One of my favorite things about fall and winter is the smell of burning wood and bonfires. Whether it comes from a backyard chimenea or a wood-burning stove, I’m always anxious for the temperature to drop a few degrees just so I can light a fire at home.
I mostly keep it low-fi and light some crumpled newspaper to get a fire going, but these homemade herb and spice fire starters are a simple step that makes a fire feel really special. If you use them inside the house, they’ll fill the air with the most wonderful aroma that lingers until the next morning. The only way I can describe it is… it smells like the holidays!
Fresh and dried herbs both work for these fire starters (though the dry stuff will burn a bit better), as well as the kinds of spices you’d use to mull cider. If you’ve ever wondered what to do with all those leaves and branches you prune from your herbs but can never use up, this is the perfect application for them.
For dried citrus peels, you can dry them quickly and easily in your oven using the same method for oven-dried oregano. Just take a vegetable peeler to the fruit before you juice it. The oil in the peel helps fuel the fire, making it a fragrant, natural kindling. I personally like the smell of dried orange and lemon peels, but any citrus will work.
Herbs and spices to try:
- Fresh or dried rosemary sprigs
- Fresh or dried lemongrass leaves
- Fresh or dried lemon verbena
- Fresh or dried lavender
- Fresh or dried sage
- Dried citrus peels
- Cinnamon sticks
- Whole cloves
To assemble your fire starters, you’ll need:
- Newspaper
- Natural fiber twine (like cotton, jute or hemp)
Fold a sheet of newspaper in half lengthwise, and then in half crosswise (the way it comes on the newsstand). Add your favorite fire-starting mix on top. For mine, I used a handful of fresh rosemary, a bundle of fresh lemongrass, a few dried lemon peels, a cinnamon stick, a spoonful of cloves, and a small heaping of dried lavender.
Roll it all up, then tie the ends with twine like a Tootsie Roll.
When you want to start a fire, simply place a few of these herb and spice bundles under your sticks and logs, newspaper end out, and light. Then just kick your feet up and get cozy!
26 Comments
Kimberlee
October 24, 2023 at 11:05 amThe only problem with these I see for us is that if you use newspaper, which has toxic inks, you can’t use it to make a Dust Bath for your chickens.
thanks for the ideas of using spices, though.
Kimberlee
Cary Bradley
November 30, 2015 at 5:27 amLove it but I’m missing how to keep the spices from spilling out of the bundle. Do you fold it all in at one end like a burrito, or just keep it carefully level, or am I overthinking this? 🙂 and couldn’t I use the whole citrus peel, rather than leaving pith behind? You are brilliant! Thanks! !
Linda Ly of Garden Betty
December 2, 2015 at 10:55 pmI wrap my bundle pretty tightly so nothing falls out; you could also try twisting the bundle (as you roll it up) to keep the spices tucked in. I store my bundles flat with my logs, so maybe that’s why I’ve never noticed any issue? And yes, you can use the whole citrus peel – the amount of pith left behind depends on the peeler you use, and it doesn’t make a difference. Stay warm!
Cary Bradley
December 3, 2015 at 2:38 amThank you, dear! I just love this idea and can’t wait to make some. You reminded me with speaking of lemon verbena, of our huge bush in our front yard in Whittier. It loved Southern California and lived alongside a huge pineapple sage bush. Every year when they began looking ratty, we’d prune them back to nubs, and the entire neighborhood smelled glorious! Thanks again for my dear SoCal memory. 🙂 and just let the dogs out, and it’s kind of balmy out. Maybe a Northeastern Santaana Wind… 🙂 hahaha
Antony Le
January 26, 2014 at 5:32 pmSo very cool…. or hot i should say!
theGardenBetty
November 29, 2013 at 4:01 pmRT @mgfsite: RT @theGardenBetty: Reason I look forward to the temp dropping! Homemade Herb & Spice Fire Starters http://t.co/uAuO40mQ6J #diy
theGardenBetty
November 27, 2013 at 9:01 pmUse these at home to fill the air with the most wonderful aroma. Homemade Herb and Spice Fire Starters http://t.co/9mN9eRTcrn #diy #craft
theGardenBetty
November 27, 2013 at 3:02 pmSo perfect for a backyard chimenea or a wood-burning stove. Homemade Herb and Spice Fire Starters http://t.co/oVPfojBjB7 #diy #craft
mgfsite
November 27, 2013 at 12:50 pmRT @theGardenBetty: 1 reason I look forward to the temperature dropping! Homemade Herb & Spice Fire Starters http://t.co/R0qhoW7uzF #diy
theGardenBetty
November 27, 2013 at 9:05 amMake these newspaper bundles with things you already have at home: Homemade Herb and Spice Fire Starters http://t.co/N8uFsUDXIz #diy #craft
Duke Chase Mosakowski
November 26, 2013 at 11:39 pmDuke Chase Mosakowski liked this on Facebook.
nurturedmama
November 26, 2013 at 8:50 pmNeed a hostess gift? I love this idea! Homemade Herb and Spice Fire Starters | Garden Betty http://t.co/YP6emlNsVC
theGardenBetty
November 26, 2013 at 6:02 pmOne of the reasons I look forward to the temperature dropping! Homemade Herb and Spice Fire Starters http://t.co/uAuO40mQ6J #diy #craft
Isis Loran
November 26, 2013 at 12:39 pmWhat a wonderful idea!!
Brittany
November 26, 2013 at 12:33 pmThis is totally happening at my parents’ holiday this year.
theGardenBetty
November 26, 2013 at 12:01 pmMake a more fragrant fire with these: Homemade Herb and Spice Fire Starters http://t.co/FnhJTCoWmM #diy #craft
Brian Morris
November 26, 2013 at 9:08 amBrian Morris liked this on Facebook.
EastofEdenCook
November 26, 2013 at 8:01 amFantastic idea!
“@BG_garden: Homemade Herb and Spice Fire Starters:
http://t.co/YiO1FUmGtP”
Mallory L. N. Johnson
November 26, 2013 at 7:08 amMallory L. N. Johnson liked this on Facebook.
Cheryl Jackson
November 26, 2013 at 7:08 amCheryl Jackson liked this on Facebook.
Cheryl Jackson
November 26, 2013 at 7:05 amThanks for sharing – I’m going to give this a try. Made me think of you, Debbie! 🙂
Judy McKinney Miller
November 26, 2013 at 6:23 amJudy McKinney Miller liked this on Facebook.
Missio Terra
November 26, 2013 at 6:16 amLove this idea! We’ll try it in our new wood burning fireplace this year. Thanks!
missioterra
November 26, 2013 at 6:12 amRT @BG_garden: Homemade Herb and Spice Fire Starters:
One of my favorite things about fall is the smell of burning wood and … http://t.c…
BG_garden
November 26, 2013 at 6:01 amHomemade Herb and Spice Fire Starters:
One of my favorite things about fall is the smell of burning wood and … http://t.co/DYz4YWoKZP
theGardenBetty
November 26, 2013 at 6:01 amBlogged on Garden Betty: Homemade Herb and Spice Fire Starters http://t.co/umOc216wrG