We know that the Holidays often rhyme with excess, in all departments (gifts, decorations, food, etc.) But it’s not because we care about the environmental footprint that we need to back down on the Christmas Magic!
We love to spoil our loved ones with personalized gifts, which is why we decided to share the favourite homemade presents we like to give during this special holiday. Made with love, these little gifts are easy to put together and don’t require any wrapping. You can adapt each one to its recipient’s needs and preferences, no problem! You can give them separately or as an ensemble, thus creating a gift set with a theme (gourmet gifts, cocooning special, etc.)
Homemade candles
It might seem cliché, but the older you get, the more you like candles. They just warm up any atmosphere! We light them up to meditate, for a romantic dinner or to relax in a nice warm bath. Candles are always a win, in any book. But by making them yourself, you can choose the jar in which they will be made (we like to reuse Masson jars or jam jars for this purpose) as well as the fragrance if you wish to add one.
- A jar (Mason jars, Jam jars, or maybe even a vintage tea cup)
- Wax (Soy or Beeswax)
- A wick + base (it could be a button or a piece of cork etc.)
- Either some hot-glue or scotch tape
- A pencil or small wooden stick
- Optional: Essential oils (Not all EO are made to be “burned”. Make sure you choose the right ones or use aromatic fragrances)
- Melt the wax over a double-boiler.
- Assemble the wick to the base with the glue or tape, then secure the base to the bottom of the jar for it to hold sturdily when pouring the wax!
- Tie the wick to the pencil tightly for it to hold the wick upright.
- Once the wax is melted, add the desired fragrance then slowly pour it into the jar.
- Set aside for 24 to 48 hours.
- Untie the wick from the pencil then cut down to a safe length.
*I didn’t have a base for the wick. I simply glued it to the bottom of my jar and it worked perfectly!
For more tips or to buy the wax
Lip balm
Who says winter says dry lips. This little homemade lip balm is super moisturizing and is a perfect stocking stuffer, as it is inexpensive to make.
All the ingredients are edible and natural, so there’s no risk of ingesting anything chemical! And it’s rather affordable especially once you have all the basic ingredients (they tend to be part of most recipes, so it’s great once you have them all handy)
Material to make 5 lip balms
- little jar or plastic tube (you can reuse your old lip balms)
- scale
- glass bowl
- Medium size pot
Ingredients
- 4g beeswax or emulsifying wax (vegan) shredded or in little pieces
- 5g coconut oil
- 3g shea butter
- 8g sweet almond butter
- (optional) Essential oils (mint, orange, lavender, etc.)
- Weigh and mix the ingredients in a bowl.
- Melt the mix on a double boiler until the wax is completely melted in with the other ingredients.
- Add the essential oils and mix
- Pour mix in tubes
- Let it cool down before applying on your lips
All the ingredients are natural and can be replaced by an equivalent. Use what you have at home!
You could add Vitamin E or natural pigments for a dash of colour if you have any!
Roll on Essential oils
We gifted these to many family members last year, and it was a huge success! All you have to do is personalize the mix according to the person receiving it. Pour some neutral oil (sweet almond) in a roll-on container and add the essential oils of your choice. Here are a few of our favourite mixes:
The Relax:
- 15 drops of lavender EO
- 10 drops of mandarin
The Romantic
- 15 drops of rose EO
- 10 drops of bergamot EO
The Energizer
- 15 drops of orange EO
- 5 drops of rosemary EO
Woodsy vibes
- 15 drops of balsam fir EO or scotch pine
- 5 drops of eucalyptus EO
Bath salts
Very easy to make and perfect to recreate that spa feeling at home! Get some Epsom salt in bulk and pour some into a cute little jar. Then decorate with flower petals (cornflower, rose, chamomile, lavender, etc.) and your choice of EO. You could also add oats if ever the person you are offering it to has sensitive skin.
Relaxation guaranteed!
You can combine this little gift with bubble bath that can also be found in bulk. You can use a pretty Kombucha bottle or wine bottles (the twist cap ones)
Beard oil
In a small bottle, mix some oil (argan or jojoba) with a few drops of your choice of EO (conifer, lavender, vetiver, etc.) and a few drops of vitamin E. This mix will provide softness for the facial hair of the men in your family! No more scratchy beards!
Body butter
So easy to make and oh-so hydrating! Give the gift that keeps on giving with some body butter that can be used for the body as well as the hands. Recipe here
Room Spray
Once again, a gift you can personalize according to the person you are giving it to! In a spray bottle, mix an equal part of water and vodka then add your selection of essential oils (don’t be shy on the quantity you add in, so it smells enough) to create the perfect room spray.
Holiday mix
Pine, Orange, Cinnamon, Clove
Sweet dreams mix
Lavender, Chamomile, Orange
Meditation mix
Incense, Orange
A recipe in a jar
A classic that is such a lifesaver on a cold January day where all you want to do is stay cuddled under the blankets with a good movie! This list of recipes you can add to a jar is endless; cookies, soup, hot chocolate, etc. Plus, all the ingredients can be bought in bulk! Just let your imagination run free, all you need to do is write the instructions on a cute little piece of paper or even write them on the jar with one of those chalk pens.
Herbal tea in a jar
You can purchase herbs in bulk and create a mix that is tailored to the person of your choice. Just mix them together and put them in a lovely jar! Note down the herbs in the blend just in case of allergies!
You can create cute tags with the Dymo* label maker to go on your little gifts or even just write directly on the jar with an erasable marker.
Insert your homemade gifts in a reusable bag, and there you have it! A personalized gift that is entirely reusable and eco-friendly
Don’t forget that the most important is to spend quality time with your loved ones and to have fun!
Happy Holidays!
*We share the Dymo because we don’t need it on a regular basis, we encourage you to do the same and buy a second hand one and share with your friends or family!
Interesting book referral that also makes a good gift:
La bible des huiles essentielles
Places to where to shop for your oils /materials:
South Shore / Online:
Montreal / Online:
@Melanie Vous pouvez les trouver dans presque toutes les boutiques nommées au bas du blogue :)