Scented Cones

Last updated on December 16th, 2015 at 02:57 am

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Easy Scented Pine Cones

Quick and easy way to add fragrant spices to pine cones.

By Jane Lake

I was looking for an easy way to make scented pine cones, but most methods involve painting the pine cones with white glue. When you’re in the middle of the Christmas rush, sometimes you need shortcuts – so I designed a recipe that uses spray glue, a plastic shopping bag and mixed spices.

Although the technique is fast-tracked, these scented pine cones smell divine (using a mix of cinnamon, cloves and pickling spice) – but you can personalize the fragrance, if desired, with the addition of essential oils.

Craft Supplies:

• assorted pine cones; a mixture of types and sizes adds texture and interest – you will need enough to make a sizable heap in a pie dish
• ¼ cup pickling spice
• ¼ cup cinnamon powder
• ¼ cup whole cloves or 1/8 cup ground cloves
• spray adhesive
• plastic shopping bag
• mesh bag (and clear plastic bag for gift-giving)
• optional: presentation basket and wide, wire-edged ribbon

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Project Instructions:

1. Mix pickling spice, powdered cinnamon and cloves. If desired, sprinkle with essential oils (some suggestions: sandlewood, patchouli, orange, cinnamon, balsam) and mix thoroughly. Set aside.

2.. Put the pine cones into a large plastic shopping bag and spread them out so they form a single layer at the bottom of the bag. See photo at right.

3. Aim the spray adhesive directly onto the pine cones, but stand away from the bag to avoid breathing in any overspray. Quickly close the bag with your hands and shake it thoroughly to turn the pine cones over. Open the bag, allowing the pine cones to settle in a single layer at the bottom, and re-spray with glue.

4. Empty the pickling spice mix over the pine cones, close the bag again with your hands and shake thoroughly to distribute. Empty the pine cones into a pie dish, or something similar, and allow to dry.

5. Place the scented pine cones in a mesh bag (a recycled onion bag works well) or sieve. Shake and stir the pine cones to dislodge any spices that aren’t sticking to the glue.

If you’re using the mesh bag to enclose the pine cones for gift-giving, tie the bag closed then enclose in a clear plastic bag tied with ribbon. Decorate or wrap as desired.

6. To present the scented pine cones in a basket, place the mesh bag full of pine cones into the basket, allowing the edges of the mesh bag to show above the basket rim (as shown in our photo, above). Or, you can simply empty the pine cones into the basket, decorate the basket with a wire-edged ribbon, and enclose everything in festive cellophane wrap tied with curling ribbon.