Cathy Isom has some excellent ideas for you about growing herbs for scented candles. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.
Growing herbs can be used for far more than just growing for food. Candles, for example, can be homemade and included some of the scented herbs from your garden.
Scented candles make a wonderful homemade gift for friends and family. In addition, they make a great value-added product that you can sell at farmers markets.
Herbs all have different scents and medicinal qualities, so experiment with single herbs or blends. Some of the best herbs for scented candles include: Rosemary, Theyme, Lavender, Chamomile, Lilac, Cornflower, Licorice, Anise, Sage, and Lemongrass. There are many herbs that delight our senses that may not be the first thing you think of when making scented candles. Lemon basil, pineapple sage, and apple mint come to mind. You can even experiment with flowers and plant leaves. Roses are popular, but what about tomatoes or witch hazel leaves? You can make your herbal candles even more flavorful by adding other plants, too. Or, bring a hint of the tropics by using a peel from fruits like orange, lemon or lime. Use eucalyptus for a spicier scent. And while cinnamon and cardamom are classics… cedar, pine, and vanilla are holiday favorites that work well with a variety of herbs.
Whether you use them as gifts or to spice up your home, growing the best herbs for scented candles will set you on the road to making a special treat.
I’m Cathy Isom…