Simmer Scents in Mason Jars

I love giving gifts to the neighbors but I don't know anybody around me yet. Well, except that one neighbor is freaking amazing at backing up trucks with trailers attached and the other opens all mail and packages addressed to us that get delivered to his home :)

I wanted a simple gift that everybody could enjoy that wouldn't take up too much time or effort. I figure everybody likes a house that smells wonderful so I made some simmer scents in mason jars to gift out!





The longest part of this project is to dry out lemons. Plan on having your oven occupied for a good 5 hours!
Slice the lemons thin and bake at 200° turning frequently until the peel is hard and the inside mostly dry but a bit flexible. (see more details on the blog for this step if you need them)





Rosemary adds a wonderful earthy aroma to our simmer scents. Hang upside down to dry or place inside fresh if you will be delivering your jars soon.
You can also use cuttings from pine branches if you're lucky to live near them or if you have a natural tree or wreath you can sneak a few snips from.





Toss your lemons, rosemary and 1 or 2 whole vanilla beans into your jar. Add a label with directions and decorate as you please!





To use add 1-2 cups of water to a small pot, add contents and simmer. Keep adding water to keep the lovely smell going!
This is everything you need to get going, but for more details I hope you'll visit the full tutorial on my blog!






Original article and pictures take http://www.hometalk.com/11489980/simmer-scents-in-mason-jars site