How to Make Cinnamon-Scented Pine Cones

Cinnamon pine cones make for an excellent decoration piece during the holiday season. Not only do they look beautiful, but also fill the space with a cozy, festive scent. They are easy to make and can be a fun activity to do with family or friends!

To make cinnamon pine cones, you will need some pine cones, ground cinnamon, craft glue, and a paintbrush. First, ensure that the pine cones are clean and dry. Then, using the paintbrush, apply the glue all over the pine cone. Sprinkle the ground cinnamon over the glue-covered pine cone, making sure to coat it evenly. Once the cones are coated with cinnamon, leave them to dry overnight. In the morning, you can shake off any excess cinnamon and voila! Your cinnamon pine cones are ready to be displayed.

Gathering Your Supplies

Before getting started with the actual process of making cinnamon pine cones, we need to gather all the supplies required. The following are the supplies needed for making cinnamon pine cones:

Pine Cones

The first and foremost item required for making cinnamon pine cones is pine cones. You can either collect pine cones from your backyard or local park, or buy them from a craft store. Ensure that the pine cones are clean and dry.

Cinnamon Oil

Cinnamon oil adds the signature aroma to this DIY project. You can purchase cinnamon oil online or from a local store. If you don’t have cinnamon oil, you could use cinnamon sticks instead, but the aroma won’t be as strong.

Ziplock Bags

For easy and efficient mixing of cinnamon oil and pine cones, ziplock bags are essential. You may require more than one, depending on the quantity of pine cones.

Parchment Paper

Now that we’ve mixed the cinnamon oil with pine cones, we need to let them dry. Parchment paper is necessary for spreading the pine cones out to dry, and It’s also useful for preventing the mixture from sticking to any surface it might come into contact with.

Baking Sheet

We’ll need a baking sheet to hold the parchment paper with the pine cones. Ensure it’s clean and dry before use.

Plastic Gloves

Cinnamon oil can be harmful to the skin if it comes into contact with it. Therefore, wearing plastic gloves is essential while mixing the pine cones and cinnamon oil. Also, using gloves saves your hands from the sticky mess during the process.

Brown Paper Bags

The last necessary ingredient is the brown paper bags, which help store and preserve the cinnamon-scented pine cones once they’ve dried.

A Paintbrush

While not necessarily required, using a paintbrush for applying cinnamon oil to the pine cones is neat, efficient, and works better than other types of brushes that can end up breaking the pine cones.

Muslin Bags

If you’re looking to gift your cinnamon pine cones, muslin bags are perfect for packaging the finished product. They are easier to decorate and have a cute rustic feel to them.

Twine or Ribbon

Finally, to complete the look, wrap twine or ribbon around the muslin bags for a charming finishing touch.

Once we’ve gathered these supplies, we’re ready to move on to the next step: mixing the cinnamon oil with the pine cones.

Finding the Perfect Pine Cones

If you want to make cinnamon pine cones that look and smell wonderful, you need to start with the right pine cones. Not all pine cones work out well for this project. You want cones that are still closed tight and have a good size. You don’t want them to be too small or too big. Aim for cones that are about 3 to 5 inches in length.

To find pine cones, look around your neighborhood or local park. You could also check home improvement stores or craft stores. If you live near a forest or have a backyard, take a walk and collect the pine cones that are in good shape.

When to Collect Pine Cones

The best time to pick up pine cones is when they are ripe. This usually happens in autumn when the cones fall off the trees. When the cones are still on the tree, they are not ideal for collecting because they are often damp.

If you are struggling to find ideal cones, you can also purchase them online or at a craft store. However, this option can be more expensive and takes away the fun of the scavenger hunt for your pine cones.

Cleaning the Pine Cones

Before you start decorating your pine cones, you want to make sure they are clean. You especially want to make sure they are free of sap, dirt, or bugs. To clean the cones, soak them in hot water with dish soap for a few minutes. This helps to loosen the dirt and debris.

After soaking, let them dry completely before handling them. You could also dry them in the oven on low heat for an hour but make sure you keep an eye on them to avoid burning.

Preparing Cinnamon Oil

One of the important ingredients in making cinnamon pine cones is the cinnamon oil. You can either buy ready-made cinnamon oil or make your own.

To make your cinnamon oil, mix one cup of vegetable oil with one tablespoon of cinnamon powder in a saucepan. Heat this mixture for about 10 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally. After the 10 minutes, remove from heat and let it cool down.

Once cooled, strain the mixture to remove the cinnamon powder residue. This cinnamon oil can then be used in the next stage of the project – adding an amazing scent to your pine cones.

Cinnamon Coating the Pine Cones

This is the exciting part where you get to add the cinnamon scent to your pine cones. Pour your prepared cinnamon oil into a bowl or ziplock bag and then add the pine cones. Make sure they are fully coated with the oil and sprinkle cinnamon powder on top.

Shake the bag or bowl well to ensure that each pine cone is evenly coated with the mixture. Let the cones dry for a couple of hours before handling them again.

Looking After Your Cinnamon Pine Cones

Once you’ve coated your pine cones with cinnamon, they will give off an amazing aroma for the next few weeks. To keep the scent for as long as possible, store them in a tightly sealed plastic bag.

However, if you notice that the scent is fading, try giving the cones another coating of cinnamon oil. This will give it a second layer of fragrance that should last for a few more weeks.

In conclusion, making cinnamon pine cones is a fun and challenging DIY project that can result in a beautiful natural decoration and an inviting scent to fill your home. The key is starting with high-quality pine cones, using the right cleaners and mixture for your cinnamon oil, and storing them properly after the coating process. With a bit of care and attention, you’ll make your home feel and smell more welcoming.

Materials needed

To make cinnamon pine cones, you need to gather the following materials:

Steps to prepare cinnamon pine cones

First Step: Gather Pine Cones

The first step in making cinnamon pine cones is acquiring them. Head outside and search for pine cones that are still closed as these will be much easier to work with rather than open ones. If you’re in a location where pine cones are scarce, you can purchase them from a craft store or online instead.

Second Step: Preheat your Oven

Before starting, preheat your oven to 200 degrees.

Third Step: Mix Cinnamon and Essential Oil

The third step is mixing cinnamon and essential oil together in a bowl. You should aim for a ratio of 1 tablespoon of cinnamon to every 1/4th cup of essential oil. Stir the mixture until the oil has completely absorbed the cinnamon.

Fourth Step: Apply Mixture onto Pine Cones

Now the fun part begins. Using a spray bottle, gently apply the cinnamon oil mixture onto the closed pine cones, ensuring they are properly covered. You can even add some pine cones in a bag and shake them to evenly distribute the mixture. Leave these cones out to dry for a minimum of 24-48 hours before proceeding to the next step.

Fifth Step: Place Pine Cones in the Oven

After the pine cones have completely dried, position them on a cookie sheet with parchment paper at the bottom and put them in the oven. Leave them to bake for 30-40 minutes at 200 degrees.

We hope this guide was helpful in showing you how to make cinnamon pine cones. It’s a great DIY project that you can do with your family and friends during the holiday season!

Thanks for Joining us on Our Cinnamon Pine Cone Adventure!

We hope that you have enjoyed learning the ins and outs of how to make cinnamon pine cones. Our favorite thing about this project is how easy it is to make an impressive and festive decoration for your home or office. Plus, the spicy scent of cinnamon wafting through the air is unbeatable! So, thank you for joining us on this journey and we hope that you will check back with us soon for more crafty and creative ideas!