The Easter Edit: Essential Oils and Natural Dyes

Easter holiday brings the festivity and colors of spring for us. The trees and plants that remained dormant in the winter season become alive. New flowers sprout, and everything around us seems cheerful and bright. 

Easter celebration is a symbol of rebirth, renewal, and revival of life. It is a holiday of hope, happiness, and a new beginning. With the Easter holiday approaching fast, it’s time to welcome it by following our favorite tradition—egg decoration. 

Ever wondered why only egg decoration? The answer: Eggs symbolize the birth of new life.

How Egg Decorations Graced Easter Traditions?

Eggs decoration is one of the earliest known decorative art forms. Since ancient times, people belonging to several cultures have decorated eggs to participate in seasonal celebrations. Interestingly, archeologists found decorated ostrich eggs engraved in over 60000 years old site in South Africa. 

Centuries before the Easter celebration, exchanging colored eggs was an ancient rite of spring celebration. The Saxons used dyed eggs in festivals dedicated to the goddess of fertility named Eastre. After the advent of Christianity, spring festivals were included in the observations of Christ’s Resurrection, and the name Eastre eventually evolved into Easter. 

So, if egg dyeing is your favorite Easter tradition, you are carrying on ancient graphic designers’ legacy. This year get crafty with dyes and try keeping things chemical-free with natural ingredients. We have put together a simple and easy egg dyeing recipe with the use of organic essential oils.  Let get started:

1. Eggs

Egg decorating is a tricky thing because eggs are a delicate thing to do graffiti on. However, we have two options, either boil them or make them hollow. We will tell how to do both:

• Hard-Boiled 

Use a large pot or container and fill in water to boil eggs. A large pot or container will have enough space to boil eggs while preventing cracking. Bring the heat to medium level and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, carefully take the eggs out of the pan one at a time and place them on the cartons to dry. If any eggs have cracked during the process, separate them for eating instead.

• Hollowed Eggs 

Wash the eggs and leave them to dry off completely. Using a sterilized long needle or a slim metal skewer, poke a small hole in the pointy end and a larger hole at the fatty end of the egg. Now carefully chip away the shell until the holes are big enough to empty the egg’s contents. When the holes are big enough, blow through the smaller hole and empty the contents from the larger hole on a bowl. Save the egg’s scrambled contents for cooking and rinse the shell with water and let it dry. Keep in mind that hollowed eggs have a longer shelf life than boiled eggs.

2. Create Natural Dyes with Natural Ingredients

If you have never tried the art of creating natural dyes, you are definitely missing out on the most fun part of egg decorations. You will easily find the required ingredients around your home and save on the cost. Once you understand this craft, you might not like artificial colors ever again, so better be prepared. Here is the list of ingredients you need for different colors.

• Light Blue (1 cup of blueberries)
• Dark Blue to Purple Dye (1 cup of red cabbage)
• Brown to Green Dye (peels of 6 red onions)
• Yellow Dye ( 2 tablespoons of turmeric)
• Pink Dye (1 cup shredded beets)
• Orange Dye (peels of 6 yellow onions)
• Green Dye (2 cups of spinach)

• Mix 1 cup of vinegar and 4 cups of water in a bowl and boil it until you get the desired color.
• Extract the colored water into a cup and add two tablespoons of vinegar.

• Dip Eggs in Natural Dyes

Once the colors are ready to use, soak the eggs in warm natural dyes. Let the eggs soak in the hues for at least 20-30 minutes to get concentrated shade. If you want a two-colored egg, soak one half in each color for 10 minutes. Place the colored eggs in the refrigerator overnight to dry off.

3. Polish Colored-Eggs with Essential Oils

When you are done with the coloring part, and your eggs are all luxed-up, shiny, and colorful, it is time to add some scent, and for that, we have another natural option—essential oil. Polishing the eggs with essential oils will provide a pleasant aroma and add vibrancy to the colors. Essential oils’ polished eggs will diffuse the atmosphere and promote an ambiance of clarity and focus. Besides, you have the choice to use your favorite aromatic essential oil to perfume the eggs.

Directions: 

• Mix 3-5 drops of your favorite essential oils with 1 tablespoon of any carrier oil
• Mix the oils thoroughly.
• Dip a paper towel into the oil mixture and rub it onto dried eggs shells.
• Leave the eggs to dry for a few minutes and place them anywhere you desire.

Discover the aromatic powers of essential oils and promote an ambiance of vitality and wellbeing this holiday season. Botanic Hearth’s Essential Oils set has the 6 most famous essential oils that are organic, pure, and 100% natural. Feel cheerful and revitalize and diffuse away stress from your surroundings. We wish you a joyous and blessed Easter Holiday!