How to Make Fragrant Herbal Firestarters

Instead of using newspaper or kindling to start your next cozy fire, try using an herbal firestarter made from aromatic fragrances. Herbal firestarters are fun and easy to make. You can use them for yourself or make them as a gift for a friend. When paired with a decorative box of wooden matches, they become a unique housewarming gift.

Materials needed to make Herbal Firestarters

-Two pounds of paraffin (use old candle ends)
-Three cups of dry wood chips
-Three cups of sawdust
-One cup of dried herbs, cedar or pine needles (your choice)

Equipment needed to make Herbal Firestarters

-Double boiler
-Old bowl
-Old wooden spoon
-Rubber gloves
-Waxed paper

Instructions

Fill bottom part of double boiler with water and place on medium to high heat. Place the paraffin or candle pieces in the top pan of the double boiler, place this in the bottom pan of the double boiler, and process until all are melted.

While the paraffin is melting, use the wooden spoon to mix the sawdust, wood chips, and herbs together in the large bowl. Pour the melted paraffin over the wood/herb mixture and stir. The more the wood is covered by the wax the better it will burn in the fire.

After you have thoroughly mixed the paraffin and wood, and while the paraffin is still warm, put on your rubber gloves and start shaping the mixture into two-inch balls. Test the paraffin before shaping, to make sure it is not too hot.

Place the balls on the waxed paper to cool.

Place your logs in the fire, add an herbal firestarter, and enjoy the aroma.

If giving the herbal firestarters as a gift, make the gift extra special by decorating a plain long wooden matchbox using rubber stamps, paints or makers to give the box a unique look. Pair this with a decorative basket full of fragrant herbal firestarters.

Variant: Use pinecones and egg cartons. Melt paraffin in same way, but add a little of the wood mixture to each compartment of a cardboard egg carton. Place the pinecone on top of the wood mixture and then cover it with the melted paraffin. When paraffin has cooled, cut the egg carton compartments into individual firestarters. Tie a small ribbon around the top of the pinecone.

Source: Ozark Folk Center, Mountain View, AR and personal experience