Weigh out 50 grams of baking soda and 30 grams of cornstarch and stir them together in a bowl. Baking soda is the deodorizing base that actually absorbs odors, while cornstarch gives the stones structure and a smooth, matte finish so they hold their shape once cured. A digital scale matters more than you’d think here — eyeballing it throws off the ratio and gives you stones that crumble or stay tacky.

Heat 15 grams of distilled water until it’s warm to the touch — not boiling — then stir in 5 grams of your bubblegum fragrance oil. Warming the water helps the oil disperse evenly instead of pooling, which means the scent runs all the way through each stone rather than sitting on the surface. Distilled water keeps them from developing spots as they dry.

Add a few drops of pink colorant and a pinch of mica shimmer to your warm fragrance water, stirring until you hit that soft, pastel bubblegum shade. Start light — you can always add more, but you can’t pull color back out. The mica is what gives the finished stones their subtle boutique sparkle instead of a flat, chalky look.

Pour the tinted liquid into your dry mix and stir, then knead with your hands until you get a soft, crumbly texture that just holds together when pressed — think damp sand, not smooth dough. If it feels too dry, add water a few drops at a time; if it’s wet or sticky, sprinkle in a little more baking soda until it comes back to that crumbly stage.

Firmly press the mixture into a silicone ice cube or soap mold, packing each cavity tight so the stones hold a crisp shape. Give the tops a light spritz of isopropyl alcohol — it helps the surface set faster and cure smooth without cracking. A silicone mold is key because it flexes, letting you pop the finished stones out cleanly without breaking the edges.

Let the molds sit undisturbed overnight so the stones fully harden. Once set, gently flex the silicone and pop each one out, then place them wherever you want a subtle, sweet scent. Letting them cure completely before use is what gives you the longest-lasting fragrance — rush it and the scent fades fast.

Tuck them into small spaces where a gentle fragrance goes a long way — bathrooms, closets, dresser drawers, cars, gym bags, or even inside a gift box. They’re perfect for freshening a linen cabinet, and a few in a pretty tin make a charming addition to a homemade gift set or market bundle.

Once you’ve got the base down, play with the scent: lavender plus vanilla for a spa vibe, or lemon plus mint for a clean, energizing lift. Match the mica to the season or your decor — pink for Valentine’s, green for spring, gold for the holidays. And if a batch ever feels too dry while mixing, add water a few drops at a time; too wet, and a little more baking soda pulls it right back.