How to Make Scented Pine Cones

This post for Scented Pine Cones contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I make a small portion when these links are used, at no additional cost to you.

I've been making scented pine cones for our home for a few years now, but it just recently occurred to me that they would make great gifts, too.  Making them yourself is very budget-friendly, as well. And who doesn't love a nice, gentle holiday scent in their home for the season? See how to make your own scented pine cones below.

Around late September or early October, I walk into our local HEB grocery store and am greeted by the most intoxicating smell ever. It signals to me that they've put out their cinnamon brooms for the season. And they're absolutely heavenly. A few years ago, they added scented pine cones, too, which are just as dreamy. But, I would only allow myself either a broom or one set of the pine cones since they were a bit costly for something that would eventually run out of scent and need to be discarded or revamped in some way. However, through some trial and error (and mixing and remixing) and researching how other people do this, I figured out my own way to make scented pine cones at home (my own personal touch involves witch hazel!). I now just stick to this instead of purchasing them every year. See my complete tutorial, below. Oh, and it's Thrifty Style Team day, so I've got lots of thrifty Christmasy fun for you from my friends, as well.

Scented Pine Cones

While I do love a nice holiday-scented candle burning throughout the Christmas season, I know some of my friends can't handle a perfume-laden candle or it messes with their allergies. It's always nice to have something a bit more gentle and natural that still gives off a seasonal scent without being too overpowering. I feel like scented pine cones are the modern version of the 1980s potpourri ...without the lingering powdery scent that the bags of that stuff often produced.

And gosh, pine cones are so easy to incorporate into decor, too, especially this time of the year. I have mine placed in lots of nooks and crannies. But, my favorite spot is on my coffee table (pictured above). I piled up my champagne bucket with shiny baubles, ornaments, and scented pine cones. The pine cones bring in a bit of nature into such a shiny and, well, slightly over-the-top area of our home. When folks are sitting around the coffee table, they can't figure out exactly what smells so good, but I do get quite a few comments. I shared more of this living area done up for the holidays in this post for a Free Joyeux Noël Banner Printable.

How to Make Scented Pine Cones

There is a good chance you probably have most of the supplies already on hand to make your own set of lovely scented pine cones. I tend to collect fallen pine cones whenever I see them in a public place. I also have a neighbor who saves them off of her tree for me, too. You do have to make sure they're bug-free (more on how to do that below), if you're using ones from out in "the wild". But, I've also got a couple of sources below for you, if you don't have pine cones readily available in your area.

Supplies for Scented Pine Cones 

• pine cones
• If you gather ones in nature, you'll need to prep them first, to make sure they're bug-free. I always use Allison's tutorial for How to Bake Pinecones over at House of Hepworths. It works every time. 
• You can also grab a bag of pinecones here on Amazon. They have mini pine cones available, too.
• holiday-scented essential oils (I like cinnamon and pine, but not together!)
• I normally use Young Living oils (but, I don't sell them). Their Cinnamon Bark or Christmas Spirit oils are great for this, but quite pricey, so I tend to hold back a bit when I use them. However, since these oils are not going on my skin or anything like that, I was totally fine buying the set of winter essential oils you see pictured above on Amazon. The oils I like best in the pack are the Cinnamon, Gingerbread, and Christmas Wreath Pine. You can grab the same Winter Essential Oils set here on Amazon, as well.
• witch hazel (it's cheap here on Amazon)
• larger plastic zip top bags (I always save the ones that clothes come in when I shop online, they're perfect for this)
• glass spray bottle 
• Grab the ones I used here on Amazon (you'll need one per scent if you're making more than one scent of pine cones at a time)
• (not pictured) distilled water

Scented Pine Cone Solution Recipe

Before we scent the pine cones, we'll need to mix up the solution that we spray onto them.

• Mix 2 parts water with 1 part witch hazel into your glass bottle. For me, I do about 2 tablespoons of water and 1 tablespoon of witch hazel.
• The witch hazel helps break up the oils to keep them consistent in the spray bottle, so your scent is even throughout the entire bottle. If you don't have witch hazel, vodka will work, too (but the smell of the vodka can come through a bit).
• You'll then add your essential oils to your solution in the bottle. I like heavily scented pinecones, so I use 20-30 drops of oil. But, if you prefer a lighter scent, feel free to just do 10-15 drops.
• Place the cap back onto the bottle and shake well.

Making the Scented Pine Cones

• Place several of your pine cones into a zip top bag. Leave plenty of room so you'll be able to seal it without breaking any of your pine cones.

• Spray your pinecones thoroughly with the solution inside the bag. Again, I like a heavily scented pine cone, so I use quite a bit of spray. But one of these two ounce bottles of solution can coat about 20-24 pine cones (give or take).
• You'll need to gingerly move the pinecones around in the bag so they all receive the same amount of spray.

• Once your pinecones are saturated (enough so you see lots of droplets on the walls of the bags, but not so much that you have pools of solution in the corners of the bag), you'll zip up the top of the bag.
• Personally, I let my pine cones sit in the bags overnight. But, you can let them sit for as little as four hours. The longer they sit, the stronger the scent. I wouldn't go longer than 48 hours. Some of the essential oils can eat at the plastic in the bags, which could get messy.
• Unzip and take out your pine cones. If yours are still wet, you can dry them by setting them for a bit on newspaper or paper towels. I'm honestly too impatient and will just use them as is (even if they're damp).

Then, just enjoy the aroma of your pine cones. It's fun to try different scents. Since we use Christmas trees of the faux variety, tucking in a few of the Christmas Wreath Pine pine cones around the tree makes it smell so close to the real thing.

Refreshing Your Scented Pine Cones

If you feel like your pine cones are losing their scent after a bit of time, simply repeat the process. You can even use the same pine cones year after year, just refreshing them at the beginning of the season (that's what I like to do).

These scented pine cones also make the perfect gift. Pictured above, I used one of the wine bags that I made from kitchen towels as a gift sack. It works perfectly and is a great way to give these lovely gifts.

Don't forget, it's also Thrifty Style Team day. Check out all of the goodness from my friends below.

• DIY Mason Jar Centerpiece - Chatfield Court 
• How to Make a Bow Christmas Tree Topper - The Creek Line House 
• Easy Thrifty Outdoor Peppermint Pillow Wraps - DIY Beautify 
• Dollar Store Olive Appetizer Wreath -Redhead Can Decorate
• Recycled Metal Seat Door Wreath - Bliss Ranch 
• How to Make Scented Pine Cones - I Should Be Mopping the Floor  
• Champagne Bucket Christmas Tree Stand - Postcards from the Ridge 
• Thrifty and Easy hostess gifts - Duke Manor Farm 
• Dollar Store Duster Christmas Wreath- The How-To Home 
• Christmas Cloche Centerpiece Ideas - 2 Bees in a Pod 
• Vintage Thrifted Christmas Tablescape - What Meegan Makes 
• DIY Snowman Ornaments - Cottage at the Crossroads 
• Rustic Leather Magazine Holder - Unskinny Boppy 
• Vintage Drawer Pull Clipboard - Jen Rizzo

It's been SUCH a fun year teaming up with these creative ladies every month for our thrifty posts. I hope you enjoy this series. I can't wait to see what next year holds for our thrifty group.

Here's to a fabulous-smelling season!