Whether for a birthday, holiday, or just because, there’s nothing like gifting a handmade present. Making something with your hands shows your loved ones how much they mean to you — you set aside time to craft an item specifically with them in mind because you thought they’d like it. 

Here at Willow and Sage, we love coming up with new ideas for gift-giving. We try to keep them simple because we know how hectic everyone’s lives are. To help you get started, we’ve compiled 3 easy recipes for handmade gifts. We hope you and your recipients enjoy the giving season.

1. Pine Bath Salts For Natural Stress Relief

You Will Need 

• ● 1 cup of Epsom salt/sea salt, coarse 
• ● 1 cup of dried pine needles, finely chopped 
• ● 15–30 drops of pine essential oil 
• ● Airtight jar 
• ● Cloth bag/Coffee filter

To Make 

Combine the Epsom salt, pine needles, and essential oil. Store in an airtight jar. Pour ¼–½ cup of the pine bath salts into a cloth bag or tie in a coffee filter. To use, place the bag into your tub as you are running your bath. 

2. Festive Orange & Mint Sugar Scrub

You Will Need 

• ● ½ cup of sugar 
• ● ½ cup of coconut oil 
• ● Jar: small 
• ● 15 drops of sweet orange/orange essential oil 
• ● 10 drops of peppermint essential oil 
• ● Fabric scrap 
• ● Dehydrated orange slice 
• ● Mint leaves

To Make

Combine the sugar and coconut oil in a small jar. Add the essential oils, and stir to combine. Wrap the jar with a fabric scrap, and attach a dehydrated orange slice and mint leaves. To use, apply to hands, legs, or any rough skin patches. 

Want more simple recipes for bath and body products to make as gifts? Peek inside The Handmade Gift Issue for all the inspiration you need for the holiday season.

3. Aromatic Pumpkin Spice Bath Salt

You Will Need 

• ● Large bowl 
• ● ½ cup of Epsom salt 
• ● ½ cup of rolled oats 
• ● 1 TB. pumpkin spice 
• ● 1 tsp. cinnamon stick chips/cinnamon stick – chopped 
• ● 1 tsp. whole cloves 
• ● 1 tsp. dried ginger root 
• ● 1 tsp. sweet almond oil 
• ● Cloth bags: muslin/cotton

To Make 

In a large bowl, combine the Epsom salt, oats, pumpkin spice, cinnamon, cloves, ginger root, and sweet almond oil, and mix until incorporated. Divide the mixture evenly into natural muslin or cotton cloth bags with drawstring closures, approximately ¼ cup of bath tea per bag. Toss one bag of bath tea into the bathtub under warm running water to steep. Soak and enjoy!

Expanding Your Collection of Handmade Gift Ideas

Besides the above recipes, there are countless more handmade gift ideas to discover in The Handmade Gift Issue, including:

1. 1. Honey Oatmeal Soap
2. 2. Cranberry Cinnamon Scrub
3. 3. Winter Lotion Bars
4. 4. Chai Bath Melts
5. 5. Handmade Candles
6. 6. Leftover Fabric and Greenery Bundles
7. 7. Pumpkin Spice Bath Truffles
8. 8. Chocolate Sugar Scrub

For more information and tutorials on these ideas, check out The Handmade Gift Issue, filled with luxurious bath and body products that are easy to make and give, like body scrubs, melt-and-pour soaps, candles, and more. Click here.

Danielle Williams is the managing editor for Willow and Sage, The Natural Home Issue, Mingle, and Art Quilting Studio. She lives with her growing family in Orange County, California.