Add Some Sparkle: Glittering Aroma Beads Guide

Aroma beads are a fun and versatile way to create scented items such as car air fresheners, sachets, and decorative pieces. You can add glitter to your aroma beads to make them shiny and decorate them. Glitter tends to hold better to aroma bead projects that are baked in the oven. However, it is important to avoid using too much glitter, as the excess may sprinkle off. Just 1-2 micro scoops of glitter per pound of beads is usually enough. If you're having trouble mixing glitter with aroma beads, you can try using glitter glue.

Choosing the right glitter

When choosing glitter to use with aroma beads, it is important to remember that glitter is not a pigment, so it will not dye the beads. Instead, it will rest on top of them. With that in mind, here are some tips for choosing the right glitter:

• Choose a glitter colour that complements the colour of your aroma beads. For example, if you have created brown aroma beads using a brown mica powder, you could choose gold or silver glitter to create a stylish, sophisticated look.
• Consider the size of the glitter particles. Finer glitter will create a subtle shimmer, while larger particles will give a bold, sparkly effect.
• If you are having trouble getting the glitter to stick to the aroma beads, try making your own glitter glue by combining one part glitter with two parts glue. You can then apply this to your aroma bead creations.
• Avoid using too much glitter, as excess may sprinkle off your project. A small amount of glitter will usually be enough to create a shiny effect.
• If you are planning to bake your aroma beads in the oven, bear in mind that glitter tends to hold better to baked projects.

How much glitter to add

When adding glitter to your aroma beads, it's important to remember that a little glitter goes a long way. Adding too much glitter can cause excess to sprinkle off your project. For this reason, it's recommended that you use just 1-2 micro scoops of glitter per pound of beads.

If you're having trouble mixing the glitter with your aroma beads, you can try making your own glitter glue. All you need to do is combine 1 part glitter with 2 parts glue. You can then apply this to your aroma beads.

Adding glitter to the mixture

Prepare Your Materials

Before you begin, make sure you have gathered all the necessary materials, including your aroma beads, fragrance oil, glitter, a jar or container, and any other tools you may need, such as a funnel or a spoon.

Choose the Right Glitter

Select a type of glitter that is suitable for your project. You can choose between different colours and sizes of glitter to achieve the desired effect.

Measure the Glitter

Add a small amount of glitter to your project. Just 1-2 micro scoops of glitter per pound of beads is usually enough. Too much glitter may cause excess sparkle to sprinkle off your project.

Combine the Glitter with Aroma Beads

There are two main ways to combine the glitter with the aroma beads:

• Directly Mixing: You can add the glitter directly to your mixture of aroma beads, fragrance oil, and any other additives like mica powder. Place all the ingredients in your jar or container, secure the lid, and shake vigorously. Ensure you turn the jar at different angles so that the fragrance oil, glitter, and any other additives coat the beads evenly.
• Glitter Glue: If you're having trouble mixing glitter with aroma beads, you can create your own glitter glue. Combine one part glitter with two parts glue. This method may provide better adhesion for the glitter to the beads.

Shake and Check

After mixing, continue to shake the jar regularly to help the fragrance absorb and distribute the glitter. Each time you shake the jar, turn it at various angles to ensure that each bead gets coated. Check the mixture after shaking to see if you are happy with the distribution of glitter.

Adjust as Needed

If you feel that your aroma beads need more glitter, simply add a small amount and repeat the shaking process. You can also add more fragrance oil or other additives at this stage if desired.

Remember, adding glitter to your aroma beads is a creative process, so feel free to experiment with different colours, amounts, and techniques to achieve the desired result.

Baking the beads

To bake your beads, start by preheating your oven to between 325°F and 350°F. While you wait for your oven to heat up, prepare your cookie sheet. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit your cookie sheet and lay out your metal cookie cutters. Try to use cookie cutters that are the same size so they will melt evenly. If you want to add a string to your air freshener to hang it up, place a large nail with a flat head where you want the hole to be.

Next, fill your cookie cutters with your scented aroma beads. Using a spoon or small funnel, pour the beads around the nail and fill the cookie cutters about 3/4 full. Pack them in by tapping them with your fingers or the back of a spoon.

Now you're ready to bake! Place your cookie sheet in the oven and bake for 6-10 minutes. The time needed will depend on the size and thickness of your cookie cutters and your type of oven, so be sure to test.

After baking, remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let the beads cool for about five minutes. Then, remove the cookie cutters from the cookie sheet and let the beads cool for another 10 minutes or so. While the beads are still warm, pop them out of the cookie cutters and remove the nail if you've used one.

Finally, let your beads cool completely before packaging or hanging them up. And that's it! You've successfully made your own aroma beads.

Troubleshooting

If you are having trouble mixing glitter with aroma beads, you can still incorporate glitter by applying glitter glue. It is easy to make your own glitter glue by combining one part glitter with two parts glue.

If you are having issues getting the fragrance to absorb within one to two weeks, try these troubleshooting tips:

• Add no more than one ounce of fragrance per pound of aroma beads at one time.
• Any fragrance you add needs to be fully absorbed into the beads before you attempt to add additional fragrance.
• Beads can hold a maximum of 20 to 30% fragrance oil. The maximum fragrance load may vary depending on the fragrance you use.
• The amount of fragrance needed to create a strong scent may also vary. A 4 to 12% fragrance load is ideal as this smells very strong while also allowing you to get the most out of every bottle of fragrance.
• Beads will smell stronger with the more oil you add.
• Remember, the beads can hold up to 20 to 30% fragrance depending on the fragrance used. However, adding too much oil at once will make it impossible for the beads to absorb the fragrance.
• It is necessary to work your way up to the max fragrance load gradually rather than pouring in your final desired amount of fragrance all at once.
• From our testing, we have found that beads have a hard time absorbing fragrances if they are completely saturated or swimming in fragrance oil. For best results, the beads should simply be coated with fragrance and appear wet when you add the fragrance and shake it up.
• A good way to tell if you have added too much fragrance is if the fragrance pools at the bottom of the jar after sitting for a few minutes.

If you believe you have added too much fragrance oil, the best solution is to simply even things out by adding more (unscented) beads. This may require that you transfer your beads to a larger container so there's enough room to shake them. The new beads will help soak up the excess fragrance, making it possible for your beads to fully absorb and become dry enough to handle for projects.

Frequently asked questions