DIY Herbal Holiday Gifts to Skip Black Friday Stress

Herbal Magic Beats Black Friday Madness

Confession time: I’ve never loved Black Friday. The lines, the noise, the pressure—it all feels like the opposite of what this season is meant to be. So now, instead of chasing sales, I stay home, pour a mug of cocoa, and make simple handmade herbal gifts that feel warm, personal, and genuinely joyful to put together.

They’re budget-friendly, meaningful, and the best part? My kids love helping. We turn on holiday music, set up a little “gift-making station,” and spend an afternoon creating things that smell amazing, look beautiful, and are actually useful.

Here are my favorite DIY herbal holiday gifts you can make in a single cozy afternoon—stress-free, affordable, and family-friendly.

1. Relax & Restore Herbal Bath Salts

A jar of herbal bath salts feels like a spa moment, but it takes just minutes to assemble. It’s one of those “small things that feels big” gifts.

Recipe (fills two 8 oz jars):

• 1 cup Epsom salt

• ½ cup pink Himalayan salt

• 2 Tbsp dried lavender or calendula

• Optional: 5 drops lavender essential oil (adult version only; omit for kids or sensitive skin)

• Optional: 1 Tbsp calendula-infused oil for extra skin softness

To Make:
Stir ingredients in a bowl, spoon into jars, and tie with ribbon or twine.

💡 Gift Tag Suggestion:
“Add ½ cup to a warm bath. Breathe. Reset.”

2. Winter Wellness Tea Jars

These layered tea jars look gorgeous in glass and feel like a warm hug when someone opens them. They’re thoughtful, practical, and perfect for anyone who needs a little comfort through winter.

Winter Wellness Blend (fills 1 pint jar):

• ½ cup rose hips

• ½ cup dried hibiscus

• ½ cup dried lemon balm

• 2 Tbsp dried ginger chips

Layer herbs in the jar for a pretty color gradient, tuck in a couple of muslin tea bags, and add a tag.

To Use:
Add 1 Tbsp of the mix per 8–10 oz mug. Add hot (not boiling) water, steep 10–15 minutes. Sweeten if desired.
Honey only for children over 1 year.

💬 Note to Include:
“For the friend who needs warmth more than Wi-Fi this season.”

3. Relax-Time Infused Body Oil

One of my favorite “you deserve a moment to yourself” gifts. An infused herbal oil is simple to make and can be used for massage, after-shower moisturizer, or added to bathwater.

Simple Infusion:

1. Fill a clean jar halfway with dried herbs (calendula, lavender, or chamomile).

2. Cover with olive or jojoba oil.

3. Infuse 2–4 weeks in a sunny window, or warm gently for 2 hours in a double boiler.

4. Strain into clean bottles and label.

💡 Relax-Time Tag Idea:
“Massage in or add to bath. Two minutes of calm—just for you.”

4. Holiday Simmer Pot Kits

If holiday cheer had a scent, this is it. These jars smell magical from the moment they’re opened—and take only minutes to assemble.

Simmer Jar Mix (fills 1 pint jar):

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 1 Tbsp dried orange peel

• 1 Tbsp whole cloves

• 1 Tbsp dried rosemary

• 1 Tbsp fresh or frozen cranberries

Layer into the jar and attach this note:

“Simmer in 4 cups of water on the stove to fill your home with holiday warmth and cheer.”

💡 Why I Love This Gift:
They ship well, work for anyone, and make perfect teacher, neighbor, or hostess gifts.

What I Use (With Links if You Need Them)

What You’ll Need to Make These Gifts

Here are some of the basic supplies I use when making these herbal gifts at home. You might already have most of them on hand, but if not, I’ve linked the ones I love using. I also enjoy thrifting for fun glass containers to package up salts, soaks, and tea blends.

Jars & Packaging

• 8 oz glass jars (for bath salts + soaks)-I prefer Azure standard jars for all my needs, but pretty second hand found ones are always a hit and more personal

• Small tea jars with spoons (for tea + simmer kits)

• Amber glass bottles (for infused oils or room mists)

• Ribbon, twine, or kraft paper tags

Herbs & Ingredients

• Epsom salt & pink Himalayan salt

• Rose hips, hibiscus, lemon balm- I prefer to use Azure Standard for all the herbs that I can. Some need to be ordered from Mountain Rose Herbs or Amazon, but my preference is Azure when I can.

• Dried orange peel, cinnamon sticks, cloves, rosemary

• Calendula, lavender, chamomile

• Carrier oil (olive or jojoba)

Helpful Extras

• Muslin tea bags (for tea jars + tub teas)

• Small funnel

• Measuring spoons

Why These Herbal Gifts Work

Ingredient Why It Works Perfect For

Lavender & Calendula Relaxing, skin-soothing, universally loved Baths & body

Rose Hips & Ginger Immune-boosting and comforting Teas

Hibiscus & Lemon Balm Bright, tart, and calming Wellness blends

Cinnamon & Orange Peel Cozy and nostalgic Simmer kits

Herbal gifting is meaningful because every ingredient has a purpose—it’s a gift that feels thoughtful, not rushed.

One Blend That Works for Everyone

If you want one universal blend that works for bath soaks, foot soaks, or a general self-care jar, try this:

Holiday Comfort Soak (fills 1 pint jar):

• 1 cup Epsom salt

• ½ cup baking soda

• 2 Tbsp calendula

• 2 Tbsp lavender

• 1 Tbsp dried orange peel

Kid-Safe Note: Safe for all ages when essential oils are left out.

Usage Tag:
“Add ½ cup to warm bath or 3 Tbsp to a foot soak—especially after a long day of wrapping gifts.”

Holiday Herbal Gift-Making Kit – $12

If you want to skip the planning and go straight to the fun part, this kit gives you everything you need to create beautiful, thoughtful gifts in one cozy afternoon—without the stress, guesswork, or last-minute store runs.

Inside, you’ll get:

• Printable recipe cards for the 4 gifts in this blog

• Bonus: Herbal Tub Tea Bags recipe card (not shared in the blog)

• Matching printable labels & gift tags

• Holiday Fast-Batch Method guide

Perfect if you want the “I made these myself!” feeling—without spending all day making them.

👉 Holiday Herbal Gift-Making Kit – Found on Gumroad

Be the Holiday Gifting Hero (Bundle & Save)

Want the best of both worlds?
The Holiday Gift-Making Mega Bundle includes everything from the Holiday Herbal Gift-Making Kit, plus more cozy herbal gifting options—so you can choose quick gifts on busy days and creative herbal gifts when you want something extra special.

It’s the easiest way to create a full variety of meaningful, handmade gifts for teachers, neighbors, friends, and family—without the stress, planning, or last-minute Target run.

👉 Holiday Gift-Making Mega Bundle –Available for instant download on Gumroad

Final Thought

The best gifts are the ones made with intention, not urgency. A jar of bath salts, a calming tea blend, or a simmer pot assembled with your own hands holds a kind of heart no store can sell.

So skip the chaos this year. Make something beautiful, simple, and meaningful. Let your gifts carry a little herbal comfort, a little peace, and a whole lot of your warmth.

Because joy, calm, and lavender-scented evenings will always beat a doorbuster sale. 🌿

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. All content is for educational purposes only and not intended to diagnose or treat any condition.