DIY Lava Stone Necklace for Essential Oils – A Beautiful Mess Project

DIY by Laura Gummerman

Arrange the lava stones and wooden beads in a design that appeals to you. Attach a large jump ring to a 12-inch piece of bead wire, tying it roughly three inches from one end to leave a tail on the opposite side. String your beads onto the wire, also passing the wire through the three-inch tail so that the tail is concealed among the beads. After all beads are on, attach another jump ring to the opposite end and tie a knot, leaving some slack to prevent the beads from being compressed when the necklace hangs in a U-shape. Cut the leftover wire to about two to three inches, then tuck that tail back into the beads so it is also hidden. When finished, you'll have a beaded segment with jump rings at both ends and all wire tails concealed inside the beads.

Decide on your desired necklace length, then cut a piece of flat cord to achieve that total length, accounting for the beaded section. Because you'll be applying oils to the stones, I recommend a shorter necklace that rests against your skin rather than a long one, as certain oils may stain fabric. If oil gets on your skin, it's essentially just a bit of moisturizer from the carrier oil, so no worries. Using needle-nose pliers, attach a fold-over cord end to each end of the flat cord. Connect the cord ends to the beaded section by opening the jump rings with pliers, sliding the cord ends onto them, then closing the rings securely. As the necklace will likely be too short to slip over your head, cut the flat cord in half and add two more cord ends, small jump rings, and a clasp to allow easy removal.

For applying oil, combine two to three drops of your preferred essential oil(s) with one teaspoon of a carrier oil. Preparing your signature blend in a dropper bottle makes it convenient to use repeatedly. Lay the necklace on a non-staining surface or a cloth/paper towel, then place one drop of the mixture onto several stones. Let the oil absorb for about fifteen minutes, then wipe off any surplus before putting on the necklace. Try different numbers of drops to achieve your desired scent strength, and reapply whenever the fragrance fades.

*Important safety note: Many tutorials for lava stone jewelry suggest applying undiluted essential oils directly to the stones or rubbing them in your hands first. However, undiluted oils can irritate the skin due to their potency, so it's safer to mix them with a carrier oil beforehand. This method is both stylish and fragrant—count me in! Lavender oil is my personal favorite for its calming aroma and relaxing effects—I could always use a little more serenity in my day, you know? Since you might wear this necklace outdoors, avoid photosensitive oils such as lemon, lime, and grapefruit. (A full list of photosensitive oils is available here.) These can cause skin discoloration or irritation when exposed to sunlight, so reserve them for projects not worn in the sun. As with any essential oil use, stop using if you notice any negative reactions or sensitivity. To switch scents, simply wait a few days until the previous fragrance fades, then apply a new one. This necklace can also serve as your daily perfume, skipping that morning step if you like. There are countless ways to enjoy essential oils—I hope this becomes one of your favorites! xo. Laura

Credits // Written and photographed by Laura Gummerman. Images enhanced with A Color Story Desktop.