Tis a busy time of year for sure. I know that a DIY herbal gift may not satisfy that hubby who lives at the hardware store or any kiddo with his heart set on the latest gadget, but I would bet that there are some dear friends and family members who would appreciate and be so thrilled with 'self-care' gifts made with love from you !! I've put together a few of my own personal favourites and a few "extras" as well. It's time to make a plan -- get some ingredients together and get started! You will be amazed at just how easy these DIY herbal gifts are.. to pull together!
These last years have been a challenge for us all and I believe that every single thing we can do to nurture and nourish ourselves, is a win! Whether you are reading this now, as the holidays are fast approaching, or at another time in this crazy year, these sweet gifts can become our own private rituals, special time to share with our kids, or partners, or just some "me time" which I'm certain can be rare, in the midst of it all!
DIY Herbal Gifts can be a small indulgence or a delicious addition to your next festive meal!
Let's start off with some scrubs. Easy. Such a lovely gift -- soothing or exfoliating or just plain luxurious! Find some festive jars with tight-fitting lids and away we go!
Basically we use a scrub to help to hydrate your skin. It may feel a bit rough texturally but I just love the immediate 'glow'. Note: these are body scrubs and may be a bit too rough for our precious faces
Scrubs in their many variations have delighted friends and family, as well as customers at my ol' herb shoppe "Studio Botanica", many years ago and continue to be much appreciated gifts!
This recipe is based on a recipe from a herb class at the Women's Herbal Conference. I've enjoyed classes with Dina Falcone over many years and for a long time have been inspired by her beautiful book called "Earthly Bodies and Heavenly Hair". I've made so many of the wonderful recipes and inspired to create some of my own!
By Dina Falconi Earthly Bodies & Heavenly Hair: Natural and Healthy Bodycare for Every Body (Reprint)
She includes many simple recipes for natural personal care products, which have become a part of my life and my own rituals! If you like making your own concoctions, or have always wanted to try making some at home, you will enjoy it.
Herbal Sea Salt Scrub
To make it you will need:
1 large handful of a dried herb of your choice
3-4 Tablespoons of Sea Salt
½ teaspoon olive oil (or other great quality oil of your choice)
4 Tablespoons of distilled water (approximately)
To make the scrub:
Put one large handful of your herb of choice into a mortar and grind it into a powder
with the pestle. (or a quick 'was' in your herb grinder can work as well!)
Add the sea salt, and grind a bit more.
Add the water and stir.
Finally, add the olive oil.
The result is enough for one treatment.
Use immediately -- or refrigerate and use later the same day!
If you'd like to make more of this Herbal Sea Salt Scrub so that you can have some 'ready' when the mood strikes?
You can make it up a combo and mix it with the salt and then keep in a glass jar.
When ready to use, remove a handful of the mixture and place in a bowl. Add the water and then olive oil and 'voila'
You are ready to lavish and languish and treat yourself!! Make extra and package in a glass jar with a good lid and instructions!
Wondering what herbs to use? There are lots of ideas here~ I hope you'll enjoy this project and make a big batch to give to your friends and family members!
bath salt with rose petals
Exfoliating 'body' Coffee Scrub
We all know scrubs help exfoliate. A coffee scrub can really do this job well! Coffee scrubs can help to increase cell turnover, so while dead skin cells are mechanically removed by the scrub, it is believed that coffee can also help to increase the rate at which new skin cells are produced. Folks say that this can help our skin to become radiant and more youthful. I have made this for years -- and you'll find once you have made any of these recipes, that you may enjoy your own variations. Always use the best ingredients you can find/afford. Organic when possible. I am including lots of options so use this as a guide and have fun! I hope you'll try this one..
You will need:
1 cup ground coffee
1 cup sugar or salt (I make this with organic cane sugar or brown sugar!)
½ cup of neutral oil (your choice: olive, coconut, fractionated coconut, etc)
2 teaspoon aromatics (allspice, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder etc.)
Optional: 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (or almond or .. your choice)
Mix all the ingredients well in a bowl and spoon into glass jars. Add a ribbon and a label with instructions and make them smile!
Note: if using coconut oil, there's just one little step at the beginning. Place the coconut oil in a small pot to melt slowly and then add to the mixture when cooled but
not solidified. (coconut oil goes 'solid' under 76 degrees F)
Brown Sugar Scrub
I used to make a fabulous version of this with different citrus oils such as orange, for example, paired with some food grade 'chocolate flavour'
Mmm the combination of orange and chocolate was a best-seller!
Maybe you'd like vanilla or a nice tropical mix with lime and tangerine?
The sky is the limit!
1 cup brown sugar
¾ cup carrier oils (your choice; e.g. fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil are popular)
50 drops of essential oil (your choice)
optional: ½ teaspoon Vitamin E oil
Combine the sugar and your oils in a bowl and mix well.
Add the essential oils and vitamin E (if using)
Spoon into glass jar with a good lid.
You can play with this one and make amazing variations! Just experiment!
Herbal Tub Tea
Moving away from scrubs but staying in the 'boudoir'. Do you know about TUB TEA?
It's the BEST! We can make up a jar of herbs to brew and add to the bath and customize the mixture for different results.
This post shares ideas and a complete tutorial on just how to make this come together.
Make a soothing and relaxing bath experience or an invigorating somewhat stimulating bath time ~ it's really up to the herbs you bring together.
I've shared my own best choices, based on experience but also have chosen herbs that are easy to find to make these herb-infused gifts!
Herbal bathing can:
Calm our nerves (and entire nervous system)
Encourage restful sleep
Encourage better digestion
Moisturize our skin
Relax the body
Stimulate blood flow
Here are some easy to find herbs which make delightful herbal baths: Calendula flowers, Chamomile flowers, Lavender flowers , Roses just to name a few. Again. For more ideas, check out this link.
For another option: ^ Put the ingredients into a fill-able muslin bag like these here.
Use any of the herbs above or check out this recipe --
Make this is truly memorable Tub TEA ~ It's one of my favourites!
- 2 tablespoon rose buds
- 2 tablespoon chamomile flowers
- 2 tablespoon calendula flowers
- 2 tablespoon lavender flowers
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Put all the herbs into a bowl and mix well
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Use a cotton muslin tea bag or just about any kind of tightly woven cloth.
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Often these muslin bags come with a 'tie' to close the bag and secure the herbs.
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Use a ribbon, string or elastic band if using a cheesecloth or other fabric to make a sachet.
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To use the bath tea bag, affix the sachet of herbs under the tub spout so the water will pour through the bag as your bath fills up.
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Alternatively, toss the sachet of herbs into the tub.
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Squeeze the bath bag several times while bathing to release the fragrance and healing elements
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Breathe in the scent and watch the water change color.
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Remove the bath tea bag when you are finished with your bath. Herbal bath tea bags can be used 3 times within about 4 days.
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You can use the same sachet for 3 days in a row but then to avoid 'spoilage', it's best to rinse the pouch out.
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You can re-use these wee sachet bags. Just wash the material with non-toxic soap and it's ready to go again.
^ this link is an 'affiliate link' with Amazon to show you what kind of tea bag filter I use for this tea, sometimes.(see below for affiliate disclosure info)
These same sorts of tea bag filters can sometimes be found at health food stores or tea shops.
Using a dry brush technique before an energizing bath can help to invigorate the skin and increase circulation. This goes well with the 'bath bags or 'tub tea'
There are many styles of 'dry brush'. Pick one that suits you. This one was a best-seller in my shop at Studio Botanica:
If you use the "search bar" at top right of the page, you will find more ideas..
Forest Fun Bath Salts
This is an adaptation of a scrub that I loved from the Botanical Skincare course at the Herbal Academy. Such a relaxing bath. Fir or spruce needles can be substituted.
By the way ~~ all courses at the Herbal Academy on sale 40% OFF now.. Here.
2 cups Dead Sea salt (or any sea salt)
⅓ cup pine (Pinus spp.) needles, finely chopped
⅓ cup juniper (Juniperus spp.) berries, crushed
2 tablespoons olive oil (or sweet almond, avocado oil or your choice)
6 drops fir (Abies balsamea) essential oil (optional)
6 drops Virginia cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana) essential oil (optional)
Combine salt, pine needles, and juniper berries in a medium-sized bowl and mix thoroughly.
Combine essential oils with base oil and stir to combine.
Add the oil mixture to the salt mixture. Stir thoroughly.
Place mixture into a glass jar, label
It should be noted to store in a cool, dark place.
I like to package with a muslin bag which can be hung over the faucet as the bath is filled.
Note: Baking soda can be used to elevate the 'calming nature' of this relaxing s
Use 1-2 handfuls of salt per bath. Before draining, place a sink/bath strainer over the drain to catch the herbal material. Alternatively, place salts in a muslin bag and hang over the faucet while filling the bath.
Note: Baking soda is commonly used to calm irritated skin. Feel free to add 1 cup to this mixture, if desired.
Moving on to this easy 'aromatherapy' project:
DIY ROOM spray (also Fresh LINEN Spray/Bathroom 'helper'/Facial Mist):
Make one or more of these lovely gift in under a minute! Seriously so easy. Always appreciated. Use a linen spray on your bed linens, and also as a light scent to brighten up the bedroom.
Make a lovely spritz to spray after a family member has been bed-ridden with a flu, for example. Freshens the air and as so many essential oils are anti-bacterial, this spray can do 'double duty' as an anti-bacterial mist!
2 oz liquid (either distilled water, hydrosol of your choice)
10-30 drops of essential oils (amount varies depending on final result wanted)
Add the essential oils to a bottle of your desired liquid. Add the spray 'nozzle'.
Shake. Label. It's ready to use!
Note: Try the recipe with 10-12 drops, shake and take a sniff. If it's good, you're done. If you want a stronger spritz, add more !
This recipe can become a 'bathroom' spray or a 'facial mist' depending upon the choices you make!
If a bathroom spray ~ possibly 'up' the essential oils and choose stronger scents.
If a facial mist ~ make the 'liquid' be 1 oz hydrosol or distilled water and 1 oz witchhazel and choose gentle scents.
Some folks love to add vodka to the liquid as a preservative. It's really up to you. I don't normally but I realize that there are so many ways to make these delightful sprays!!
Ideas for essential oils:
Lavender
Rose Geranium
Lavender + Lemon = anti-bacterial + 'cleansing'
Lemon, Orange + Grapefruit = uplifting
Lavender + Cedar = deeply relaxing
Rosemary + Bergamot
Want to make a larger amount?
2 cups of liquid
30-50 drops of essential oil
With this amount of liquid, look for a 16oz spray bottle if you want this to make ONE gift.. For this larger amount, a tinted glass bottle is best to preserve the oils as long as possible.
Just play with the amounts and bottle into smaller containers. (coloured containers not as important for small 2 oz spritz as will not need to last as long)
Have FUN!
DIY sprays are inexpensive + easy to make, low-waste (you'll save on plastic packaging by using reusable glass bottles), and customizable in 1000s of ways!
Try this easy to make "simmering pot pourri" and really make this season 'bright' and enjoy the aromas all made with real plants (i.e. none of that fake stuff!)
Thyme & Seasons Christmas Simmer Gift Potpourri
This is a new recipe for me, although a variation of one I have made for years! This recipe is from one of my favourite indulgences..
Do you know about the China Bayles mystery series? This is a longtime favourite of many of my herbalist friends and myself.
This recipe is from Holly Blues China Bayles #18 by famed herbalist and author: Susan Wittig Albert (see below)
1 ½ cup cinnamon sticks, broken into small pieces ½ cup whole cloves
½ cup allspice berries
¼ cup whole rosehips
¼ cup dried bay leaves, broken
¼ cup dried rosemary leaves
¼ cup dried orange peel
¼ cup dried lemon peel
1 tablespoon cardamom seeds
1 tablespoon aniseed
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
Mix in a large bowl. Transfer to small lidded jars or plastic bags.
These make super fun and thoughtful gifts. Just add a label with these instructions:
To use:
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in an old 1-quart saucepan.
Add 2 tablespoons potpourri and reduce heat.
You may also add 2-3 apple slices, if you wish.
Simmer, adding water as needed.
You may reuse this potpourri, but refrigerate between uses, for best results.
Want to check out this book and her entire series? Here's the link to Amazon affiliate for HOLLY BLUES
Here's more about Susan Albert Wittig ~ Her China Bayles mystery series are about a herbalist/sleuth/crime fighting gal in a fictious town in Texas!
I know that this is not a DIY gift but I did want to tell you about this very entertaining series!
Click here to check out her newsletter forDIY December here.
MULLED WINE Otherwise known as "Gluhwein" ~ famous German mulling spices with hot wine
Here's the recipe:
1 bottle red wine (robust, fruity)
4-6 teaspoons sugar (white or brown)
1 orange (sliced)
1 lemon (sliced, optional)
2-3 cinnamon sticks
15 whole cloves
5 whole star anise
No alcohol ? That's fine. Substitute cranberry, cherry, pomegranate or combination with apple juice or apple cider
I like to put all of the ingredients in a non-reactive pot.
Add the wine.
If possible, allow to simmer for 2 hours. One hour is also fine. 30 minutes also fine.
The flavours mellow and deepen with more simmering time.
To serve: Ladle into mugs and enjoy!
To make this as a gift:
Make a sachet with:
2-3 Cinnamon sticks
15 whole Cloves
5 Star Anise (whole)
4-6 packets of brown sugar or organic sugar (your choice)
Make up a little package with a bottle of wine, 1 orange, 1 lemon + 1 bottle of vino (or juice)
Add a little note with the directions.Basically -- that's just a matter of dumping it all into a pot and simmering the aromatics and fruit with the chosen liquid.
HOT HONEY
This project may be one of the quickest to pull together and so appreciated by anyone with an adventurous Spirit in the kitchen and/or anyone who enjoys some gentle or rather kicked-up heat in their food. This 'spicy honey' also is delightful in a cup of herbal tea, to truly warm us up!
Here's the recent post all about this special infusion plus some suggestions for use. A super gift, just needs a label and some ideas for use!
You will need:
1 cup honey (local, raw preferred)
3-4 cayenne chilis, roughly chopped (or substitute your choice*)
Put the honey and your choice of chili into a small pot.
Bring the heat up slowly to a simmer. Be very careful not to let the honey get too hot.
Allow to infuse for a least 10 minutes.. I normally shut off the heat, but add a lid and allow the
warm honey to 'marry' with the chilis for at least an hour.
When the mixture has cooled, pour into glass jars.
Note:
You can strain out the chilis with a fine sieve or just leave them in the mixture. This is a personal choice.I normally leave them in, as for me.. they are an extra treat, for later! If packaging for gift-giving, that choice will be up to you. Just add instructions for the chilis to be covered by the honey at all times.
Herbal Tea Blends
Of course, you knew this was coming. Herbal tea blends make super DIY herbal gifts. Perhaps a special friend or family member is having trouble getting enough rest, or maybe there is a minor digestive issue or perhaps some anxiety. We are not doctors but herbs can help to bring us out of a slump, or help us to relax and rest more deeply and also soothe an upset tummy! There are so many ideas in this category .. or maybe just a lovely 'simple' (ONE herb) that you have grown or that you can purchase from a local herbalist or health food store. Package it up in a small 'kraft' bag or burlap sack or a festive coloured glass jar, and what a thoughtful gift!
A well blended herbal mixture can make all the difference and become a welcome and much appreciated member of this DIY herb gifts post. In case you are not familiar or need a refresher, here's a post all about how to make great herbal tea.
Generally, for most of the herbal recipes I share with you, I use the 'folk method':
Herbal proportions: 1 teaspoon of dried, cut and sifted herb, or herbal formula, or 2 tablespoons of fresh herb per 8 ounces of water.
When you see a recipe with "parts" -- this gives you the flexibility to make small or larger amounts of tea.
Why not start with 1 part dried herb = 1 teaspoon and make a simple infusion for 1 cup of tea. Taste it after infusing for 10 minutes. Make it again and let it steep longer. Which do you like?
When making an herbal blend for a gift idea, it may be best to make each 'part' of the recipe to equal 1 cup. Here's what I mean using this next idea. This is an herbal tea blend which produces a super boost of Vitamin C.
1 part Nettle leaves (dried)
.5 part Milky Oats (milky oat tops)
.5 part Hibiscus flowers
.25 part Rosehips
.25 part Lemon peel
To make this blend with enough to store and drink and gift, let's use 1 cup = 1 part
You can adjust to suit your needs.
So in this case above, you will need:
1 cup Nettles
½ cup Milky oat tops
½ cup Hibiscus flowers
¼ cup Rosehips
¼ cup Lemon peel
This is a tasty tea blend, excellent immune enhancing ingredients. Packed with nutritive goodness.
AND.. it's very pretty in a glass jar!
It took me a while to 'award the #10 spot' -- I truly do have so many ideas for DIY herbal gifts!
Give a wonderful gift that is both tasty AND very beneficial for winter wellness (or anytime for that matter!) Here's a little background and some ideas about Elderberry syrup. It does take a little longer than a couple of these ideas but it's easy to make and well worth the effort!
ELDERBERRY SYRUP :
This syrup is made with local Raw Honey. Replace the honey with 1 cup organic sugar if you want the syrup to be suitable for infants as children less than 12months old, should not drink syrups made with honey
Makes 2 cups
1 cup 'fresh elderberries' or ½ cup dried elderberries
2 cups pure water
1 cup raw honey
Place the berries and the water in a non-aluminum pot.
Bring the mixture to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
If you have a hand-held (immersion) blender, pulse it briefly 5 or 6 times to extract more juice from the berries. It is important to be quick with this step to avoid breaking up the berries’ seeds, which can be bitter. Alternatively, use a potato masher to gently extract as much juice from the berries as possible.
Strain the mixture through a fine sieve. I typically strain the juice into a glass, measuring cup at this point and allow the juice to cool down from hot to warm^. When the juice is still quite warm, add the raw honey. Stir well. Pour into a bottle or jar. Label.
^ It’s better to add the raw honey to a warm juice to avoid heating it too much, and subsequently destroying some of the healing power.
If additional flavours are of interest, any combination of aromatics can be added part way through the ‘simmering step’ in the recipes above. Last year I used some cinnamon sticks, ginger root + lemon peel. I have also used cardamom pods, orange peel, nutmeg. My latest experiment included organic powdered turmeric + black pepper!
The resulting syrup is always tasty, nutritious and a highly effective herbal remedy. Store in the fridge and enjoy within 6 months.
Here's an example:
"Aromatized" DIY Elderberry Syrup
1 cup 'fresh elderberries' or ½ cup dried elderberries
2 cups pure water
1 cup raw honey
2 Cinnamon sticks
2 Ginger root pieces, each about 2 inches long
Lemon peel, from ½ to 1 Lemon (organic preferred)
I search locally and normally make my DIY elderberry syrup with fresh or frozen berries. If that's not do-able for you, here's an online source (through my affiliate association with Amazon) for organic elderberries Also here below from Frontier herbs:
Elder Berries Whole Organic - 1 lb,(Frontier)
I sincerely hope that you and your family have a safe + happy holiday season.
May the coming year be better.. These gift ideas are from my heart to you all --
until next time .. Carol xo
p.s. TWO of my ebooks also make super healthy giftie ideas..
Please see below. Thank you for your support.
Do you have a copy of my eBook "Cold + Flu Season ~ Are YOU Ready?"
Be prepared. Check it out here
Also, I if herbal teas ideas are your 'thing' .. please check out my ebook:
"Herbal Teas for Winter Health" here.
Green wishes for our health + peace for each of us.
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