Dried herbs aren't just for cooking, these aromatic plants offer a world of possibilities in home decor, personal care, and even wellness. Whether you're crafting your own herbal teas, creating a soothing bath, or adding a touch of nature to your DIY projects, dried herbs can elevate everyday moments with their vibrant colors and delicate textures. Explore 10 creative ways to use dried herbs and bring their timeless beauty into your life.
1. Cooking
Edible dried herbs are delicious in cakes and other desserts, and many of them make wonderful teas. You might experiment with making your own tea blends, using green and black teas as well as herbs.
2. Cleaning
Dried Herbs are great additions to DIY cleaning products. They partner nicely with citrusy scents and mints, too.
3. Sachets
Sew little aromatic sachets to include in dresser drawers and closets. You can even fashion no-sew varieties by tying little muslin or fine mesh bags.
4. Gifting
Sprigs of dried herbs look lovely atop a package, in the midst of a bow. You might also scatter dried herbs in your gift card.
5. Celebrations
Make dried herbs the focal point of a centerpiece. A large, clear bowl of hibiscus flowers or a basket of lavender flowers will add color to a side table or dinner setting, for example. (Choose aromatic herbs for around the house but less fragrant ones for the dinner table, so they don't interfere with the aroma of the food.)
6. Potpourri
A collection of colors and textures can be combined to make a potpourri. Make the scent long lasting by including a fixative such as orris root, and enhance the scent with essential oils, if you like.
7. Candle making
If you make your own candles, you can easily incorporate dried herbs into your molds. But even if you're not a candlemaker, you can add dried herbs to the outside of your plain candles. Simply place crushed dried herbs on wax paper. Pour a little melted wax over the herbs, and then roll the candle in the herbs.
8. Papers
Dried herbs can also be incorporated into the process of making your own paper. Or, for handmade cards, simply apply dried herbs to good quality (fairly heavy) cardstock with a little glue and a paintbrush. (Tweezers are helpful for arranging the herbs.) Dried herbs can also be used to decorate scrapbooking pages.
9. Dyes
Some dried herbs make excellent dyes for cloth and for Easter eggs, too. Experiment with hibiscus flowers for a reddish blue/lavender result, and safflower petals for a pale yellow. A mordant (such as alum or cream of tartar) will help give your color staying power.
10. Bathing and other body care
The best herbal baths include dried herbs. Sprinkle them directly in your bathwater, or make an herbal infusion and pour it into your bath. In other body care, infusions of herbs are also the basis of many lotions, toners, facial steams, masks, herbal hair rinses, and sprays.
