Father's Day DIYs

We are here to celebrate the fathers out there. The grill masters. The lawn care connoisseurs. The kings of the porcelain throne. I think it is fair to say that fathers probably don’t receive the appreciation they deserve. I, myself, find that I am guilty of not showing my dad just how much he means to me more often. The man who lost countless nights of sleep to slay every monster living in the closet or under my bed. The man who taught me how to ride a bike, change the oil in my car, and drive a manual. The man who showed me the value in a hard day’s work so that I can stand in the mirror and be proud of the person staring back.

I think I speak for everyone when I say that dads are the silent heroes in our lives.

They give their all and ask for nothing in return. Today we have the opportunity to show them just how much we see their hard work and dedication and appreciate and love them for it! But what in the world do you even do for a dad? C’mon; they are fairly simple and even if you did ask they would just try to pass it off as “I don’t need anything” or “don’t do anything for me.”

Flowers are too girly and moms got them all for Mothers Day — so what’s left? Tools? I am sure they already have that new screwdriver 5000. A wallet? To be fair, they probably do need a new one but that’s for a different blog. I think we can help with these awesome and simple DIYs! Nothing shows how much you love somebody like a homemade gift. A beard balm because we can all agree that men who have beards take them very seriously. And something even the women can appreciate, a fresh yet savory cologne! We hope you enjoy making these just as much as we have and we hope even more that the dads in your life appreciate your hard work to create these fun DIYs for them or you can even create them together!

Cedar & Fir Beard Balm

What you’ll need:

4 teaspoons beeswax pearls
1 tablespoon shea butter
1 tablespoon Almond Carrier Oil
2 teaspoons Jojoba Carrier Oil
10 drops vitamin E oil
10 drops Cedarwood (any variety)
10 drops of an evergreen oil (Pine, Spruce, Cypress, or Balsam Fir)
2 oz tin or jar
Heat resistant measuring cup
Small saucepan (if using double broiler method)

What you’ll do:

Measure the beeswax, mango butter, almond oil and jojoba oil into a heat resistant measuring cup, then set in a small saucepan of simmering water (double broiler) or in the microwave -heating in 30-second increments- to melt ingredients. Once completely melted, remove the measuring cup from the heat source, allow to cool slightly - but not enough to solidify- before adding vitamin E and essential oils. Mix well once all ingredients are added then pour combined oils into a 2 oz container of your choice and let balm harden before use.

Beard Balm should last 1-2 years if applied with clean, dry hands and kept stored in an airtight container.

Refreshing Solid Cologne

What you’ll need:

2 tablespoons Beeswax Pearls
2 tablespoons Jojoba Carrier Oil (or carrier oil of your choice)
10 drops Virginian Cedarwood
5 drops Sandalwood
5 drops Peppermint
To customize, you can add up to 15 drops of your favorite oil to fall within a 2% topical dilution.

What you’ll do:

Add beeswax to heat resistant measuring cup, then set over a small saucepan of simmering water (double boiler) to melt. Add the carrier oil of your choice, while stirring until mixture is clear. Remove from heat before stirring in 20-35 drops of essential oils. Pour into a container of your choice and cover until cooled. Apply solid cologne on inside of wrists, behind ears or on your neck.

*If you have sensitive skin, start with just 20 drops and increase gradually if no irritation occurs.

*If using different essential oils, be sure to check recommended dilution and safety before using

Solid Cologne should last 1-2 years if stored in an airtight container, away from heat/light. Apply with clean, dry hands to help keep fresh.