Campfire perfume alchemy
A campfire craft activity - taking perfume & potion-making a step further by adding heat - a Muddy Faces story.
Introduction
Step-by-step instructions and a story from the Muddy Faces family - incorporating heat into your mud kitchen and natural ingredients play.
What you'll need
- petals (lots of them) and/or herbs, vegetation etc.
- recycled plastic bottles
- campfire
- pan
This activity has been provided by
Useful items from our shop
- Dragons Sneeze
- Fire Bowl Pan & Stand Set
- Wooden Spoon - Pack of 12
- Clear Glass Bottle with Cork - 15ml
- Blue Glass Bottle with Screw Cap
- Discs
Environmental Considerations
Consider the environmental impact of preparing, carrying out & completing this activity. Could this impact be reduced? Specific considerations for this activity could include:
- collecting natural materials - see foraging guide
Health & Safety Considerations
Follow your usual operating procedures and carry out appropriate risk benefit assessments.
Some considerations particular to this activity include:
Preparation:
- collect lots of petals or vegetation, using a bag or basket to collect them in
- prepare your fire bowl or fire pit - have your fire flint and tinder ready
- gather recycled bottles and containers for your potions to go into.
Step #1 Gather your petals
After a heavy rainfall my boys discovered lots of rose petals on the ground. The smell of the petals was awesome and inspired much chatter. Then instinctively they began to gather the fallen petals.
Step #2 Use the petals to make a potion
The boys took their rose petals into their mud kitchen, popped them in a pan and explained they were making perfume. Of course everyone had to have a smell. We talked about what may help the smell transfer from the petals to the water. I was expecting ideas around crushing or stirring them, but the suggestion of heating over a campfire (probably just an excuse to have a campfire) was put forward and met with much enthusiasm.
Step #3 Start your fire
Not unaccustomed to making fires, the boys fetched the flint and cotton wool and got a fire going. Then they practised lighting a fire again and again. Once the experience of igniting fires had been exhausted their attention returned to their alchemy.
Step #4 Heat the potion
The boys filled a big pan with water and placed it over their fire, which had now died down and had some lovely hot embers. The water warmed and the petals were added and the potion was stirred.
Step #5 Cool and bottle
The cooled liquid was decanted into tubs and bottles ready for sharing.
Take it further:
- record recipes and experiments or make sketches of the ingredients or process in a notepad
- to create a lovely present try decanting your potions into cute little glass bottles and add little wooden tags threaded onto string.
- try making rose petal perfume.
Disclaimer: Muddy Faces cannot take any responsibility for accidents or damage that occurs as a result of following this activity.You are responsible for making sure the activity is conducted safely.
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Key Features
- Age Range All Ages
- Duration Less than an hour
- Location Anywhere
- Season Summer
- Time of Day Anytime
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Categories:
Art & Creating
leaves, sticks & petals
inks, dyes & perfume
Outdoor Play