Coloring Aroma Beads: Choosing The Right Medium

Aroma beads are small plastic pellets that can be coloured, scented, and made into air fresheners. They are made of virgin ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) plastic, which has a slightly rubbery yet firm feel and can absorb colours and scents. To colour them, you can use mica powder, liquid candle dye, or coloured pigments. Food colouring, skin-safe dye, and soap dye will not work. You can add the colouring agent to the fragrance oil and then mix it with the beads, or you can colour the beads first and then add the scent later.

Using mica powder

Mica powder is a great option for colouring aroma beads. It is a cleaner method than using dyes, and it can be mixed with fragrance oils to help it adhere to the beads.

To use mica powder to colour your aroma beads, start by choosing your desired mica powder colour. A little mica goes a long way, so for most projects, 4-6 micro scoops of mica powder per pound of aroma beads is enough. If you are using a spoon, use 1-2 spoons of pigment per pound of beads.

Next, add your fragrance oil to a glass jar or HDPE plastic container. Then, add the mica powder to the jar and swirl to combine. You can also use a chopstick to mix any clumps.

Once the fragrance and mica are combined, add your aroma beads to the jar. Place the lid on the jar and shake it up, turning the jar at different angles to ensure the fragrance and mica are evenly dispersed.

Continue to shake the jar every few hours for 30 seconds to 1 minute until the fragrance is fully absorbed. The beads are ready to use when they are dry to the touch and no longer stick to the sides of the jar. This can take anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks, depending on the fragrance used.

It is important to note that adding too much mica powder can weaken the plastic and cause it to melt in the heat. So, be sure to use the recommended amount and avoid overusing mica.

Additionally, some colours of mica may change slightly when baked due to the chemical process. Therefore, it is recommended to bake a small test batch of beads before creating a larger project to ensure the desired colour is achieved.

Using liquid candle dye

When using liquid candle dye to colour your aroma beads, it's important to remember that a little goes a long way. To achieve a medium shade, you will need about 0.05% dye, which is equivalent to about seven or eight drops of colour per pound of wax.

First, measure out your fragrance oil and add the desired amount of liquid candle dye. Stir them together—you can use about two or three drops of dye to start. Next, pour the oil/dye mixture into a large container with a lid (HDPE plastic containers are recommended, but glass will also work). Add 16 oz of aroma beads, put on the lid, and shake vigorously for a minute or two. The beads should be completely wet. It can take a few days for the oil to be fully absorbed, so keep shaking the beads every few hours.

Once the beads have fully absorbed the oil, you can either pour the loose beads into a sachet bag or use metal cookie cutters to melt them into shapes. Preheat your oven to between 325°F and 350°F. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit your cookie sheet and lay out your cookie cutters. Fill the cookie cutters about 3/4 full and tap them with your fingers or a spoon to pack the beads in. Bake for 6-10 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your cookie cutters.

Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let the beads cool for about 10 minutes. Then, while they are still warm, pop them out of the cookie cutters and place them to the side to cool completely.

How much dye to use

When colouring aroma beads, it is important to be mindful of how much dye to use. Using too much dye can compromise the strength of the plastic and weaken the beads.

For liquid candle dye, start with 2-3 drops and stir it into your fragrance oil before adding the beads. You can always add more dye if needed, but remember that a little goes a long way with these dyes, especially in aroma beads.

If using mica powder, start with 4-6 micro scoops of mica per pound of beads. You can increase the amount for a more intense colour, but be cautious as adding too much can make it difficult for the fragrance to absorb and for the beads to melt together.

It is also possible to create a variegated look by adding more dye after the beads are dry. Simply add additional colour, mix well, and then add your dry beads.

Remember to always test your colours on a small batch of beads before committing to a larger project, as some colours may change slightly when baked in the oven due to the chemical process.

How to mix the dye

When colouring aroma beads, it is important to use the correct type of dye. Food colouring or skin-safe dye will not work, and may get all over your hands or anything else the beads touch. Liquid candle dye or mica powder are the best options.

To mix the dye, you will need a large container with a lid. HDPE plastic containers are recommended, but glass containers will also work. You will also need a measuring spoon, and a chopstick or similar can be useful for mixing.

If using liquid candle dye, add 1 drop of dye per ounce of fragrance oil. For pastel colours, use less dye, and for deeper, darker colours, use more. You can always add more dye if you want a darker colour, so it is recommended to start with just 1 drop. If using mica powder, 4-6 micro scoops per pound of beads should be enough, but you can add more for a more intense colour.

Add the dye to the fragrance oil and stir them together. If using essential oils, be aware that they absorb twice as fast as fragrance oils, so you may need to use a carrier oil to help the dye mix. If using mica powder, you can add it directly to the oil and swish it around until it dissolves. You can also use the flat end of a chopstick to mix any clumps.

Once the dye is mixed, add your aroma beads to the container and secure the lid. You may want to lightly swish the container to start the colouring process. Then, shake the container vigorously for a minute or two to ensure the colour and fragrance oil are spread evenly throughout. The beads should look very wet. Depending on the weight of the fragrance oil, it could take a few hours or a couple of days for the oil to be fully absorbed.

Check the container every 30 minutes to ensure that the dye and fragrance are not pooling at the bottom. If they are, shake the container again. Once the fragrance has been fully absorbed, you can pour the loose beads into a sachet bag, or use metal cookie cutters to melt them into shapes.

How long to dry the beads

The time it takes for aroma beads to dry depends on the type of fragrance oil used, the amount of oil added, and the ambient temperature.

The drying time for aroma beads can range from 1 day to 2+ weeks. Heavier oils tend to take longer to dry. The amount of oil added can also affect the drying time. If too much oil is added, it may become impossible for the beads to absorb the fragrance, and additional beads may need to be added to soak up the excess. Warmer temperatures can help the beads absorb and dry faster.

After the oil is absorbed, the beads will appear dry to the touch and will no longer stick to the sides of the jar. However, it is recommended to let the beads cure for an additional period before using them in projects or baking them into shapes. The curing time can range from a minimum of 5 days to 10 days or more. Longer curing times will result in a stronger and longer-lasting scent.

Therefore, the total time required for drying and curing aroma beads can range from 6 days to several weeks, depending on the specific fragrance and oil amount used, as well as the ambient temperature.

Frequently asked questions