Skip to main content

Smelly Balls (It's Not What You Think!)

Father's Day is this weekend!  Did you find the perfect gift for that special Dad in your life yet?  If the Dad in question has a sense of humor and likes to smell good, then I have a great idea for you:

Smelly Balls


Sounds gross, right?  Don't worry, it's not what you think!  These balls are made out of clay, and they actually smell good.

You can infuse these balls with your favorite essential oils, and then use them to freshen any space.  They work great for dresser drawers, closets, cars, lockers, bathrooms, or even in shoes.  They are so fast and easy to make, and your favorite dad will likely get a good chuckle from the silly name.  They can also be personalized for the recipient; when I made these for my husband, I had each of our children dip a finger into some cinnamon, and then press it into the clay, so that each ball would have a child's fingerprint on it.





To Make Smelly Balls:


Supplies

Oven Bake Modeling Clay
Pencil or small dowel
Toothpick (Optional)
Spices for coloring (Optional)

1.  For each ball you would like to make, tear off enough clay to roll into a ball about 1 inch in diameter.  Roll the clay between your palms to form a ball.

2.  Use a pencil or dowel to poke a hole into the clay ball--do not poke the hole all the way through.  This hole is where the essential oils will be dropped into.

3.  If desired, you can use a toothpick to carve a design into the ball.  In addition, you can use spices, such as turmeric or cinnamon to add color to your design.  Dust the spices on, or dip the tip of the toothpick into the spice to press it into the clay.  The spices can also be kneaded into the clay before rolling it into a ball for speckles of color.

4.  Place each ball onto a cookie sheet, hole side up, pressing lightly to flatten the bottom somewhat.  Bake the balls according to the clay package directions.

5.  Allow the balls to cool completely and harden before using.  Once cool, a drop or two of your favorite essential oil can be put into the hole, and the smelly ball can be placed in the desired spot.

If you plan of gifting these balls, you can make a simple label describing what they are and how to use them as shown in the picture below.



It is also nice to include a bottle of an essential oil along with them.  Some essential oils that men may prefer include:  peppermint, vanilla, lavender, cedar, lemongrass, lemon, cinnamon, and cloves. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Khachapuri: A Delicious Cheese and Egg Filled Bread

If you love the taste of freshly baked bread, cheese, and eggs, this recipe is for you!  It is based on a dish called Khachapuri ( pronunciation here ), which comes from the beautiful country of Georgia, located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Asia.  The name Khachapuri translates to "curd bread," owing to the heavenly combination of melted cheeses inside a soft, fluffy bread boat.

Soapmakers: Why You Shouldn't Use Vinegar if You Come into Contact with Lye

It was one of the first things I learned when I began making my own soap; I read it in books and on the internet: "Always keep a jug of vinegar on hand when you are working with lye.  Vinegar neutralizes lye." Soapers, have you heard this?  Do you practice the habit of keeping vinegar nearby when you make your soaps?  So did I, until recently, when I read an interesting post on a soap forum, and then decided to research the claim myself.

Summer Squash and Wild Rice Casserole

Squash season will soon be upon us. Yellow Crookneck Squash The time will come when I will make my daily trek out to the garden and be delighted to see that my first yellow crooknecks and zucchinis  are ready for picking...and then there will be more the next day, and the next, and the next. It will eventually get to the point where I have grown weary of eating squash sauteed in butter, I've frozen enough of it to last me the winter, and even dehydrated thin slices of it into chips, and still, it continues to produce, and begs for me to pick it. Which is why I wanted to share this recipe--it was a winner (even my oldest son, who is not much into squash, said that it was good). Summer Squash and Wild Rice Casserole