Creating Colorful Car Freshies: Dyes For Aroma Beads

Car fresheners, or freshies, are a fun and simple DIY project that can be made using aroma beads. Aroma beads are plastic beads that can be melted into different shapes or put into sachet bags to add scent to your car. They are super absorbent and can hold up to 2oz of fragrance oil per pound, and you can also colour them with liquid dyes or mica powder. To make a freshie, simply add fragrance and colour to aroma beads, prepare a baking sheet, pour the beads into moulds, bake, let them cool, remove the moulds, and attach a hanger.

Use mica powder to colour aroma beads

Mica powder is a great way to add colour to your aroma beads. It's important to note that mica powder is different from pigment; while pigment may be used to dye the beads, mica will simply give them a bright pop of colour. This is because mica dissolves very easily in liquids, including fragrance oils, and will adhere well to the beads.

To use mica powder to colour your aroma beads, first choose your desired colour of mica powder. Then, follow these simple steps:

• Use a pipette to add 1 oz of fragrance oil to your glass jar.
• Wearing a mask, add 4-6 micro scoops of mica to the jar. Swirl to combine.
• Place the jar on a scale and tare it to zero.
• Add 1 pound of aroma beads to the jar using a wide-mouth funnel or a makeshift funnel created from a piece of thick paper or cardstock.
• Place the lid on the jar and shake it up. Be sure to turn the jar at every angle so that the fragrance and mica disperse evenly.
• Shake the jar again every few hours. For best results, shake for 30 seconds to 1 minute each time.
• Once the beads have completely absorbed the fragrance, open the jar and check the scent. If you want your beads to have a stronger scent, simply add 1 oz of additional fragrance oil, put the lid back on, and shake to distribute.
• When adding additional fragrance, you can also decide to add more pigment to your beads. To do this, simply mix some mica with your fragrance before adding it to the jar.

It's important to note that a little mica goes a long way, so use it sparingly. Additionally, while you can use any colour of mica, the chemical process of baking may cause some colours to change slightly. Therefore, it is recommended to bake a small test batch of coloured aroma beads before making a larger batch to ensure you achieve the desired colour.

Add pigment to beads for a custom colour

To add pigment to beads for a custom colour, follow these steps:

Firstly, you will need to gather your supplies. For this process, you will need a glass mason jar with a lid for mixing, a digital scale, pigment or mica powder for colouring, and aroma beads.

Next, turn on your digital scale and change the unit button until it reads ounces. Place your mason jar on the scale and hit 'tare' to zero out the scale. Now, slowly pour your beads into the jar until your scale reads 8 oz.

Once you have the correct amount of beads, slowly pour in 2 oz of concentrated fragrance oil. Stop pouring when your scale reads 10 ounces total.

Keep the jar sealed and shake it every few hours, alternating the jar upside down each time. It can take anywhere from 1 to 7 days for the beads to completely absorb the oil, depending on the type of oil used. Warmer temperatures and frequent shaking will help the beads absorb and dry faster.

Once the oil is fully absorbed, the beads will look dry and will not stick to the sides of the jar. At this point, you can add your pigment. Simply add a very small amount of pigment or mica powder to the jar and shake it until the colour is evenly mixed throughout the beads.

You can experiment with mixing different amounts of pigment powder to create new colours. For example, try mixing half amounts of two different colours to create a unique shade.

Now your custom-coloured aroma beads are ready to be used for your car freshies!

Mix and match pigments to create new colours

When creating your own aroma beads, you can mix and match pigments to achieve a variety of colours. The amount of pigment you use will depend on the desired intensity of the colour.

For example, to make a sky blue colour, add one drop of blue pigment to your oil. For a solid red, use eight to ten drops of pink/red. A strong yellow can be achieved with four to five drops, and a darker, bright yellow with eight. To make a nice green colour, add three to four drops of green pigment. A pretty pale orange can be achieved with one to two drops of orange, and a brighter orange can be made by adding more pigment. For a clove colour, add five drops of red and three to four drops of brown/mocha. To make a true, solid black, you will need fifteen to twenty drops of black pigment.

You can also use mica powder to dye your aroma beads. Simply add the powder directly to the oil and swish it around until it dissolves. If you want a very pale colour, mica powder is a good option. However, be careful not to add too much mica as it can weaken the plastic and make it difficult for the fragrance to absorb.

Additionally, glow-in-the-dark aroma beads can be made by swapping out the mica powder for luminescent pigment powder. These pigments often come in bright colours, so you can create colourful beads that also glow.

Remember to always work in a well-ventilated area when mixing pigments and wear a face mask to avoid inhaling the particles.

Make multicoloured freshies by mixing different colours of beads

To make multicoloured car freshies, you can mix different colours of beads. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Firstly, gather your materials. You will need fragrance oil, liquid candle dye or pigment powder, aroma beads, metal cookie cutters, parchment paper, a large screw or nail (optional), an oven, and oven mitts. You can also use elastic thread, jute, or yarn if you want to hang your freshies.

Before you begin, preheat your oven to 350°F. The temperature may vary depending on your oven, so it's a good idea to test a small batch first to ensure the beads melt correctly. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, ensuring you do not use wax paper as the beads will stick to it.

Now, it's time to prepare your aroma beads. If you're using scented beads, simply choose your desired colour and proceed to the next step. If you're using unscented beads, you'll need to add your chosen fragrance and colour. To add fragrance, place your beads in a glass jar, add the fragrance oil, and shake vigorously for about a minute. Let the beads sit for 24 hours to fully absorb the oil.

To add colour to your beads, pour them into a plastic cup and add your chosen pigment powder. Mix for about a minute, then let the beads sit for about 30 minutes to absorb the pigment. You can create new colours by mixing half-amounts of different pigment powders.

Once your beads are scented and coloured, it's time to assemble your freshies. Place your metal cookie cutters on the prepared baking sheet and fill them halfway with the scented and coloured aroma beads. If you want to create a hanging loop, stand a screw or nail in the beads about 0.5 inches from the top of the mold.

Bake your freshies at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, or until the beads start to melt together. Check the consistency with a toothpick—they should be slightly tacky but not completely melted. Remove from the oven and let them cool for about an hour.

Once cooled, gently push the freshies out of the cookie cutters. If you used a screw or nail, gently push it out by pressing down on the counter or cookie sheet.

Finally, if desired, attach a hanger by gluing a loop of string, yarn, or twine to the back of the freshie. And that's it! You've created your own multicoloured car freshies!

Use liquid dyes to colour your beads

Using Liquid Dyes to Colour Your Aroma Beads

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Before you begin, ensure you have all the necessary materials to hand. You will need liquid candle dye, a glass jar with a lid, aroma beads, and fragrance oil. You can purchase these items from specialist candle-making suppliers, or from online retailers.

Step 2: Prepare Your Dye

Add a drop of liquid candle dye to your jar. The amount of dye you use will depend on the desired colour. For pastel shades, use less dye, and for deeper, darker colours, add a little more. It is always better to start with a small amount of dye, as you can add more to darken the shade if needed.

Step 3: Add Your Aroma Beads

Next, add your aroma beads to the jar. Leave some room at the top of the jar, as you will also be adding fragrance oil. The amount of fragrance oil you use will depend on the thickness of the oil and the type of aroma beads. Generally, you can use 1-2 oz of fragrance oil per pound of aroma beads.

Step 4: Add Your Fragrance Oil

Pour your chosen fragrance oil into the jar. As a rule of thumb, you can add 1-2 oz of fragrance oil per pound of aroma beads. However, thicker, more viscous fragrances may take longer to absorb, so you may need to add less oil to start with.

Step 5: Mix Your Contents

Cover the jar with a lid and shake well to distribute the oil and dye evenly through the aroma beads. It is important to shake the jar periodically to ensure complete mixing.

Step 6: Allow Your Beads to Dry

The fragrance oil will need time to soak into and dry within the beads. This can take anywhere from 24 hours to a week or more, depending on the thickness of the oil. Your beads are ready to use when they are completely dry.

Troubleshooting

If your beads are struggling to dry, you can add more unscented beads to the jar to soak up the excess oil. Shake the jar well and allow the beads to continue drying.

Tips

• Always use liquid candle dye. Water-based dyes and chips will not work with aroma beads.
• If you are making ornaments or freshies, you can add colour to unscented beads and scent them at a later date.
• If you are using a darker fragrance oil, such as vanilla or cinnamon, consider working the colour of the oil into your final design.
• If you are baking your beads into shapes, do not let them melt down completely. You are trying to melt the bottom of the beads together, while still maintaining a "loose" look on top.

Frequently asked questions