A Quick Guide To Using Aroma Gels

Aroma gels are a great way to keep your house smelling fresh without spending a lot of money. They are essentially hands-free room sprays that slowly release fragrance into the air and can be made at home. The process is simple and allows you to customize your aroma gel with any scent you prefer. You can use essential oils or liquid potpourri to create your desired fragrance. The gel can be decorated with silk flowers and food colouring to make cute, flowery air fresheners.

Heat water and add gelatin

Heating water and adding gelatin is a crucial step in making aroma gels, and it requires careful execution to achieve the desired outcome. Here is a detailed guide on how to approach this step:

Firstly, heat 3/4 cup of water in a small saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat. Adjust your heat source to maintain a consistent temperature. It is important to monitor the heat to avoid overheating or boiling the water excessively.

Once the water is heated, it's time to introduce the gelatin. However, this step requires patience and precision. Start by slowly adding the gelatin to the heated water, stirring continuously. Adding the gelatin too quickly can result in stickiness and clumping. Therefore, maintain a gradual pace and thoroughly mix until the gelatin is completely dissolved. This step is crucial for achieving a smooth and homogeneous mixture.

The process of adding gelatin can be tricky, and it's normal to encounter some challenges. If you encounter clumping or stickiness, don't panic. Simply continue stirring vigorously until the mixture becomes smooth and even again. It may take a few extra minutes, but it's important to ensure that the gelatin is fully incorporated.

After adding the gelatin, it's important to maintain the heat for a brief period. Continue stirring the mixture for a minute or two to ensure that the gelatin is fully activated and combined with the water. This step helps prevent the formation of lumps or uneven consistency.

Once you've achieved a smooth and well-combined mixture, it's time to remove the saucepan from the heat. At this stage, you can add the remaining liquid (in this case, the additional 1/4 cup of water) and stir until everything is fully blended. This final addition of liquid helps to dilute the mixture slightly and ensure that the gelatin is evenly distributed.

In conclusion, heating water and adding gelatin is a delicate process that requires attention to detail. By following these steps and maintaining a careful approach, you can successfully create the base for your aroma gel. Remember to work at a steady pace, stir continuously, and make any necessary adjustments to achieve the desired smooth and homogeneous mixture.

Remove from heat and add essential oils

Once you have removed the mixture from the heat, it's time to add your chosen essential oils. This is a crucial step as it will give your aroma gel its unique scent. The amount of essential oil you use will depend on your preference and the strength of the oil. You can always add more or less to suit your taste.

If you're unsure about where to start, there are many essential oil blends to try. For a refreshing and cleansing scent, you could opt for a blend of citrus oils, including wild orange, lemon, tangerine, and grapefruit. If you're looking for something more floral and relaxing, try a combination of lavender, Roman chamomile, jasmine, and geranium. For a sweet yet spicy aroma, blend citrus and spice oils such as wild orange, rosemary, lime, and clove.

After removing the mixture from the heat, you can also add decorations like dried flowers, silk flowers, or artificial leaves. This step is entirely optional but can make your aroma gel look more appealing.

Once you've added your essential oils and any desired decorations, it's important to let the mixture cool completely before covering it. You can use a vented lid or create your own by punching small holes in an old lid. Alternatively, you can use a breathable fabric and secure it with a ring.

Add food colouring and flowers (optional)

Adding food colouring and flowers is completely optional but will make your aroma gel look fun and decorative. If you want to add food colouring, add one or two drops to the mixture once it's off the heat. You can always add more if you need to. If you want to add flowers, add them to the mixture after removing it from the heat. You can use dried flowers, silk flowers, or artificial leaves. If you're making a lavender-scented gel, dried lavender flowers are a great option.

Pour into containers

Once you've prepared your aroma gel mixture, it's time to pour it into containers. Choose small, heat-safe containers such as clean baby food jars or shallow glass mason jars. If you're giving the gel air fresheners as gifts, you can opt for decorative containers or jazz up the jars with some ribbon or fabric.

Before pouring the mixture into the containers, you can add some essential oils and food colouring. This is also the time to add decorations like fake flowers, seashells, or dried flowers. If you're adding silk flowers, make sure you push them to the bottom of the container so they are fully submerged in the gel.

Once you've poured the mixture into the containers, leave it to cool to room temperature. You can then add a lid with some ventilation holes to slow down the drying process. Alternatively, you can use a breathable fabric and secure it with a ring.

Cover with a vented lid

Covering your aroma gel with a vented lid is an important step in the creation process. This step ensures the gel retains its scent and doesn't dry out too quickly.

There are a few ways to create a vented lid. One method is to use a lid with a hole in it, such as a lid with a straw hole, or to use a hole punch to create your own vented lid by punching holes through a standard lid. Alternatively, you can use a lid with breathable fabric, secured with the ring, to allow the fragrance to escape.

The vented lid is particularly useful if you plan to place your aroma gel in a small space, like a bathroom, or even in your car. The lid will allow the scent to slowly seep out and freshen the air in a natural, healthy way.

If you are making aroma gels with children in mind, a vented lid is also a good safety precaution to prevent spills.

Frequently asked questions