Pure Aromatherapy for Body, Mind & Spirit

Aromatherapy Playdough Using Essential Oils – Calming, Relaxing & Fun

Aromatherapy Playdough Using Essential Oils – Calming, Relaxing & Fun

Aromatherapy Playdough Using Essential Oils - Calming, Relaxing & FunAromatherapy playdough using essential oils is very easy to make. In only minutes you can whip up this playdough using common ingredients you most likely have in the kitchen.  It is a great stress, tension and anxiousness reliever for you, your children or even the elderly. Homemade aromatherapy playdough even makes a great gift!

When playing with aromatherapy playdough the scents of the essential oils are released helping you to feel calm and relaxed.  Relax with an old favorite playdough and add essential oils to help soothe those anxious feelings and have fun! Even try it before bedtime or anytime you are feeling a bit stressed or uptight.

This recipe makes a very soft, pliable dough that smells amazing.  Even add food coloring to make your playdough sparkle. You will want to be sure to use a stain free food coloring and a small amount of it.

You can use individual oils to scent your playdough or below there are over 15 different blend recipes to customize your aromatherapy playdough. Some of the best calming essential oils are bergamot, cedarwood, clary sage, fir needle, frankincense, geranium, lavender, lemon, sweet marjoram, sweet orange, patchouli, sandalwood, ylang ylang and more. Please see our essential oil descriptions and uses pages where you will find in-depth explanations on all the essential oils we offer. You can even use many our essential oil blends in your playdough.

What you will need:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/3 cup salt
  • 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • food coloring (optional) – It only takes a few drops to get super vibrant colors.  Amazon has many food colorings that are non-toxic, irritation and relatively stain free.  Some are also vegan, cruelty free and baby friendly.
  • 10-20 drops essential oil (see below for ideas for making your own relaxing blends, plus suggestions for several our own essential oil blends).

Steps for Making Aromatherapy Playdough

1. In a saucepan or skillet add 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup salt, and 2 teaspoons cream of tartar

Notes:  When added to water the salt will bond the flour to the water, add texture and body to the playdough to keep the it from sticking to hands, plus salt acts as a natural preservative keeping the dough from getting moldy.  When stored in an airtight container, it should least three or more months.  The cream of tartar is a stabilizing agent that improves the consistency and texture to the dough.

2. Add 1 cup of water.

3. Place on stovetop burner on low temperature. Add 1 tablespoon of oil (such as, vegetable oil, olive oil, & fractionated coconut oil).  Stir the mixture well. The oil will make the playdough soft and spongy. The mixture will be lumpy at first but will disappear as the dough heats up and thickens.

4. This step is optional.  Add up to 20 drops of food coloring before the dough mixture gets too thick, stir the coloring in well.

5. Increase the heat to medium low. Stir constantly scraping the bottom of the pan as you stir. The dough will to start to thicken, anywhere from 30 seconds to 3 minutes. When the dough comes away from the sides of the pan and isn’t wet anymore, remove the playdough from the pan.

6. Place playdough on a piece of wax paper to cool for about 30 minutes. Knead the dough until it is smooth. Poke holes in the dough (this will help the essential oils get incorporated into the dough and not on your hands). Add 10-20 drops of essential oils kneading the dough to mix in the oils throughout the playdough.

Note: The aromatherapy playdough may lose its scent over time, you can add more essential oils to revive its scent and therapeutic properties.

8. The playdough can be stored in glass, stainless steel, and certain types of plastic (such as PET plastic #1 or HDPE plastic #2). If your playdough dries out over time, you can knead in a few drops of water to bring it back to life.

Calming Essential Oil Blends For Your Aromatherapy Playdough

Citrus Aromatherapy Playdough

  1. Citrus #1: 5 drops sweet orange + 5 drops lime + 5 drops tangerine
  2. Citrus #2: 3 drops fir needle + 3 drops pink grapefruit + 3 drops sweet orange + 3 drops lemon + 3 drops tangerine + 3 drops bergamot
  3. Citrus #3:  5 drops lavender + 5 drops lime + 5 drops tangerine
  4. Citrus #4: 10-15 drops Citrus Essential Oil Blend

Beachy Aromatherapy Playdough

  1. Beachy #1: 6 drops lavender + 5 drops lime + 4 drops spearmint
  2. Beachy #2: 5 drops lavender + 5 drops bergamot + 3 drops eucalyptus globus + 2 drops rosemary + 2 drops spearmint
  3. Beachy #3: 4 drops cedarwood + 4 drops sweet orange + 4 drops lavender + 2 drops spearmint + 2 drops frankincense

Spa Day Aromatherapy Playdough

  1. Spa Day #1: 4 drops lavender + 4 drops sweet orange + 4 drops frankincense + 4 drops cedarwood
  2. Spa Day #2:  8 drops spearmint + 8 drops eucalyptus globulus
  3. Spa Day #3: 3 drops peppermint + 3 drops rosemary + 2 drops lavender + 2 drops bergamot + 2 drops sweet orange + 2 drops ylang ylang

Lavender Plus Aromatherapy Playdough

  1. Lavender Plus #1:  use 15-20 drops of lavender essential oil
  2. Lavender Plus #2:  6 drops lavender + 8 drops sweet orange + 3 drops ylang ylang
  3. Lavender Plus #3: 8 drops lavender + 4 drops lime + 4 drops tangerine

Summertime Aromatherapy Playdough

  1. Summertime #1: 8 drops sweet orange + 8 drops vanilla oleoresin
  2. Summertime #2: 5 drops bergamot + 4 drops sweet orange + 3 drops lemon + 3 drops pink grapefruit
  3. Summertime #3: 7 drops tangerine + 7 drops lemon + 3 drops peppermint

Woodsy Aromatherapy Playdough

  1. Woodsy #1: 5 drops scots pine + 4 drops cedarwood + 3 drops juniper berry + 3 drops fir needle
  2. Woodsy #2: 5 drops cypress + 5 drops frankincense + 5 drops ylang ylang
  3. Woodsy #3: 4 drops fir needle + 4 drops cedarwood + 4 drops cypress + 4 drops sweet orange + 2 drops frankincense

Holiday Aromatherapy Playdough

  1. Holiday#1: 10 drops sweet orange + 2 drops cinnamon + 4 drops fir needle
  2. Holiday #2: 7 drops fir needle + 5 drops pink grapefruit + 5 drops frankincense

Try These Biosource Blends in Your Aromatherapy Playdough

Add 10-15 drops of these blends to your homemade playdough or until you achieve a scent that is pleasant to you.

Angel Essential Oil Blend is a heavenly, sweet blend with essential oils and absolutes of rose, French lavender, and vanilla oil. Wear this soft, powdery and sweet blend as a natural perfume and be reminded that you are surrounded by angels!

Calming Essential Oil Blend contains pure essential oils which are relaxing, calming and help reduce anxious moods and mood swings.

Relaxing Essential Oil Blend contains pure essential oils which are nurturing, calming, balancing energy of the body, mind and spirit.*

Serenity Essential Oil Blend contains pure essential oils which are calming, energy-balancing, uplifting and help reduce anxiety.*

These are just a few of our essential oil blends that you may find enjoyable in your aromatherapy playdough.  Please see our blend page for more of our essential oil, aromatherapy blends designed to help you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Best Way to Enjoy Aromatherapy PlaydoughAromatherapy Playdough Using Essential Oils - Calming, Relaxing & Fun

  • Sit in a comfortable, quiet and peaceful area.
  • Put on some of your favorite calming music if you like.
  • Pinch off some playdough and roll in in your hands.
  • Hold the dough a few inches from your nose and inhale, and take some long, deep, relaxing breaths.
  • Play with your aromatherapy playdough by forming it into some interesting shapes or create whatever you feel drawn to do in the moment.
  • Envision a tranquil scene, environment, or situation that you find relaxing.
  • When finished be sure to put the playdough back in an airtight container  to keep it soft and fresh.

* This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate, or prevent any disease. This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA.



Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease. The information provided on this website is for informational purposes. Information is not intended as a substitute for advice from a qualified health care professional that you trust, and should not be construed as individual medical advice. If you are under a doctor’s care, please consult with her/him prior to use of these products. If a condition persists, please contact a qualified health care professional for advice.