Forum Thermomix

Thermomix Recipes for TM5 and TM31 => Non Food Recipes => Topic started by: KarenH on March 24, 2011, 09:16:26 am

Title: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: KarenH on March 24, 2011, 09:16:26 am
Does anyone know how to make those scented drawer and cupboard waxy-type block things?  They are a bit like soap in that they are a hard block (but definitely not soap), and they are not the sachet-things of scented powder or petals etc etc ..... I would love to be able to make something like this to put in drawers, hang in cupboards or put in the linen cupboard.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Chelsea (Thermie Groupie) on March 24, 2011, 10:08:41 am
I am intrigued.  I have absolutely no idea what they are.  ??? ;D
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: judydawn on March 24, 2011, 10:44:49 am
Maybe MJ can help with this one.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Nay-nay on March 24, 2011, 11:02:17 am
You could make a hard mold with bees wax, adding your own choice of essential oils before setting????  :)
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: meganjane on March 24, 2011, 11:12:04 am
I've seen them, but am not sure what they're made from. I have a recipe somewhere for scented blocks that you can make for the car. I'll see if I can find it.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: meganjane on March 24, 2011, 11:14:37 am
Found it on the Aussie Soap Supplies website:

Scent Stones

1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/4 cup salt
1/4 tsp cornflour
2/3 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon fragrant oil
Colour


Mix all dry ingredients
Heat water in a Pyrex cup or use direct from kettle
Add the colour to the water and then add the fragrance
Pour water mixture into flour mixture and mix well
Then knead the dough with your hands as you would bread dough
Then roll it out about a 1/2 cm to 1 cm thick
Cut into shapes or use cookie cutters
Another option is to stamp the flat shapes
Let the dough stones dry
They will harden like rocks and will last for months
These may then be displayed in a pretty dish, or something rustic to match your decor.


Of course, the method would be different if using the Thermomix.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: CreamPuff63 on March 24, 2011, 11:15:30 am
thx MJ if you find it  :-* (and then while I was posting you found it clever girl)
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: KarenH on March 24, 2011, 11:50:01 am
Thanks MJ!  I had no idea what they were called.  I found them at a fair/market several years ago, Chelsea.  They were made in several different shapes (stars, hearts etc) and were solid and waxy in texture, and smelled really nice.  Some of them had holes drilled thru the top with raffia tied through it so you could hang them in your wardrobe.  I bought some, and the scent lasted for ages and ages.  They were also really expensive - like about $20 each - so if you made some for your online store MJ I am sure you could make a nice profit!
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Sonan on March 24, 2011, 12:11:43 pm
yes I know what you are after ! they are very expensive to buy, but they must have a lot of essential oils.....have no idea what is in them!
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Kingsvilletess on January 20, 2012, 11:44:41 am
I made some of these tonight, as follows:

230g plain flour
60g table salt
1/4 tsp corn flour

I gave that a whiz for 5 seconds speed 5 to combine.

Next I set the TM to  *: and  :: , and while it was running poured through the lid:
2 MC (200g) of boiling water straight from the kettle
15 ml of fragrant oil
A tiny dab of gel food colouring

After about 2 minutes the colouring was mixed evenly through, and the dough that tipped out was lovely and silky.

The oil I used was just an oil burner blend from one of those shops that sells batik dresses and incense, and was $14 for 10ml.  The recipe needed 15ml so I just rinsed the bottle out with a splash of vegetable oil to make up the difference, and the mix was still very fragrant.

I rolled the dough out on baking paper and found that the thicker I rolled the easier it was to get back out of the cookie cutters without losing shape.  I also pressed some into my madeline molds for a shell shape, but time will tell if they come back out again once they dry.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: judydawn on January 20, 2012, 12:00:46 pm
Well done Tess, thanks for that information.  Just missed Christmas but something we could put on our lists for next year.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Cuilidh on January 20, 2012, 06:21:59 pm
Does fragrant oil differ from essential oil?
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Cuilidh on January 20, 2012, 08:03:47 pm
I think I have just found the answer to my question - my understanding is that fragrant oils have a synthetic component whereas essential oils are the pure essence.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: judydawn on January 20, 2012, 11:57:31 pm
Could you still use either though Marina?
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Cuilidh on January 21, 2012, 12:27:48 am
I don't know, JD.  I only have essential oils at home just now and plan to give it a go this weekend.  I should imagine you can use both but my guess is that, whilst the essential oils should smell nicer, the scent may not be as strong or may not last as long as the synthetic ones (also my oils are a bit old now so if they have a shelf life that may be a factor).

It might just be a case of waiting to see what happens.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: judydawn on January 21, 2012, 12:57:23 am
That's what I figured, thanks Marina.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Cuilidh on January 21, 2012, 09:52:36 pm
Well, I made these today and it was hilarious!  I had a bottle of Lemon Myrtle essential oil lurking around (it was only 8 years out of date), but at least it had more than 15 ml in it, so it seemed a good starting point - and I knew that DH would prefer a "woodsy" smell to a floral one, so I reckoned I was on to a winner.

I used red and yellow colour as I thought a terracotta shade would be quite nice - and I actually got the colour pretty well as I wanted it.

The mixing went well - everything was good until inspiration struck (I should never listen to my inspiration).  I decided that I didn't really want to work the dough with my hands as they would smell of Lemon Myrtle from now until next year so put on my trusty kitchen rubber gloves.  Trust me, this is not a good idea as the dough happily sticks to the gloves and nowhere else.  In my efforts to transfer the dough from gloves to baking paper I got the beautifully coloured, smelly dough EVERYWHERE!

Anyway, I eventually got some dough rolled out and cut up (the dough was just a bit sticky so I have a couple of interesting shapes, but that's OK) and now it is sitting in the kitchen drying.

My TMX is full to the brim of water, soaking the end of the dough out and it took me ages to clean up the gloves and general mess.

The house smells very strongly of Lemon Myrtle (and so do my hands) and I have every window and door open (oh why is it not as windy today as it was yesterday to help waft the smell out into the neighbourhood?).

I was listening to a Queen CD whilst all this was going on so, between jiggling my wobbly bits to We are the Champions, Fat Bottomed Girls, etc. and sloshing terracotta coloured goop around the kitchen, it was quite a sight.  Now I will wait to see how they smell when they have dried out.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: judydawn on January 22, 2012, 12:23:06 am
Sounds like you had fun Marina, we do get in a pickle sometimes don't we  :D Waiting now to see how they turned out for you and was it worth the effort.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: faffa_70 on January 22, 2012, 12:25:43 am
Thanks for my morning giggle Marina  :D :D I do hope they work out and were worth all your troubles. Would love to see a pic of the finished ones.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: cookie1 on January 22, 2012, 06:04:41 am
Would bugs eat these do you think?
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Cuilidh on January 22, 2012, 07:51:57 am
Cookie NO ONE and NOTHING is going near this batch, I can tell you that!!  My hands no longer smell so bad, but the house is very "aromatic"!  Actually, with the correct fragrance combination I don't see why you can't use it to try to control bugs - I think I read somewhere recently that a combination of peppermint, eucalyptus and Lavender works for that.

Kathryn, I'll try to get a photo, but no promises.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Cornish Cream on January 22, 2012, 11:23:36 am
Thanks for the giggle at your antics Marina.It's good to hear that you are a Queen groupie as well :D :D :D
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Cuilidh on January 22, 2012, 06:49:33 pm
Love Freddie Mercury's voice and Brian May is an amazing guitarist.  Queen were such a great group and I love listening to them.  There was recently a two part documentary on TV here on them and I was glued to the screen.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: nazar on January 22, 2012, 11:17:09 pm
thanks for the giggle when l read your story this morning
l was trying to not laugh to loud as l did not want to wake the kids
thanks for sharing
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Cuilidh on January 29, 2012, 07:26:45 pm
Kathryn, I tried to take a photo for you but I couldn't re-size it down and it was HUGE, so I'm afraid you'll have to use your imagination!  I left them to air dry for a week and they are fairly firm, verging on hard (I wouldn't try hitting them with a hammer to see just how firm they are, though, you would probably end up with a crumbly mess).  I think in winter you would have to dry them in an oven - anyone got any ideas on that?

Anyway, after a week they are still giving off a strong aroma (which you would expect!) so I have put them in wee organza gift bags and hung them around the house.  I am pretty pleased with them overall and would make more (but perhaps not use rubber kitchen gloves!).

Cookie, I don't know if bugs would eat them or not, but I think they would be fairly well protected in the organza bags - I don't think even ants could get into them.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: CarolineW on October 31, 2016, 05:55:14 pm
Could you still use either though Marina?

Hi Judy, hope you're well.  You could use either if all you're looking for is a nice smell.  However, if you also want the therapeutic / germ fighting effects of Essential oils, then it's essential  ;) to use Essential oils.

Take care.
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: Cuilidh on October 31, 2016, 07:14:14 pm
I had forgotten about these so enjoyed reading the description of my adventures!  I think I might just give these another go for Xmas and would definitely go for the pure essential oils this time.  Unfortunately I cannot remember how long the scent lasted for but I remember leaving them hanging about the house for many months before I threw them out. 
Title: Re: can you make those nice scented block things to go in cupboards??
Post by: judydawn on November 01, 2016, 08:29:27 am
Hi Caroline, nice to see you posting a few idea for people to try today. All good here thanks and I trust the same applies to you and yours in the UK.  Thanks for bumping this one, I had quite a laugh at Marina's antics for the second time around having forgotten all about this thread.