How to Make Aroma Beads

Making aroma beads is an interesting and fragrant craft project. These little plastic beads will give off a pleasant smell while providing appealing eye candy wherever you place them. If you need a gift for a friend or family member, give a jar of aroma beads, or just put some into a sachet and set it inside a drawer or closet. Even children can follow the basic steps to make aroma beads, although they should have adult supervision.

Purchase the needed material. Go to your local craft store or any place that sells candle-making supplies and buy some unscented aroma beads, fragrance or essential oils and candle dyes. Buy enough to make several different scents and colors.

Add the fragrance. Measure 2 tbs. of your favorite fragrance to a clean mason or jelly jar. If you use a jelly jar, take the wrapper off first so it's see-through. If you want scents for aromatherapy, try using essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus, vanilla or chamomile.

Use a dropper for the dye. Add a drop or two of liquid candle dye in any color you want and swirl the dye and fragrance to mix. Food coloring and cloth dye will not work on aroma beads. These dyes will bead up and get on everything and make a mess. You can also leave the beads uncolored. Add more of the candle dye to make the beads darker or use less to make lighter colored beads.

Pour in the aroma beads. Scoop out 1 cup of uncolored beads and pour into the mason jar. Stir the mixture and beads together with a metal spoon until evenly coated. Put the lid on the jar and shake. It will take from 1 day to 1 week for the beads to fully absorb the dye and fragrance. Shake the jar every few hours, until the beads become dry. If after a week the beads still haven't absorbed all of the mixture, try adding more beads to the jar and mix.

Put the beads in another container. Once the beads are dry, add them to a smaller clear jar or a clear bowl. You can take some net and tie it onto the mouth of the jar so the smell comes out but dust doesn't fall in. Make more aroma beads in different colors and mix the two colors together for an interesting look.