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Design Your Own Perfume Box

Design Your Own Perfume Box
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Design and decorate your own perfume box using recycled cardboard, fabric, dried flowers, and safe scented extracts to create personalized scent samples.

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Step-by-step guide to Design Your Own Perfume Box

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The Stupid Lab : EP 31 | How To Make Perfume At Home | Stem Learning Kit To Keep Kids Busy At Home

What you need
Adult supervision required, coloring materials, cotton pads, dried flowers, fabric scrap, glue stick or craft glue, masking tape or labels, pencil, recycled cardboard, ruler, safe scented extracts, scissors, small jars or resealable bags

Step 1

Gather all your materials on a clean table so you can reach everything easily!

Step 2

Use the ruler and pencil to draw a simple box template on the cardboard.

Step 3

Cut out the cardboard template carefully with scissors.

Step 4

Fold the cut cardboard along the lines to form the box shape.

Step 5

Glue or tape the edges to secure the box so it holds its shape.

Step 6

Measure and cut a piece of fabric large enough to cover the outside of the box.

Step 7

Glue the fabric onto the outside of the box to cover it smoothly.

Step 8

Glue dried flowers onto the box to make it pretty and scented.

Step 9

Add drawings or color designs on the box using your coloring materials.

Step 10

Write scent names on masking tape or labels and stick one on each jar or bag.

Step 11

Put one cotton pad into each jar or resealable bag.

Step 12

Add 2–3 drops of a single scented extract onto each cotton pad.

Step 13

Seal each jar or bag tightly so the scent stays inside.

Step 14

Arrange the sealed scent samples and a few extra dried flowers nicely inside your perfume box.

Step 15

Take a photo of your finished perfume box and share your creation on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use if we don't have dried flowers, scented extracts, or fabric?

Use dried herbs like lavender or rosemary or pressed tissue paper instead of dried flowers, perfume samples or a few drops of essential oil instead of scented extracts, and an old scarf, wrapping paper, or decorative cardstock instead of fabric for covering the box.

My fabric keeps wrinkling or the glue is seeping through — how do I fix the fabric covering step?

Apply a thin, even layer of craft glue or use double-sided tape on the cardboard, smooth the fabric outward with a ruler while pressing to remove wrinkles, and use clothespins or small weights on the edges until the glue dries to prevent seepage.

How can I adapt this activity for ages 3–5, 6–9, and 10+?

For ages 3–5 have an adult pre-cut the box and help with gluing and adding drops to cotton pads, for 6–9 let kids trace the template, cut with safety scissors, stick fabric and label jars with help, and for 10+ have them measure and fold the template precisely, experiment with mixing extracts, and add internal compartments.

How can we make the perfume box more special or make the scents last longer?

Glue thin cardboard dividers inside to create compartments for each sealed jar, attach a little scent guide written on masking tape to the lid, and seal the outside fabric with a clear craft sealant so the decoration stays pretty longer.

Watch videos on how to Design Your Own Perfume Box

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Don't Throw Away Pill or Perfume Boxes Until You See This! / easy craft ideas/ diy

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Facts about recycled-material crafts and safe scenting for kids

♻️ Paper fibers (like those in cardboard) can usually be recycled several times—often 3–7 times—before the fibers get too short to reuse.

🧴 Pretty packaging matters: attractive boxes can change how much people like a product even before they try it, so your design makes a big difference!

🌿 Properly dried and pressed flowers can keep their color and shape for months or even years—great for decorating lasting perfume boxes.

👃 Smells are fast and powerful: your brain can identify a scent in less than a second, and scents are excellent at bringing back memories.

🌸 The word "perfume" comes from Latin per fumum meaning "through smoke"—people have used scented oils and incense for thousands of years.

How do I make a Design Your Own Perfume Box with recycled materials?

To make a Design Your Own Perfume Box, cut recycled cardboard into a small box or repurpose a pre-made one. Reinforce seams with glue, then line the inside with fabric or colored paper. Create small compartments with cardboard or foam, place dried flowers, and put scent samples on cotton pads or in tiny vials using safe scented extracts (diluted). Decorate the exterior with paint, stickers, labels, and ribbon. Allow glue and scents to settle before gifting or displaying.

What materials do I need to design a perfume box for kids?

You’ll need recycled cardboard (small box or cereal-box pieces), scissors or a craft knife (adult use), non-toxic glue or a hot glue gun with supervision, fabric scraps, dried flowers or pressed petals, cotton pads or small glass/plastic vials for scent samples, safe scented extracts (diluted essential oils or food-safe extracts like vanilla), paints, markers, stickers, ribbon, labels, and optional foam or tissue for inserts. Keep wipes and a trash bin handy for cleanup.

What ages is the Design Your Own Perfume Box activity suitable for?

This activity suits children ages 5 and up with adult supervision. Ages 5–7 enjoy cutting, gluing, and decorating with help for scissors, hot glue, and scent handling. Ages 8–12 can design compartments, mix safe diluted scent samples, and create labels more independently. Teenagers can explore more advanced packaging, fragrance pairing, and sewing fabric liners. Always supervise when using sharp tools or concentrated extracts and adapt steps to each child’s skill level.

What safety tips should I follow when making perfume sample boxes with kids?

Safety first: always supervise scent mixing and keep extracts out of children’s reach. Use small amounts on cotton pads or sealed vials instead of applying directly to skin, and avoid concentrated essential oils for young children—prefer food-safe extracts or diluted fragrance drops. Do a patch/allergy test and label samples clearly. Keep materials away from eyes and mouths, work in a ventilated area, and consult a doctor if your child has known allergies or skin sensitivities.
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