Instead of buying cheap, mass-produced gewgaws to give out this season, show your loved ones you care with a little DIY. During Grist’s 12 days of DIY gifts, we’ll share some crafty projects, with instructions that even we can follow. There’s sure to be a whatsit or wowsit for everyone.
Homemade muscle rub is a great gift for an athletic or outdoorsy friend. It’s easy to make, and you can find many of the ingredients for it at the grocery store!
- 1 cup (8 ounces) of base oil — jojoba, almond, or coconut all work well
- 1 ounce of beeswax
- 10 to 20 drops of essential oils — you can add more or less depending on how strong you want it. You can mix and match any of the following, but the first three usually help with sore muscles the most: peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, lavender, ginger, or rosemary.
- A nice-looking container for the finished product — small mason jars work well.
Heat up the base oils on the stove …
… then add the beeswax. Stir until the wax has melted completely and mixed with the oil.
Add your essential oils and mix thoroughly …
… then pour the mixture into your container while it’s warm. Let the jar cool completely (you can even stick it in the fridge if you’re in a hurry) …
… and then gift it to your favorite runner / hiker / biker / yoga enthusiast!
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