DIY Scented Hot Pad Coaster

For all of you coffee or tea lovers out there, today’s tutorial is for you! Personally, I think there’s nothing better than a hot, steaming mug of delicious tea with a bit of milk and a spoonful of sugar in it. That was, until I discovered scented hot pad coasters! Not only do they protect your tables from your drink, but the heat of the mug warms up the coaster and releases the scents inside. Now I get a hot cup of tea and wonderful smells…heaven!

Make your own scented hot pad coasters - When you set a hot mug on it, the heat releases the scents! Perfect gift for any coffee or tea lover!

These simple scented hot pad coasters are the perfect gift for any coffee or tea lover in your life, including yourself!

DIY Scented Hot Pad Coasters

NOTE: The rice needs to sit for about 24 hours to absorb the scents properly before you put the hot pad together, so plan ahead when doing this project!

Here’s what you need for this project:

  • 5″ x 12″ piece of pretty fabric for the outside of the coaster (I used 100% cotton in a fun pattern)
  • two 4.5″ squares of plain muslin
  • plain, uncooked rice
  • Young Living essential oil in your favorite scent (learn more about essential oils here)
  • ziploc bag

The first step is to prepare the rice. Put about one cup of rice into a ziploc bag and add 6-7 drops of your favorite essential oil. Seal up the bag, shake the rice around so the oil is mixed in, and set the bag aside in a cool, dry place for 24 hours so the rice can soak up the scent.

Once your rice is nice and scented, it’s time to make the coaster. First you’re going to make an envelope style cover for the outside; it’s the same idea as the envelope pillow covers I made for our couch pillows.

Fold over half an inch of fabric at one short end of the rectangle of outer fabric, and hem the end by sewing along the fold with about a 1/4″ seam allowance. Repeat on the other short end.

Make your own scented hot pad coasters - When you set a hot mug on it, the heat releases the scents! Perfect gift for any coffee or tea lover!

Fold the long strip of fabric, right side in, so that both ends overlap each other about an inch or so. You want the final dimensions of the cover to be 4.5″ long, so adjust accordingly.

Make your own scented hot pad coasters - When you set a hot mug on it, the heat releases the scents! Perfect gift for any coffee or tea lover!

Sew along the open edges, leaving a 1/2″ seam allowance. Clip the corners and turn the envelope cover right side out.

Then pin the two muslin squares on top of each other and sew around all four edges with a 1/4″ seam allowance, leaving a small hole on one edge to add the rice. Use a funnel to pour the scented rice into the muslin pouch.

Make your own scented hot pad coasters - When you set a hot mug on it, the heat releases the scents! Perfect gift for any coffee or tea lover!

The fuller the pouch, the more stable the coaster will be, so fill it as full as you can! Then sew the small opening closed.

Make your own scented hot pad coasters - When you set a hot mug on it, the heat releases the scents! Perfect gift for any coffee or tea lover!

Put the small muslin pouch inside your envelope cover, and you have your very own scented hot pad coaster! Warm up a mug of tea or coffee and test it out!

Make your own scented hot pad coasters - When you set a hot mug on it, the heat releases the scents! Perfect gift for any coffee or tea lover!

The reason I made this coaster in two pieces rather than just making a pouch of the pretty outer fabric is because it’s easily replaceable this way. If the rice loses its scent, just make a new inner muslin pouch with a new batch of rice, and you don’t have to get rid of the pretty cover! Or just use a seam ripper to pull open a corner of the muslin pouch and switch the rice out with freshly scented rice.

You could also switch up scents if you want to! If you have three or four favorite scents (maybe one for each season?!), make a muslin bag full of rice for each scent, and just switch them out into your favorite cover and you have a “new” hot pad each time!

Make your own scented hot pad coasters - When you set a hot mug on it, the heat releases the scents! Perfect gift for any coffee or tea lover!

You should store your scented hot pad coaster in a plastic baggie when you’re not using it to keep the scent fresh and strong!

So, coffee or tea, what’s your poison?

I used Young Living’s lavender essential oil, which is probably my favorite of all the ones they make; it’s so versatile! It helps heal chapped, dry skin, minor burns, and itchy bug bites, and it’s great for helping you relax, so I knew it would be perfect in this coaster!

If you’re interested in learning more about essential oils, just let me know or join our Facebook group! I’d be happy to get you more info or get you a sample to try out!

Or if you are ready to start using essential oils, you can get the Young Living Premium Starter kit at a HUGE discount and get all your oils at 24% off for life when you sign up as a wholesale member. The starter kit is everything you need to get started living a happier, healthier, more natural life with essential oils, and the 24% discount on any future purchases of Young Living oils and products doesn’t hurt either! Check out this page for more details.

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Disclaimer:

These statements and any information contained on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is intended for educational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for medical care or to prescribe treatment for any specific health condition. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Our content is not purposed to replace professional medical diagnosis, treatment or advice. Information obtained from a Young Living member should never cause disregard or delay seeking advice or treatment from a medical or healthcare provider. Use of any information from the content of this site solely at your own risk. Consult individual products labels for safety information.

Jessi Wohlwend

I believe that anyone can do crafts and DIY projects, regardless of skill or experience. I love sharing simple craft ideas, step by step DIY project tutorials, cleaning hacks, and other tips and tricks all with one goal in mind: giving you the tools you need to “do it yourself”, complete fun projects, and make awesome things!

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Reader Interactions

  1. michelle says

    9 years ago

    what kind of rice did u use? does it matter what kind?

    • Jessi Wohlwend says

      9 years ago

      Doesn’t matter what kind as long as it’s dry, uncooked rice. That way it can soak up the scent!

  2. Paige says

    9 years ago

    Oh I LOVE this! Going to a mom conference this weekend. We are doing a mug exchange and cant wait to make this as a bonus gift with the mug 🙂 Question… I am new to sewing and don’t have any muslin. Is there anything else I can use that will let the scent out as much? More cotton or batting even?

    • Jessi Wohlwend says

      9 years ago

      Regular cotton will work just fine! Muslin is basically cotton, just ever so slightly thinner. But if you have quilting cotton or t-shirt cotton that will work fine. Good luck with it!

  3. Alyssa says

    10 years ago

    I Love this Idea, I will be doing this with my mother – Maybe these will become my wedding favors?

    So Excited!

  4. Crystal says

    10 years ago

    These are so cute! Thanks so much for the tutorial 🙂

  5. Gwen says

    10 years ago

    I bet that smells amazing! Lavender is my favorite!!!

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