melt and pour soap. Now the icing tops for my soap cupcakes are always perfect. And they won’t get dinged or damaged when you handle the soap.

Melt and Pour Soap Bases for Soap Cupcakes

I wanted these soap cupcakes to look like real snickerdoodle cupcakes, so I used two different kinds of melt and pour soap.

For the icing, I used white melt and pour soap base. The essential oils, which contain vanilla, turned it cream. So it looks like real vanilla icing.

I wanted the cake part to be darker, so I used a cream or almost tan oatmeal soap and added real cinnamon.

Cinnamon can be irritating to children or those with sensitive skin. If you’re giving these soap cupcakes as a homemade gifts, you can skip the cinnamon and add some mica or soap colorant to get a darker color.

Adding real spices like cinnamon to melt and pour can be tricky. Cinnamon tends to clump in the melted soap. To avoid this, you can stir the cinnamon in a little bit of glycerin or rubbing alcohol and add it to the soap.

I just added it to the soap and stirred it really well. If there are clumps, press them against the side of the container with the back of a spoon to break up the clumps. There may be a few small clumps of cinnamon left, but I think it gives the soap a more realistic look.

Either way you add the cinnamon, it will tend to settle to the bottom of the soap. To help it stay dispersed through the soap, let the soap cool until it just starts to form a film on the top. Then stir a few times and pour. The cinnamon is less likely to settle when you pour the soap at a cooler temperature.

Snickerdoodle Soap Cupcakes Recipe

Ingredients:

8 ounces white melt and pour soap
10 ounces white or cream melt and pour soap
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon snickerdoodle essential oil blend (or 64 drops sweet orange, 24 drops cassia, and 12 drops clove, divided)

Instructions:

The top and bottom are two separate pours, so let’s start with the icing on the top of the soap cupcakes. Cut white melt and pour soap into 1 inch cubes and microwave 30 seconds at a time until melted. Stir every 30 seconds.

When it’s melted, add ½ teaspoon of the snickerdoodle essential oil blend or 32 drops sweet orange, 12 drops cassia, and 6 drops clove. (Here’s an easy essential oil conversion chart if you need it.) Stir well and pour into the top, or the icing, cavities in the mold. Spray with rubbing alcohol to remove air bubbles.

Now cut 10 ounces of cream or white melt and pour soap and microwave it as before. When it’s melted, add ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and stir well to remove lumps.

Then add ½ teaspoon of your homemade blend or 32 drops sweet orange, 12 drops cassia and 6 drops clove. Stir well.

Pour into the cupcake or bottom part of the mold. Spray with rubbing alcohol to remove air bubbles.

Let sit until completely cooled, about an hour.

Remove the soap from the mold. This mold is very flexible, so they will come right out. Use a knife to score the tops of the cupcakes and the bottom of the icing tops. Scoring the soap helps the two pieces stick together better.

Melt about half an ounce of white soap for 10 seconds in the microwave. Carefully spoon it on top of the cupcakes and set the icing on top. Let sit until completely cooled.

If you’re gifting or selling these snickerdoodle cupcake soaps, you can package them in clear bags and add a ribbon to the top.

Yield: 4 soap cupcakes

Snickerdoodle Soap Cupcakes

Learn how to make homemade snickerdoodle soap cupcakes for your bath or shower. Made using melt and pour soap, this easy soap cupcakes recipe is naturally scented with essential oils and is simple enough for even beginners to craft.

Materials

8 ounces white melt and pour soap
10 ounces white or cream melt and pour soap
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon snickerdoodle essential oil blend (or 64 drops sweet orange, 24 drops cassia, and 12 drops clove, divided)

Instructions

When it’s melted, add ½ teaspoon of the snickerdoodle essential oil blend or 32 drops sweet orange, 12 drops cassia, and 6 drops clove. Stir well and pour into the top, or the icing, cavities in the mold. Spray with rubbing alcohol to remove air bubbles.

Now cut 10 ounces of cream or white melt and pour soap and microwave it as before. When it’s melted, add ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and stir well to remove lumps.

Then add ½ teaspoon of your homemade blend or 32 drops sweet orange, 12 drops cassia and 6 drops clove. Stir well.

Pour into the cupcake or bottom part of the mold. Spray with rubbing alcohol to remove air bubbles.

Let sit until completely cooled, about an hour.

Melt about half an ounce of white soap for 10 seconds in the microwave. Carefully spoon it on top of the cupcakes and set the icing on top. Let sit until completely cooled.

Soap Cupcakes DIY with melt and pour soap and natural essential oils. The perfect in shower treat and DIY beauty gift! Learn how to make homemade snickerdoodle soap cupcakes for your bath or shower. Made using melt and pour soap, this easy soap cupcakes recipe is naturally scented with essential oils and is simple enough for even beginning soap makers to craft. Gift them to yourself for self care or make them for DIY holiday gifts throughout the winter season.

Love my snickerdoodle soap cupcakes? Then be sure to pin this soap making tutorial for later.

More Seasonal Winter Soap Recipes for DIY Holiday Gifts

Looking for more beginner melt and pour soap recipes? Try one of these other DIY holiday soap gift ideas!

Want more great ideas? Then follow me across your favorite social media channels. You can find and follow Soap Deli News on Blog Lovin‘, pinterest, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my newsletter.

Filed Under: Soapmaking Tagged With: Christmas gift, crafts, cupcake, diy, easy, essential oil blend, essential oil recipes, essential oils, gift idea, holiday gift, melt and pour soap, melt and pour soap recipe, melt and pour soapmaking, snickerdoodle, soap tutorial, soapmaking, winter, winter skin care

Father’s Day Gifts from Kids (That Anyone Can DIY)

June 3, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 1 Comment

There’s nothing better than giving the gift of handmade. Something you made with your own two hands for someone special in your life. However, it can be challenging to come up with gift ideas for men. Especially when you’re hunting for Father’s Day gifts from kids that they can either make themselves, or with a little help. Since dads, in particular, can be a challenge to craft for, I’ve put together a roundup of my favorite DIY Father’s Day gifts that just about anyone can DIY.

I still remember the delight I felt when I first discovered fabric crayons. We were asked to bring in a white t-shirt to class so we could make Father’s Day gifts. We drew designs representing our families in crayons onto white paper. Then they were ironed onto the t-shirts we’d brought to class. Houses, rainbows, stick figures and dogs were common themes. And of course beautiful fluffy blue clouds and birds in the sky chasing through them. Far superior to the clay ashtrays of the previous year, these t-shirts allowed us to express our love for family through pictures. And besides, my parents didn’t smoke anyway.

Coming up with fresh new ideas for Father’s Day gifts from kids year after year however can be a challenge. So this year, I’ve put together a collection of Father’s Day gifts that anyone can DIY as a special gift for Dad. Grown ups included. So whether you’re five or forty five, or somewhere in between, you can create the perfect DIY Father’s Day gift. (Although younger kids may need a little extra help from Mom.)

Father’s Day Gifts from Kids (to DIY)

One of my most popular Father’s Day gifts from kids comes from a project my son completed six years ago. He upcycled a soda carton and its empty bottles to make a custom six pack of his Dad’s favorite snacks. The bottles are filled with things like pistachio nuts, Skittles and M&M’s. While the carrier is painted with chalkboard board paint so a personalized message can be added to this Father’s Day gift from kids. Learn to make it here.

My suncatcher DIY has also been trending on Pinterest this month. It’s another great gift idea for Dad. Simply upcycled old CD’s and trace on images with marker that you can then fill in with paint. A motorcycle suncatcher – or another image of something representing Dad’s loves or hobbies – is perfect for his office or the patio door of his man cave.

Tweens and teens will have a blast crafting these handmade candles for Dad. Scented with a leather fragrance oil, this candle making project makes another easy DIY Father’s Day gift from the kids. And one they aren’t embarrassed about being shown off to his friends and coworkers. (Plus, hello. Moms will love this gift idea too! Not only will his man cave no longer be tinged with the scent of man sweat and stout beer, he won’t yell about you coming through during the game with the freshness of Febreeze.)

These DIY pasta planters from Handmade Charlotte are another great Father’s Day gift idea. The perfect gift from kids of all ages, these planters are not only easy to make, they’re the perfect gift when paired with Dad’s favorite herbs for his famous chili or pizza recipes. I also like this “Me and My Peeps” flower pot craft from Me and My Inklings.

Older kids will delight in making these DIY Star Wars inspired soaps for Dad. Plus they’ll learn a few soap making tricks. Like how to make their Millennium Falcon soaps look like painted metal. These fun Father’s Day gifts from the kids can be customized with Dad’s favorite cologne by simply using a fragrance oil dupe. Or use essential oils like pine or patchouli for a natural scent.

They can also further explore their creativity by making galaxy soaps if you’ve already taken them under your ~~mother hen~~ soap making wing. It’s just a matter of melting soap base and swirling in different colors.

Or combine a variety of soap shapes to make this Cool Water dupe scented soap DIY that resembles pebbles in a stream.

Other easy soap gift ideas for Dad this Father’s Day include this simple moisturizing body wash recipe and this DIY hand milled coffee & bourbon soap.

Beard oil is another equally awesome handmade gift idea for Father’s Day. Plus it’s super easy. This natural beard oil recipe from Beauty Crafter uses volume measuring so you won’t need a skill. Simply measure out the carrier oils with measuring spoons and add in drops of essential oil as called for in the recipe. If this isn’t quite what you were looking for, Mountain Rose Herbs has three additional beard oil recipes you can try.

I also love this Father’s Day gift idea for making faux wood burned signs. Because this project doesn’t require a wood burning tool, this tutorial for a faux wood burned sign and wood slice coasters from Printable Crush is safe for all ages.

There are also a number of free printables that are perfect for last minute Father’s Day gifts. The kids can help shop for the ingredients and assemble these gifts at any age. Tried and True blog has a free popcorn printable for an easy popcorn Father’s Day gift from kids. She also has an easy idea for a DIY Father’s Day gift can with a printable label. Or consider the printable Father’s Day bottle tags from Skip to My Lou for Dad’s favorite soda, beer or hard cider.

If your kids love Legos, have them put their block building skills to good use with this DIY Father’s Day gift from Laly Mom. Kids will love making this rad DIY pen holder for Dad’s desk. Not only is it the perfect place for him to stash his pens, they can also add their favorite photo of a special memory together.

More Great Kid Made Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Need even more ideas for DIY Father’s Day gifts from kids? Keep reading to discover just a few of the Father’s Day gift ideas that I’ve compiled on my Father’s Day Gift Ideas Pinterest board.

This shaving cream recipe from The Nourished Life contains witch hazel so it’s perfect for Dad’s sensitive skin.

Print a hugs and fishes gift tag to pair with a fishing lure box and colorful Swedish candy fish at Eighteen 25.

This marimo moss ball aquarium is super easy to make and the perfect accessory for Dad’s desk.

A mechanic’s hand scrub is a great gift for the car hobbyist. This DIY from Everything Pretty is the perfect gift!

Crafty Staci has a tutorial for a Dad inspired BBQ towel to keep by the grill this summer.

Learn how to create a DIY shaving kit for Dad over at one of my favorite blogs, Hello Glow.

If Dad’s a gardener, then he’ll love this DIY garden tool bag from So Sew Easy filled with gardening tools.

Toddlers can get their craft on with this Father’s Day gift idea for a handprint baseball with printable poem from Sunny Day Family.

Young children can also make this cute Father’s Day handprint craft from The Best Ideas for Kids.

What’s your favorite kid-made Father’s Day gift idea? Be sure to share your ideas for Father’s Day gifts from kids in the comments. Then don’t forget to follow me across your favorite social media platforms. You can find me on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up to receive my semi-weekly newsletter to stay in the loop.

Filed Under: Gift Guides, Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: crafts, diy, easy, Father's Day gift, gift idea, gifts for dad, holiday gift, kids project

Essential Oils for Pets (Recipes for Dog Fleas, Itchy Skin & More!)

April 29, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 2 Comments

Your pets are your best friends. So taking care of them is naturally at the top of your list. Learn how to use essential oils for pets with six easy essential oil recipes for your furry friends. Learn how to use essential oils for dog fleas and itchy skin. Plus quick, simple recipes for a pet paw balm, a fur and skin conditioner, a DIY pet odor eliminator spray and an anti-anxiety essential oil diffuser blend.

My dog, Jasper, is who I like to call my “little old man.” He’s 9 1/2 years old and a complete and total flirt. He’s also incredibly stubborn. And, because he’s too cute for words, completely spoiled as well. Jasper’s also very lucky that I love him. His vet bills have already topped $1000 this year. The culprit? Allergies. Not only did switching his food to a senior (diet) dog food lead to a food allergy, he has seasonal spring and fall allergies as well. This in turn has led to itchy skin and recurring ear infections no matter what preventative measures I take.

I recommend you always consult your vet as a first step in your pet’s care – especially before introducing essential oil into their routine. Misuse of essential oils can actually make illnesses worse, or lead to new problems. So always treat your dog (or cat’s) health with due diligence, the same as you would for a human child. Luckily for me, Jasper sees the best vets our city has to offer. They’re highly knowledgeable and open to alternative treatments. They also treat my dog like the little person he is. And while I’m open to natural remedies as needed, there are always exceptions that require modern medicine to minimize suffering and speed up the healing process.

Sadly, Jasper is now on a steroid treatment for skin allergies. He doesn’t seem to mind though. There’s no more itching or scratching. Plus he gets his daily dose of Apoquel hidden inside a piece of cheese every morning. However, there were natural treatments my vet recommended for Jasper for his allergy prone skin. These include Epsom salt baths (with zero fragrances as they may be irritating) as well as wiping off his paws and face with aloe wipes after he’s been outside. Additionally, using an ear rinse with salicylic acid was recommended for his back hind legs. They had a fungal growth that has since cleared up.

If you’ve spoken to your vet about introducing essential oils into your pet’s health and wellness routine, then I have some great ideas for using essential oils for pets. Keep reading to discover six homemade essential oil recipes for your pets – including essential oils for dog fleas. Plus a super simple recipe for using essential oils for itchy skin.

The new essential oil recipe box from Simply Earth is an affordable to learn about essential oils for pets. It also makes it easy to create simple recipes to address your pets’ health concerns. The May Simple Earth recipe box for pets contains four essential oils that you can incorporate into your dog’s daily routine. These essential oils for pets are ginger, juniper berry and citronella. It also includes a peace & quiet essential oil blend that’s great for tackling your dog’s anxiety.

Essential Oils for Pets

Ginger Essential Oil

This natural essential oil for pets creates a natural warming sensation. It’s great for eliminating odors and can also ease an upset stomach or nausea. A sweet & spicy essential oil, ginger oil blends well with bergamot, cedarwood atlas, clove leaf, coriander, geranium, rosewood, orange and sandalwood essential oils.

Juniper Berry Essential Oil

Juniper berry essential oil is another pet friendly essential oil. It’s commonly used in essential oil recipes to ease muscle pain, repel insects and tackle oily or acne prone skin. Different from juniper leaf essential oil, which is not pet safe, this oil is distilled from juniper berries (my favorite as fan of gin cocktails!) and a sweet woody pine scent.

Citronella Essential Oil

One of the most commonly used essential oils, citronella oil has gained popularity for its ability to deterring biting insects like mosquitoes. Not only is it pet safe, there are so many ways to use it! Rather you’re making a blend of essential oils for dog fleas, deter mosquitoes or neutralize odors this natural essential oil has a number of everyday uses. With summer on the way, add citronella essential oil to a bowl of water with a floating candle for a pretty outdoor summertime insect repellent.

Peace & Quiet Essential Oil Blend

Made from a combination of sweet orange, frankincense, cedarwood & lime essential oils, this unique uplifting, synergy aromatherapy blend promotes calm and relaxation. (Use caution with this blend around cats. They aren’t always a fan of citrus oils.)

As with past Simply Earth recipe boxes, you’ll also find six recipe cards for using these essential oils for pets. Along with containers for mixing your recipes, this box also has a super cute dog bandana. Other ingredients you’ll need, such as sweet almond oil, coconut oil & beeswax, are included in the bonus box. The bonus box also includes bottles for custom essential oil diffuser blends and rollerball bottles. (If you’re a first time Simply Earth customer, you’ll receive a free bonus box with your first essential oil recipe box along with a gift card for $40 off your next order. Simply enter coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE at checkout.)

Tips for Using Essential Oils for Pets

Before I share the collection of pet care recipes with essential oils, here are few tips for introducing your pet to essential oils for the first time.

Allow your pet to smell the essential oil recipe you’ve chosen for pet care prior to application. Should your pet react in a negative manner, applying the oil could cause your fur baby emotional distress. Should they react negatively, don’t force your pet to follow through. I’ve found it’s easy to discover other ways to use recipes your pets may not enjoy.

Always leave and escape for your pet when using essential oils. You don’t want your own little man to be stuck in a room with a diffuser that he (or she) really can’t stand. Animals are a lot like men in this way. Small things that make them feel uncomfortable can feel like bit things to them. (Sort of like that man flu, ahem, common cold men don’t tolerate well.)

Introduce your pets to essential oils slowly and in small quantities over time. By taking the time to put your pets needs first, your pets will have the best experience at having essential oils introduced into their pet care routine.

Essential Oil Recipes for Pets

Ready to start using essential oils with your pets? Following are the six simple essential oil recipes for pet care included in the May Simply Earth essential oil recipe box.

DIY Tick & Mosquito Collar

Ingredients:

20 drops juniper berry essential oil
10 drops citronella essential oil
2 Tbsp sweet almond oil
1 Cup distilled water

Instructions:

This simple essential oil recipe for repelling ticks and mosquitoes is applied directly to your dog’s collar or a bandana (such as the one included in May’s Simply Earth essential oil recipe box for pets.)

Simply mix the ingredients together in a medium glass bowl for 30 seconds. Then soak the collar in the mixture. (Take care to keep any plastic or metal parts out of the mixture.)

Remove the collar or bandana from the mixture. Then allow to dry completely prior to use.

Store the remaining portion of the recipe in a sealable container for future use.

Anti-Anxiety Essential Oil Diffuser Blend for Pets

Ingredients:

2 drops peace & quiet Essential oil blend
1 drop juniper berry essential oil

Instructions:

Add the essential oils to a diffuser. Then diffuse in an open room. Leave the door open when in use in case your dog is sensitive to the essential oils.

Should you pet react positively to this essential oil blend, you can make a master essential oil blend for your pet’s anxiety. Simply fill a 5 mL bottle (from the Simply Earth bonus box) with 60 drops of the peace & quiet essential oil blend and 30 drops of the juniper berry essential oil. To use, simply add 1-3 drops to your diffuser as needed.

Fur & Skin Conditioner Recipe

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp sweet almond oil
10 drops juniper berry essential oil
6 drops ginger essential oil
6 drops citronella essential oil

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a 1 oz. container. Then shake to combine.

To use, simply massage a small amount onto your pet’s coat to help balance and lock in your pet’s natural oils. This recipe also works on dry patches of skin.

Pet Odor Eliminator Spray Recipe

Ingredients:

10 drops ginger essential oil
20 drops peace & quiet essential oil blend
2 oz. distilled water

Instructions:

Add the essential oils to a 2 oz. spray bottle. Fill the remainder of the bottle with distilled water. Then shake the bottle to incorporate the essential oils for pets throughout the water.

Shake the bottle before each use, then spray as desired into the air or onto surfaces. This recipe helps eliminate odors in the air, on pet beds and other stinky surfaces.

As cats may not like the peace & quiet essential oil blend (due to the citrus oils) be cautious when using this product around them. If desire, you may substitute the peace & quiet essential oil blend with juniper berry or citronella essential oils.

Itchy Skin Essential Oil Roll On Recipe

Ingredients:

2 drops ginger essential oil
2 drops juniper berry essential oil
10 mL sweet almond oil

Instructions:

Add the essential oils to a 10 mL rollerball bottle. Swirl to mix. Then fill the bottle the remainder of the way with sweet almond oil. Replace the roller top and shake well to combine.

To use, simply apply this essential oil recipe for your pet’s itchy skin directly to the affected area.

Essential Oil Pet Paw Balm Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 Tbsp beeswax
2 Tsp refined coconut oil
1/2 Tsp sweet almond oil
2 drops ginger essential oil
3 drops juniper berry essential oil

Instructions:

You can make this essential oil pet paw balm in either a double boiler or the microwave.

Combine the coconut oil, sweet almond oil and beeswax in either a double boiler or a small glass Pyrex measuring cup.

Gently heat in the double boiler until melted (or in the microwave at the lowest setting in 30 second increments) until melted.

Remove from heat, then add the essential oils. Stir to combine.

Then immediately pour the pet paw balm into two lip balm tubes. (Alternately you may also use an aluminium salve tin or lip balm pot.)

To use, simply apply the pet paw balm to your pet’s paws to promote healing for cracked or painful paws. This homemade essential oil balm recipe may also be used to help sore muscles recover.

You can also find an alternate version of my own DIY pet paw balm here. While my recipe does not contain essential oils, feel free to add the above essential oil blend for pets to my recipe.

Start Your Essential Oil Journey!

Ready to get started on your journey with these essential oils for pets? You can purchase the Simply Earth Pet Care Essential Oil Recipe Box here while supplies last. (These boxes always sell out before the month is up so don’t miss out!) Be sure to use coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE to receive your free bonus box plus a $40 discount on your next order. Get yours now!

More Essential Oil Recipes for Dogs

If you’re interested in making more essential oil pet care recipes for your dog, then be sure to check out my own dog care recipes from Soap Deli News. It includes my own dry shampoo recipe with essential oils for dog fleas.

If you’d like to save this information on using essential oils for pets, then be sure to repin this post for later!

Discover more uses and benefits of essential oils along with homemade soap, bath and beauty recipes by following me across your favorite social media platforms. You can find and follow me on Pinterest. Or check me out on Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. You can also sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter to stay updated on new bath and beauty recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Pet DIY Tagged With: aromatherapy, diffuser blends, diy, dog, easy, essential oil blend, essential oils, essential oils recipes, green living, health and wellness, natural skin care, pet care, pet diy, pets, simply earth

Blueberry Thyme Bath Salts Recipe (A Homemade Mother’s Day Gift Idea)

April 25, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 2 Comments

If you’re looking for an easy homemade recipe for bath salts, then make this blueberry thyme bath salts recipe! This bath salt recipe is formulated with Epsom salt and magnesium flakes to ease sore muscles and reduce stress. Plus it smells amazing! (It’s kind of cotton candy like. My friends LOVE this scent.)

Learn how to make this Epsom salt bath salts recipe for sore muscles for yourself or as a delightful homemade Mother’s day gift. This is the perfect handmade gift to help you – and your Mom! – unwind from daily stress or muscle aches and pains. A must for any self care routine.

Moms Need Time Out for Self Care Too!

Both as women and as mothers, we often try to take on too much and brush self care aside. Not only does this put a strain on our emotional wellbeing, it leaves us feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated. Basically on a fast track to burning out. (Are they still calling that a nervous breakdown?)

Recently a dear friend remarked to me how she exhausted she is day in and day out. How nice it would be if someone took of her once in a while. Not only does she push herself to work two jobs, she’s also always on her feet working through chronic pain. Home life isn’t much different. Like many of us, she’s also expected to tackle all the chores and cooking.

It’s easy to understand why she feels so run down. Don’t we all have those days? It can be a challenge to learn how to say no. Or to stand up for yourself and demand things change when you’re caught in a cycle. We all need a break from time to time. We aren’t machines. And we certainly can’t continue to keep doing everything and then some without help. It’s no wonder many of us feel as if we are just surviving.

This homemade bath salts recipe is the perfect way to ~~push~~ gently nudge your Mom into taking some time out for herself. And to remind her that yes, you do appreciate everything she’s done for you. By making this easy bath salts recipe for a homemade Mother’s day gift, you’re not only helping her relax, but ease away tension and sore muscle pain as well. This easy bath salts recipe yields two 8 oz. containers of blueberry thyme bath salts. So you can make one for mom, and keep the other for yourself!

Using Magnesium Flakes for Bath Salts Recipes

If you read my recent posts on how to make pineapple hidden color bath bombs or magnesium oil, then you’ll recall why magnesium flakes are my new favorite ingredient. Not only is this salt, also known as magnesium chloride, more readily absorbed by skin then Epsom salt, it can be used in a number of different ways. You can use magnesium flakes to make a simple magnesium oil recipe to ease sore muscles and restless legs. Or give it a try in a magnesium body butter that calms your body and assists with a restful night’s sleep. It can also be used as a key ingredient in a recipe for bath salts.

Magnesium flakes are better suited than Epsom salt for topical application as they are more readily absorbed by skin. FOr this homemade bath salts recipe I used both magnesium flakes and Epsom salt. I also included a touch of moisturizing shea nut oil. The combination of these ingredients make my easy blueberry thyme bath salts recipe a wonderful remedy for stress relief and sore muscle recovery. It can even help to improve circulation!

Keep reading to learn how to make my blueberry thyme bath salts recipe to gift as a homemade Mother’s day gift for mom!

Blueberry Thyme Bath Salts Recipe

Ingredients:

19 oz. Epsom salt
1.5 oz. magnesium flakes
.25 oz. polysorbate 80
.25 oz. shea nut oil (aka fractionated shea butter)
.25 oz. blueberry thyme fragrance oil
1/2 teaspoon lip & eye safe pink mica powder
dried cornflowers, to suit

Instructions:

Using a digital scale, weigh out the Epsom salt and magnesium flakes into a large glass bowl. (I like to use glass Pyrex measuring cups for mixing. I have them in all sizes.) Mix well to combine. Then measure out the mica powder and mix evenly throughout the salt mixture. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, weigh out the shea nut oil, polysorbate 80 and fragrance oil. (Polysorbate 80 keeps the mica powder from staining your tub.) Mix well.

Now combine the dry salt mixture with the liquid mixture. Mix thoroughly until all of the salt is evenly coated. Then mix in cornflowers as desired to achieve the look you want and to add contrast.

Finally, fill your containers of choice with your homemade bath salts. (I used a thick walled PET amber jar as well as an upcycled soup container that resembles a milk jar.)

Then add stickers, ribbons or gift tags as desired to give your bath salts as a homemade Mother’s Day gift.

To use, simply add the desired amount to warm bath water, sink in, relax and enjoy!

Try Another Easy Bath Salts Recipe

If you love my blueberry thyme homemade bath salts recipe, then try one of these other easy bath salt recipes as well!

More Homemade Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Looking for more ideas for mom? Try one of these other homemade Mother’s day gift ideas. Learn how to make custom Hand Painted Ceramic Vases or an Easy Needle Felted Wine Bag. You can also view an entire collection of the best homemade Mother’s day gifts here. You can also discover more ways to practice self care here.

Discover more of my favorite bath salts recipes by following me across your favorite social media platforms. You can find and follow me on Pinterest, Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram. Or sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter to stay updated on new recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: bath and body, bath salt recipe, bath salts, bath tutorial, crafts, diy, easy, epsom salt, gift idea, home remedies, home remedy, magnesium, Mother's Day, Mother's Day gifts, natural skin care, pain relief, self care, sore muscles, stress relief

Natural Cleaning Clay Recipe for Your Glass Stove Top, Countertops & Tile Floors

March 27, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 3 Comments

Learn how to make a natural cleaning clay recipe to clean just about everything! Perfect for cleaning glass stove tops, granite countertops and even tile floors, this easy cleaning clay recipe requires just 3-ingredients. Make yours in just 5-minutes! Plus discover more simple, all natural cleaning products you can make using essential oils.

Natural Cleaning Products That Work

I first discovered the miracle of cleaning clay after attending an H2O at Home party at a friend’s home. I was particularly impressed with both the effective of their cleaning clay and the simplicity of this all purpose cleaning product. Not only does it work great as a non-toxic, natural household cleaning product on most surfaces, it literally lasts forever!

Since trying out their products, I’d been dying to make my own natural cleaning clay. Unfortunately this homemaking project kept getting pushed onto the back burner. That is until I received the new Simply Earth essential oil recipe box for April. Well timed for spring cleaning, this essential oil recipe box contained a variety of recipes for natural cleaning products. It also had a bottle of that one ingredient I’d needed to finally make my natural cleaning clay recipe – lemon essential oil.

All of Simply Earth’s essential oil boxes come with a collection of four essential oils. They also include additional ingredients and containers to make everything from natural beauty and skin care products to non-toxic cleaning products and aromatherapy diffuser blends. Each box also includes a collection of essential oil recipe cards. As their recipe cards are the same size as index cards, they fit easily into a standard 3″ x 5″ recipe box for quick reference and storage.

I love receiving my Simply Earth essential oil recipe box every month. It’s such a great way for me to explore new essential oils (some of which I’d never heard of like the amyris essential oil) as well as affordably grow my essential oil collection. Plus it feels good knowing that Simply Earth donates 13% of their profits to help end human trafficking. How can you not get behind a cause like that?

Related: Amyris Essential Oil Uses, Benefits and Recipes

Inside the new Simply Earth essential oil recipe box.

The April recipe box from Simple Earth is all about making your own natural cleaning products. The most recent box contained nutmeg essential oil, tea tree essential oil and lemon essential oil. It included an essential oil blend – BO Be Gone – as well. (It’s kind of perfect for making hand soap and natural laundry detergent.) In addition to the essential oils, my box also contained liquid Castile soap and an aluminum spray bottle for making their tea tree & lemon multi-surface cleaning spray.

The April essential oil recipe box contains recipes for the following natural cleaning products.

Tea Tree and Lemon Surface Cleaner Recipe
Lemon and Nutmeg Dishwasher Detergent Recipe
Laundry Stain Remover Roll On Recipe
Natural Home Diffuser Recipe
Easy Foaming Hand Soap Recipe
Natural Laundry Detergent Recipe

(If this is your first time learning about Simply Earth’s amazing essential recipe boxes, I’ve provided a clear overview of their ingredients, supplies and benefits here. There’s also coupon code for a free jam packed bonus box on your first order and a discount code for your second box.)

Related: Eco-Friendly Spring Cleaning Tips

Essential Oil Natural Cleaning Products

Following are some of my favorite homemade natural cleaning products included in the latest essential oil recipe box from Simply Earth. I’ve also included my own natural cleaning clay recipe so you can discover why I think it’s the bee’s knees. (And yes, I’m told, bees do have knees. Technically.)

Tea Tree & Lemon Surface Cleaner

Ingredients:

1/3 cup hot distilled water
1 tsp. borax powder
2 tsp. white distilled vinegar
2 tsp. rubbing alcohol
10 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions:

Measure out the hot water into a glass measuring cup. Add the borax powder then stir to dissolve.

Follow with the remaining ingredients for the surface cleaner as called for in the recipe. Stir well to combine.

Now pour the mixture into an aluminum spray bottle. If desired, label your creation with one of the product stickers provided by Simply Earth.

Usage:

Shake this product prior to each use. To use, simply spray onto countertops and other non porous surfaces, then wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. Your natural tea tree & lemon essential oil surface cleaner not only cleans surfaces and kills germs, it will also leave your home smelling naturally fresh.

Laundry Stain Remover Roll On Recipe

Ingredients:

10 mL liquid Castile soap
10 drops lemon essential oil
10 drops tea tree essential oil

Instructions:

Combine the essential oils in a 10 mL roll on bottle. Swirl the bottle to mix the oils.

Now fill the remainder of the bottle with liquid Castile soap.

Usage:

Shake well prior to each use. Then simply roll this natural laundry stain remover onto laundry stains. Allow to sit 5 to 10 minutes prior to washing.

Natural Cleaning Clay Recipe

Ingredients:

4 oz. liquid Castile coconut oil soap
12 oz. white kaolin clay
40 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions:

Using a digital scale to weigh out the Castile soap into a large glass bowl. Add the lemon essential oil and stir well to combine.

Then, in a separate container, weigh out the kaolin clay. Slowly add the clay to the the liquid soap base, mixing with a fork until all the clay is incorporated into the soap. If necessary, use your hands to blend the last bit of clay into the natural cleaning clay. There should be no dry clay left. However the mixture should be very firm.

Now fill an 8 oz. low profile jar with the cleaning clay. Press the natural cleaning clay firmly into the jar until it’s filled. You can then use the back of a measuring cup or as spatula to press the clay flat on top.

Usage:

Massage a slightly damp bubble up brush or sponge onto the cleaning clay. Then cover your surface with the cleaning clay, adding slightly more water to the sponge if necessary to form a thick foam. Then remove the cleaning clay using a damp microfiber cloth.

For dirty glass stove tops, cover the entire stovetop with cleaning clay. Allow the mixture to dry on the surface, then wipe clean with a dry microfiber cloth. Follow with a damp cloth to remove any residue if needed. Then polish clean with a dry cloth.

My natural cleaning clay recipe works great for deep cleaning a number of other surfaces including granite countertops, sinks, tubs and tile. However, as will all natural cleaning products, I recommend testing the cleaning clay first in an inconspicuous area on natural surfaces.

More Natural Cleaning Products Recipes

Now that you’ve tackled these recipes for natural cleaning products, try some of these other recipes for natural cleaning products for your home.

Also be sure to check out my eco-friendly laundry tips to save time and money as this household chore. You’ll also love my collection of spring cleaning tips for a green friendly lifestyle and a non-toxic clean throughout your entire home.

Explore more recipes with essential oils.

It’s so easy to get started with essential oils as well as make your own simple essential oil recipes for home, health and beauty. Visit Simply Earth now to order your first essential oil recipe box and get a free bonus supply box with coupon code: SOAPDELIFREE You’ll also receive a $40 discount on your next order of anything you like.

To discover more ways to use essential oils in your home, visit my Essential Oils & Herbs for Health, Lifestyle and Beauty Pinterest board. You can also find and follow me across your favorite social media platforms including Blog Lovin‘, facebook, twitter and instagram so you never miss a post. Or simply sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter.

Filed Under: Handmade Home, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: bathroom cleaner, cleaners, cleaning, cleaning hacks, cleaning products, cleaning recipe, cleaning solutions, cleaning tips, diy, easy, eco-friendly, essential oil recipes, essential oils, green cleaning, green living, handmade home, healthy homemaking, healthy living, homemaking, housework, kitchen cleaner, simply earth, spring cleaning