DIY Your Holiday: Top 20 Homemade Gift Ideas with Essential Oils

If you’re anything like me, you love homemade gifts…

There is nothing sweeter than a gift made from the heart, especially one made by little hands. 

My daughter’s pre-school has come up with some memorable ones over the years – and every Christmas and Mother’s Day (the two biggies that us mamas get some serious DIY gifting love), I can hardly contain my excitement to see what awaits me underneath that beautifully hand-decorated paper. It’s totally worth the last month of pregnancy and labor. 

This was one of the gems my sweet girl gave me last Christmas (swoon). 

Is your heart melting yet? Mine is just typing this. 

So this year, I’m inspired to DIY much of my holiday gift-giving using one of my favorite things – essential oils! Not just any essential oils though – 100% pure, therapeutic-grade essential oils. I’ve been slightly obsessed with essential oils this year (and reusing essential oil bottles), so naturally, compiling my list of DIY holiday gift inspiration included lots of oily goodness. 

Fortunately for you, my madness is your one-stop-shop for DIY holiday gifting. 

Here are my Top 20 Homemade Gift Ideas with Essential Oils:

1. The Gift of Radiant, Glowing, & Ageless Skin

 

Truth be told, when was pregnant with my second daughter, my skin went haywire – I was a dried, red, itchy, flaky mess. ON my face.  It was horrible. Fortunately, I concocted an amazing blend of oils that literally transformed my dull complexion into glowing. I still use it every single day {and my mom swears by it too}. Frankincense gives this blend an extra boost of anti-aging awesomeness, cause well, I’m not getting any younger.  Get the recipe here.   

Disclaimer: It’s best to use pure, unadulterated essential oils, especially when they will be applied to your skin. Never put anything on your skin that you wouldn’t put in your mouth. Your skin is your largest organ and what you put on it is absorbed into your bloodstream. Buy pure essential oils here. 

2. The Gift of Amazing Aroma

Want to scent your home without using toxic fragrances and chemicals?  Yeah, me too.  Give the gift of scent by making reed essential oil diffusers with the oils of your choice!  Check out the “how to” here. 

3. The Gift of Relaxation

Surely you know a mama or two that could use a little chillaxin’ in her life. Give her the gift of these relaxing and detoxifying bath salts made with Epsom Salts and essential oils. My top chill out choices are Lavender and Stress Away (buy here). I’m all zen just thinking about this . Get the tutorial here. 

4. The Gift of Clean, Fresh Smelling Laundry

The smell of fresh laundry is amazing, but many times loaded with synthetic fragrances and chemicals that can wreak havoc on your skin and health. Make your own laundry detergent this holiday season with essential oils and share with your loved ones! Nothing says “I love you” like laundry detergent, right? I kid, I kid, buuut…some people dig these kinds of gifts. I’m one such person, but I’m not the definition of normal – just ask my darling husband. PLUS, it’s so easy to make, non-toxic, and cost effective. Learn how to make it here. 

5. The Gift of a Healthy Respiratory System (& More Sleeping)

Mamas, it’s standard operating procedure that when our littles get sick, we don’t sleep. Right? Especially when that illness is accompanied by a cough that won’t quit. Growing up, Vicks VapoRub was a staple in our medicine cabinet, but that goop is loaded with toxic chemicals. The good news is there’s always a natural alternative to just about every malady your little might encounter. This rub is no exception. It’s made with Cypress and Lavender essential oils create a safe, soothing blend that will help your young guns to relax and promote sleep, and makes a great gift for the mamas in your life. TRUST ME – they will thank you when (not if!) the time comes and they’re dying for some shut-eye! Get the recipe here. 

6. The Gift of a New Car (Or At Least The Smell of One)

This is a perfect one to do with the kids. All you need are clothespins, a little roll of cork, glue, some bling, your imagination, and you’re in business. Pair them with a sample or two of your favorite essential oil, and you’ve got a solid gift that keeps on giving. Just put a few drops on the cork, attach to your car vent, and breathe. Grab the full “how to” here. 

7. The Gift of Happy Skin  

Whipped body butter is a MUST HAVE in the cold, dry winter months. Here’s a super easy and seasonal recipe made with coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, sweet almond oil, Vitamin E oil, and Peppermint essential oil that will give you baby soft skin and even soothe sore muscles and cramps. Get the recipe here. 

8. The Gift of Attraction 

Think your non-toxic lifestyle means you have to give up smelling fancy? Nope. These little roll-on perfumes are a perfect alternative to toxic perfumes, waaay cheaper, and make the perfect gift.  These are the roll-on tubes that I use. Some scent combos include:

• Cedarwood/Lavender (perfect for bedtime)
• Grapefruit/Peppermint (relaxing)
• Lime/Clove (helps to ease feelings of stress)

 Learn how to make your own perfume here. 

9. The Gift of Fresh-Smelling Clothes & a Reduced Carbon Footprint

Besides fresh-smelling laundry, dryer balls can quicken drying times by around 25% (varies on your dryer, clothes, and the amount of balls you use). Besides being super-friendly to Mother Earth, it’s good for the wallet. Unless you’re Warren Buffet, you like to save money, right? Even better, dryer balls are also non-toxic and can be scented with your favorite essential oil. Learn how to make you own dryer balls here. 

10. The Gift of Clean Skin

Do you know what’s lurking in your body wash? This is a lovely non-toxic DIY body wash that is so inexpensive to make and uses Citrus Fresh, an uplifting blend that will invigorate your body and mind. Get the recipe here. 

11. The Gift of Healthy Hair 

Everyone’s looking for commercial shampoo alternatives. This is the easiest homemade shampoo recipe, ever. The end. All you need is Castile soap, distilled or filtered water, Peppermint, and Rosemary essential oils. So easy! Learn how to make it here. 

12. The Gift of Clear Skin

In my earlier adult years, I had some wicked bouts of hormonal breakouts – enough to make me not want to leave the house. This was before I became enlightened about what I put into and onto my body, so I turned to toxic over-the-counter and prescription acne treatments. Now, if a little something pops up, I’ve got my essential oils to turn to. This homemade zip zapper uses Purification, which is great for supporting healthy skin! Other essential oils that are helpful in banishing blemishes include Melaleuca (also known as Tea Tree Oil) and Melrose (a nice blend of Rosemary, Melaleuca, Clove, and Niaouli). Get the recipe here and buy the tubes to fill with your concoction here. 

13. The Gift of Nourished Lips 

 

This homemade lip balm is the perfect gift to keep lips nourished and protected and it’s so cost-effective. Non-toxic lip balm is so damn expensive. Get the recipe here and buy the tubes to fill with your lip balm here. 

14. The Gift of Healthy, Exfoliated Skin  

Sugar scrubs are **the perfect** gift for the ladies in your life. Heck, men too – we could all use a little exfoliation, no? But commercial brands are so expensive, and WORSE, filled with toxic chemicals and synthetic ingredients. Not this one. I love the use of Stress Away in this one – especially during the holidays. We could all stress a little less, no? Learn how to make it here. 

15. The Gift of Clean Skin 

Commercial soaps have so much junk in them, are loaded with synthetic fragrances and chemicals and many are drying and irritating to the skin. Not this one, AND it’s made without using lye! Homemade soap is a CLASSIC gift – one that never gets old and the scent possibilities are endless. I love this one using dried lavender and essential oils. Grab the tutorial here. 

16. The Gift of Fresh Linens 

 

I’m slowly becoming a linen spray junkie. I love to add a spritz (with Lavender) on my pillow before I hit the hay. It’s so soothing. What better way to say “I appreciate you” than with this DIY linen spray idea?  Use it to freshen up your sheets, towels, or anywhere else that’s kinda stinky. The scent possibilities are endless. Some of my favorites are Lavender, Peace & Calming, Roman Chamomile, and Purification. Learn how to make it here and buy pretty glass spritzer bottles to fill with your linen spray here. 

17. The Gift of a Close Shave 

For that special man in your life, ditch the Barbasol and give the gift of this soothing and uplifting shaving cream. Like many other personal care products, commercial shaving cream has parabens and artificial fragrances – which can be very harmful to our health. This blend contains Eucalyptus, Peppermint, and Lavender. Get the recipe here and toss in a re-usable 4 ounce mason jar like this one. 

18. The Gift of Soft Hands

I don’t know about you, but my hands resemble sandpaper every winter. It never fails, and it was even worse in my days at the hospital, incessantly washing my hands with that harsh, toxic antibacterial hand soap. Boy, I wish I had some of this stuff in those days. Get the recipe here. 

19. The Gift of Play

This one needs to be filed under “why didn’t I think of that?”. This easy, no-bake homemade play dough will be a hit with the littles in your life (and their parents). Add your favorite calming essential oil (my choices would be Lavender or Peace & Calming) and playtime will naturally become chill time. Get the recipe here. 

20. The Gift of TLC for Your Tootsies

This foot scrub will last you months and work tirelessly to remove dead skin, smooth calluses, soothe tired muscles, and soften your skin. It’s best done at the end of a long day right before bed – you know, during your “you” time when you get all zen. That happens, right? Get the recipe here.

Do you love to use essential oils in your homemade gifts too? Want to learn how to get therapeutic grade essential oils at wholesale prices? Click HERE to learn more.

Want to Learn Even More?

Register for my F*R*E*E 14 day Essential Oils E-course that will walk you step-by-step through the basics or join my MIX’in It Up With Essential Oils for Holistic Living Facebook Page HERE, where we talk everything essential oils! 

Do you have any favorite homemade gift ideas that are a HOME RUN every year? Please share it in the comments below. I’d love to hear! 

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