Simple Homemade Play: Dough with Aromatherapy Benefits

Simple homemade playdough recipe with aromatherapy benefits and the best essential oil blends for kids.

Get access to our online resource library here.

Being inside just feels chaotic. As soon as the fights begin or something is getting destroyed, we head straight outside. The open space, the fresh air, and the millions of ride-on toys are just what our kids need. With four little kids running around, we spend very little time inside.

We dread the winter months when it seems to take longer to bundle everyone up than the time we actually have to play outside. Unfortunately, with winter comes a lot more inside time. We need to have inside activities planned for each day to keep these little people busy and entertained. One of the many reasons we love summer is that everyone can run out barefoot and in a diaper.

SIMPLE HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH VIDEO

The only thing more fun than playing with playdough is making playdough.

This note contains affiliate links, which means we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get our full disclosure HERE.

This recipe is simple to make, and with the added essential oils, children reap many benefits when playing with it. Our kids had fun helping me with this one! (Gluten-free recipe at the end)

SIMPLE HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup salt (we use pink Himalayan pink salt)
2 cups of water
1 tablespoon coconut oil (vegetable oil, canola oil, olive oil..any oil will do)
one teaspoon cream of tartar
5- 10 drops essential oils (our favorites are listed below)
OPTIONAL: food coloring

SIMPLE HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH INSTRUCTIONS

Mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar together in a saucepan.
Stir in water, vegetable oil, and if you’re using food coloring, add that too.
Heat the ingredients on low heat, stirring often until the dough forms into a ball.
Once the dough had reached the consistency of playdough, remove from the heat.
Allow the mixture to cool and then add essential oils of choice. Knead the oils into the dough until well combined.
Store in an airtight container or ziplock bags.

A Few Safety Notes Before You Play

This is the play dough we make in our own house, and we am sharing it exactly the way we make it. Every child is different, so please look over what goes into it and make sure it is a good fit for yours before they play with it.

This dough is made from kitchen ingredients, but it is not food. The salt content is high, so it is for playing with and not for eating.
Stay with little ones while they play, especially anyone still putting things in their mouth.
It is made with wheat flour, so use the gluten free version further down if that is an issue in your house.
The dough is hot straight off the stove. Let it cool all the way before anyone touches it, and stir the essential oils in after it has cooled.
Check with your doctor before using essential oils around a child, and pick your oils with that in mind.
Have everyone wash their hands after playing, and store the dough in an airtight container out of reach when it is not in use.

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SIMPLE HOMEMADE PLAY DOUGH

Our Favorites Essential Oils for PlayDough

Wild Orange: immune support and cleansing

Lemon: uplifting and energizing

Lime: cleansing and uplifting

Peppermint: concentration and focus

Lavender: calming and relaxing

Our Favorite Combinations of Essential Oils for PlayDough

Lemon, Lime, and Wild Orange: This blend is very uplifting, cleansing, and gives a natural energy boost. We love the way this one smells.

Peppermint and Lemon: These two essential oils smell well together and promote concentration and energy. Let the kids play with this playdough blend before sitting down to do homework.

Lavender and Frankincense: Two of our favorite essential oils to diffuse overnight. Add this blend to your playdough and make it part of the wind-down routine before bed.

Cinnamon, ginger, wild orange: This blend reminds me of the holiday season, and with its immune-boosting properties, it is perfect for little hands.

MAKE YOUR PLAY DOUGH COLOR MATCH THE SCENT

Red: cinnamon essential oil

Orange: wild orange essential oil

Yellow: lemon essential oil

Green: lime essential oil

Blue: peppermint essential oil

Purple: lavender essential oil rolling homemade playdough into a ball

BENEFITS OF AROMATHERAPY

Essential oils are natural aromatic compounds extracted and distilled from plants for their many benefits. Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses essential oils to promote health, well-being, and uplifting mood.

HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS AROMATICALLY

Diffuse– Diffusers disperse essential oil molecules into the air providing many benefits for you and your home. Certain essential oils like wild orange, lemon, and clove can kill airborne germs keeping your home clean and germ-free. Other oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, and lime can help open up airways and promote healthy breathing.
Inhale– Open up a bottle of essential oil and inhale straight out of the bottle. This is known as the “poor man’s way,” but it is very effective. Just by breathing an essential oil can affect mood, memory, and concentration.
Play Dough– As your child plays with the play dough, they will reap the benefits of the essential oils aromatically. The oil scent will be released as they squeeze and mold the play dough.
Hands– Add 2-4 drops of essential oil to a cotton ball or tissue and breathe in the scent.

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR AROMATHERAPY

Stress and anxious feelings- Lavender, frankincense, copaiba, wild orange, and roman chamomile
Boost Energy- Wild orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit, bergamot, and peppermint
Calm and relax- Lavender, frankincense, sandalwood, ylang ylang, and copaiba
Promote healthy night sleep- Lavender, frankincense, vetiver, and cedarwood
Immune support- Cinnamon, clove, wild orange, rosemary, eucalyptus, and frankincense
Cleanse- Lemon, lime, melaleuca, and wild orange
Aid in memory and focus- Peppermint, rosemary, frankincense, wild orange, and lavender
Ground emotions- Ho wood, Frankincense, blue tansy, roman chamomile, and bergamot
Uplift mood- Bergamot, tangerine, wild orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit
Respiratory Support- Peppermint, eucalyptus, lime, and thyme

GLUTEN-FREE PLAYDOUGH RECIPE

This playdough is softer than regular play dough, but the kids still enjoy playing with it. If your child is allergic to gluten, try this recipe. With gluten intolerances on the rise, we wanted to include a gluten-free option.

GLUTEN-FREE PLAYDOUGH INGREDIENTS

1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup corn starch
3/4 cup water
5-10 drops essential oils
OPTIONAL: food coloring

GLUTEN-FREE PLAYDOUGH INSTRUCTIONS

Mix the baking soda and corn starch in a saucepan.
Stir in water and food coloring if using.
Heat the ingredients on low heat, stirring often until the dough starts to form and become more solid.
Once the dough had reached the consistency of playdough and balls up around the spoon, remove from the heat.
Allow the mixture to cool and then add essential oils of choice. Knead the oils into the dough until well combined, and play dough is the consistency you like.
Store in an airtight container or ziplock bags.

Have you ever wondered how to make playdough? Did you add in essential oils? If so, please share your favorite blends with me below!

SIMPLE HOMEMADE PLAYDOUGH PRINTABLE

5 from 1 vote

Aromatherapy PlayDough

By the studio Ascher Prep: 10 minutes minsCook: 10 minutes minsTotal: 20 minutes mins Simple Homemade Play Dough 1

SaveSaved Pin Print Easy playdough recipe with essential oils. Kids will get the benefits of aromatherapy when playing with this playdough.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup salt
2 cups water
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp cream of tarter
5-10 drops essential oil
food coloring, optional

Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar together in a saucepan.
Stir in water, vegetable oil, and if using food coloring, add that in too.
Heat the ingredients on low heat, stirring often until the dough forms into a ball.
Once the dough had reached the consistency of play dough, remove from the heat.
Allow the mixture to cool and then add essential oils of choice. Knead the oils into the dough until well combined.
Store in an airtight container or ziplock bags.

Notes

Our Favorites Essential Oils for Play Dough Wild Orange: immune support and cleansing Lemon: uplifting and energizing Lime: cleansing and uplifting Peppermint: concentration and focus Lavender: calming and relaxing This dough is made from kitchen ingredients, but it is not food. The salt content is high, so it is for playing with and not for eating. Let it cool all the way before anyone touches it, stay with little ones while they play, and store it in an airtight container out of reach. Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!