I’ve never been a huge fan of scary Halloween decorations. Orange isn’t my favorite color and being scared isn’t my favorite thing. So, I tend to decorate with fall themed items rather than going the scary-witchy route. But I really do love the smell of citrus and allspice. So I found a way to combine the Halloween “scary-ness” with the natural scents of oranges and spice.
For this project I used:
Navel Oranges (or as my family calls them “belly button oranges”)
Whole Allspice
Tea Light Candles
A Metal Cookie Cutter
Knife
I began by cutting a “lid” from the orange about 3/4″ from the top.
Scoop out the orange and set aside for making fresh squeezed orange juice. Take a metal cookie cutter that is smaller than the circumference of the lid and firmly press to cut out a shape in the center of the lid.
Scoop out the orange from the inside using a spoon. Now you are ready to make your face!
These suckers are so much easier to carve than a silly pumpkin. (Notice that all my Jack O Lanterns are smiling. I told you I don’t do scary).
Now put about two tablespoons of whole Allspice inside and push a tea light candle into the center of the spices. (You can also use whole cloves for this and smell the house up like pumpkin pie!)
Put your lid back on top and let it burn. Soon you will smell the pleasant aroma of spices and orange. Very neat. These little votives will last as long as the candle does and you can replace the candle several times before the orange finally gives out. Mine lasted about three days and then I put the rinds out for the birds to enjoy.
They look great lined up on the window sill and make the house smell so good. You could also use these little Jack O Lanterns as place settings on a Fall tablescape. Wouldn’t that make the table look festive!
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
I think this is wonderful! I just wanted to share that I have been using coffee beans to scent my candles, much the same way as you used the allspice/and or cloves. I have glass jars that I put candles in, and pour coffee beans around the candle. The scent is incredible – and though I don’t know how well it would pair with a fragrant orange, I just thought it would be something else you could toss in there.
Coffee beans is a wonderful idea, and I think it would go well with the orange! Awesome idea!
such a fun idea!!!
Oh I love them. I will do this tomorow. Thank's for this Post.
I featured your fun jack-o-lanterns on this week's Terrific under Ten!
http://athomewithk.blogspot.com/2011/09/welcome-to-terrific-under-ten-tuesday.html
Hi Suzy, what a neat idea and I can imagine your home smells really good. Great job. I found and am now following you through My Romantic Home and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
You did NOT just do that…
Of course you didn't cuz you had to take pictures and then write about it so you could post it…
That is unequivocally the most creative use of fruit I have ever seen….
Too cute, and smells good too? I'm in!
(found ya on a link party)
love these! im going to have to try them.. you make it look so easy
I saw this on Someday Crafts and just had to share it on my blog: http://coloradocasual.blogspot.com/
I can't wait to give these a try. I bet they are easier to gut than pumpkins.
Thanks Suzy,
Morgan
p.s. I hope it is ok I featured you on my blog. I'm new to the blog world and hope I'm not going against a blog etiquette.
Oh my gosh. Seriously??? Seriously????? This is one of those things that makes me really wish I had thought of it first…
I'd love for you to link up to my pumpkin party:
"Pumpkinspiration Party!
I LOVE this idea!!! They'll make great centerpieces on my table. I'm even thinking of adjusting it a bit for Thanksgiving but not sure how. Any ideas?
This is so cute!!!!
I love this idea! They are so cute and I love having my house smell great so this is going to be in my house. Thanks for sharing.
I love this idea. I think I might make a couple with the kids!
I worked same work only with pumpkin and apple. Never tried orange, your work is best and I got a new idea to do on this weekend.
love this idea love the aroma of orange and this is such a cute idea plus would make the whole house smell great come see me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
Awesome! We made these with our Pathfinder unit tonight and it was lots of fun!
OH wow! Your little Jack O Lanterns are so adorable.
Dee
Bellissima idea! E molto piu' facile da eseguire che svuotare una zucca!!
this is beyond cool, i cant wait to try it!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Super cute and I love the idea. I stumbled the post for you on SU. Happy Halloween!
Sooo adorable.. and what a great idea for a naturally scented candle! Thhanks so much for sharing with the Pink Hippo Party.. can't wait to see what you share next! Hope you stop by and enter for a chance to win up to $ 100 in mdf craft goodies @ http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/2011/10/mr-woody-giveaway-win-up-to-100-in.html
I am sure you would do amazing things with them!
What a brilliant idea! I will definitely be trying this idea at Christmas time too…I bet it smells very festive!
Best wishes,
Natasha.
Oh great idea! I can only imagine how yummy your house smells! I'm getting some oranges next time I'm at the store.
Oh, these must smell lovely. I'm so going to try these.
i am so in love with these! can't wait to make them with my kiddos!
thanks and have a great weekend
lisa
So totally cool. I bet they smell wonderful!
I love these – I've made clove studded versions, but never tried to carve them. We'll definitely be giving these a go!
Those are adorable–so creative!
So clever and fun! I'm sure they smell fantastic.
Super cute! I featured these at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com
Oh wow Suzy! These are fantastic! So much easier than carving out pumpkins and I can just imagine the gorgeous aroma they create!! Thanks for sharing this!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
This is fab. Pinned, tweeted and stumbled!
OMG, this is just way too cute! How unique, too. TFS.
Pinning on pinterest.
Cheers,
Tracy Screaming Sardine
How CUTE!! I love these little jack o lanterns!!
Hugs,
Vanessa
SOOOOO Cute!!
Love this idea. Thanks for sharing.
Those must smell so yummy!
what an awsome idea!!!!
Paula
They turned out great. I love them!
what a wonderful idea, and save the pumpkins for a pie.
thank you
Really cute and I'm sure they smell great-enjoy:@)