Let’s explore our sense of smell by making our own perfume with natural materials. This is the perfect activity to use an old bouquet of flowers, herbs from a child-friendly garden, and to do outside!
Set up Time: 10 minutes
Directions
1. Gather together flowers, cinnamon sticks, lemon peel, orange peel, rosemary, and if available, other fresh herbs like lavender, mint, oregano or lemon balm.
2. Give children a clean empty water bottle (avoid juice bottles as they may still carry the smell of the juice) with a cup of water and a little dropper.
3. Invite children to mix their own perfume! Add the ingredients, close the bottle, shake it, and then smell the combination or test it on your skin.
4. Invite children to come up with a name for their perfume.
Materials
- Recycled plastic water bottles
- Flowers
- Assorted spices
- Assorted citrus fruit
- Fresh herbs
- Droppers
- Water
Learning Through Play
Cognitive: Planning – When children name their perfume, invite them to compare and contrast with a peer. What recipes did they each use? Can you smell more citrus in one, and more cinnamon in another? Do they remember how much of each thing they added? By inviting children to reflect, they can perfect their methods for the next time!
Physical: Fine Motor – Extend this activity for even more fine motor development by inviting children to help squeeze the citrus peels, chopping the rosemary and grinding the cinnamon, in addition to the great work they will already be doing by using the dropper and twisting the water bottle cap on and off.
School Readiness: Writing – Keep some paper and tape or label stickers nearby. Do children want to create a name for their perfume? You can invite them to scribble write their label, or you can offer to write it for them, and invite them to copy the letters (including scribbling). This makes children feel that their hard work is valid and special!
See this activity in the Rayz Kidz app along with other fun activities. Rayz Kidz is your trusted source for play-based activities featuring over 100 themes and 500+ hands-on activities and clear descriptions of the beautiful learning that is happening through play.
