Growing up in Missouri, a fire in the winter months was the norm. My ancestors worked on a saw mill in Michigan so my dad inherited excellent fire building skills. I would spend cold days by the fire, staying warm, and being captivated by the glowing embers. As an adult, my love for fires still burns strong. On cold days in Dallas my apartment will almost always have a fire in the fireplace. It warms my living space quickly and puts me in a relaxed mood.
To start the fire, I find myself running trips to the recycle room to gather scraps from cardboard boxes to use in order to get the wood burning. Rather than dig through the rubble to find material to start a fire, my boyfriend and I created an easier solution by making fire starters.
We toyed around with different fire starters, and even created decorative ones using cookie cutters (which I don’t recommend – it makes a mess!). However this method, using cupcake wrappers and muffin tins is easy and efficient. To bring a little more fun to this project we used a few aromatic elements – cedar chips and cinnamon sticks. You can also add cloves, anise or dried rosemary. A warm fire with cozy, winter smells – I could sit by it all day!
A wick was placed in the center, however this is optional. If you use the wick, the fire started will have a slower burn with a small flame, like a candle. The aromatic ingredients are released slowly. A fire starter without the wick, on the other hand, will burn a lot quicker when the cupcake wrapper is lit.
Make these for yourself or wrap several up as a gift for a friend. Keep warm!
DIY Aromatic Fire Starters
Supplies:
- Muffin Tin
- Paper cupcake wrappers (2 per fire starter)
- Wick (optional)
- Cedar chips
- Microwaveable soy wax flakes (one pound makes about 12-16 fire starters)
- Microwave safe bowl or mug
- Spoon
- Towel
- Aromatic elements: cinnamon sticks, cloves, dried rosemary, pine cones, sage, etc…
Directions:
- Place two cupcake wrappers into each muffin cup.
- If using a wick, place the wick in the middle. Fill muffin cup 2/3 full with cedar chips.
- In a microwave-safe bowl or mug, fill with soy wax flakes. Microwave and stir in 30 second intervals, until wax is fully melted. Be careful, it can get hot! Use a towel to hold the container, if necessary.
- Pour melted wax slowly into muffin cups. Wipe up any spills quickly with the towel.
- Place any aromatic ingredients on the surface of the fire starter.
- Allow to cool.
We originally tried making these in cookie cutters. They look great, but are more time consuming as the wax can leak under the cookie cutter. If you are up for a challenge, here’s a glimpse of how they turn out.
I hope you enjoy these fire starters as much as we do!! Please let me know if you make them and what ingredients you added to create an aromatic winter fire.
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Have a wonderful weekend!
Live your life joyfully so,
Ashley
