Homemade Basket of Scented Pine Cones

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Last updated on January 4th, 2025 at 09:25 pm

basket of scented pine cones with red ribbon accent

This homemade centerpiece of pine cones and greenery is easy to make, looks lovely, and you can choose your favorite spices to customize the scent for Christmas.

basket of pine cones scented with spices

You Will Need:

Pine cones
Cotton Swabs or paint brush
White Glue (clear drying)
Finely ground fragrant spices (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg)
Basket
Fresh greenery (pine is used here)
Ribbon or bow
optional decorative berries

Scented Pine Cones Centerpiece Instructions:

centerpiece of pine cones scented with spices

First you’ll need to scent your pine cones.

With a cotton swab or paint brush, dab glue on the inside edges of the pine cones. While the glue is still wet, sprinkle ground spices over the glue, shake off the excess spice and allow to dry completely.

Cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are fragrant and very appealing for most people but use your favourites to customize the scent.

You can use fresh or artificial greenery.

I used fresh pine. Here’s a hint: little sprigs can be taken from your Christmas tree for this project and nobody will notice. Not many pieces are needed here, just enough to add an evergreen effect.

I filled the bottom of my basket with scented pine cones too but, if you don’t have enough pinecones, you can line your basket with newspaper or dry fall leaves.

Choose a liner – pine cones, paper or leaves.

Fill your basket about half full with your liner material (paper, leaves or pine cones). Insert small twigs of pine around the outside edge and then fill the basket with pine cones until it is completely full. Insert small sprigs of pine throughout the pine cones, filling any holes that are visible.

This is almost the same procedure used to make a Galvinized Fresh Evergreens Bucket, just on a smaller scale.

Add Red Berries for Contrast

To add a little extra highlight, insert small and large berry sprigs (I used artificial berries) randomly whereever there is greenery. Tie a bow around the handles of your basket or if your basket has no handles, wire a bow to the sides of your basket.