Almond Scented Salt Dough Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you add scent to salt dough? ›

Simply add the salt and flour together and mix to form a soft but not sticky dough. If the dough feels too wet you can add in more flour, alternatively if it feels dry just simply add in more water. Next you need to add your scent and colour. You can use any herbs, flowers, spices or essences and oils for your scents.

The great thing about it is that the salt dough sculptures will harden if you leave them out to dry at room temperature. Depending on the size of the pieces, it will take 2 to 7 days to dry completely. Turn the pieces from time to time for faster drying. Oven dry the salt dough pieces.

If stored properly in an airtight container or sealed plastic bag, salt dough can last for several weeks to a few months.

Mineral-rich sea salt or Himalayan salt is much healthier to eat but doesn't work as well for DIY salt dough ornaments. Regular, cheap table salt from the cardboard canister at the store makes the best salt dough.

Simple Scented Bath Salt Recipe

In a mixing bowl, add drops of the essential oil to the bath salt and mix well. Store in a glass jar. Add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the scented salts to a bath for a soothing, luxurious experience!

Mix together flour and salt in a bowl. Stir in water and drops of essential oil - combine until smooth. Use some extra flour to lightly dust countertop. Roll out dough until it's around ¼ inch thick.

Add the cooking oil to make the dough soft, pliable and smoother.

If you preserve salt dough properly, it will last for decades. Without sealant, it will begin to crumble after a few weeks.

Make sure your oven is set to 150°f. This is SUPER IMPORTANT. I have seen others use hotter temperatures but I haven't been able to do so without getting puffiness. So, plain all-purpose flour, 150ºf oven and 1/4 inch thickness = no puffy ornaments.

You can paint a coat of glossy decoupage glue over the entire ornament to seal and protect it, and to give it a shiny finish. You can also spritz it with a light coat of polyurethane spray. Both methods, along with the salt acting as a natural preservative, help to extend the ornament's longevity.

What kind of paint is best for salt dough? ›

Just use acrylic paint to either add small details of color or paint the entire ornament. It is totally up to you! Kids absolutely love to paint salt dough decorations and you can let their imaginations run wild. If I were to paint my ornaments, I think that a little color inside the imprints would be perfect!

Mod Podge.

It's important to seal your ornaments once they're dried, so that they don't absorb moisture from the air. Use Mod Podge (in matte) to seal the dough and give them a more finished look.

Bleached all-purpose flour is best, but unbleached works, too. This is not the time to use whole wheat or organic flour. You're not eating these and wouldn't want a taste them anyway. The salt is what preserves these homemade ornaments and the 1 cup of salt is why you won't be tasting them.

Make the dough:

Combine 2 1/2 cups flour and 1/2 cup kosher salt in a large bowl. Add 1 cup of warm tap water and stir with a wooden spoon until a sticky dough forms.

It's important to use plain flour as self-raising will puff up in the oven and creations will lose their shape. To make the dough: Combine the flour and salt in a bowl and stir. Add water slowly until it has all been absorbed and knead the dough until well-combined.

In the recipe above, I added a couple of 'bells and whistles' to the recipe to make a smoother dough but the oil and glycerin are optional. These ornaments last for years. They are fun, easy, and inexpensive to make. You can even add scent, colors, glitter, paint, and beads if you like.

Also, if you have used alcohol inks, watercolors, or acrylic paint on salt dough, I highly recommend a light spray sealant as your first coat. This helps seal the color, and prevents bleeding or smearing. You can then apply a second and/or third coat of sealant as desired.

Add the cooking oil to make the dough soft, pliable and smoother. Put some of the dough on the baking paper, use your rolling pin and use your cookie cutter to make various shapes for hanging decorations or napkin rings. You can also mold the dough to make figurines or sculptures.

I also wanted the project to be super colorful! The solution, Salt Dough Hand Prints colored with Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers (because when you are managing this crew, paint is a nightmare).