Montessori Mom

Montessori Scent Bottles: A DIY Sensorial Activity

The Montessori scent bottles activity is a wonderful way to help young children refine their sense of smell. Children ages 3 to 6 have a remarkably acute sense of smell, and this hands-on exercise invites them to explore, compare, and match scents — building concentration, vocabulary, and sensory awareness. Best of all, you can easily make scent bottles at home with materials you likely already have in your kitchen.

Materials Needed

• 12 to 16 similar containers with lids — such as WeeSprout Glass Baby Food Storage Jars (12 Set, 4 oz) or 12 Pcs Glass Jars with Lids. Old spice jars, medicine bottles, or small metal tins also work well.
• Cotton wool or cotton balls
• 6 different scents — such as potpourri of flower petals, spices (cloves, cinnamon), or liquid flavorings (vanilla, almond, peppermint, lemon), eau de cologne, or perfume. Use any non-toxic scent you have in the house.
• Vegetable oil
• Small muslin bags (for dry scents)

How to Make the Scent Bottles

1. Place about a teaspoon of vegetable oil on a small piece of cotton.
2. Add a few drops of your chosen scent, then cover with another layer of cotton.
3. Place the scented cotton inside a jar and seal the lid.
4. Create a second identical jar with the same scent so you have a matching pair.
5. Repeat until you have two jars of each scent (e.g., 6 scents = 12 jars).

Important: All bottles must look identical so your child distinguishes the pairs by smell only. If you are using dry potpourri or spices, cover the jars with contact paper so the contents aren't visible. Alternatively, place dry scents into small sewn muslin bags. Store all the bottles together in a small box or tray.

Presentation

1. Select two or more pairs of scented bottles and place them on a table.
2. Remove the lids and mix up all the containers.
3. Gently waft a bottle under your nose, then invite your child to smell it.
4. Show the child how to find the matching scent by smelling the other bottles one at a time.
5. Place matched pairs side by side and replace the lids.
6. Add more pairs as your child becomes more proficient.

You can enrich this activity by introducing the names of each scent using the Three Period Lesson — a classic Montessori technique for building vocabulary.

Control of Error

The built-in control of error is simple: if the last remaining pair of bottles doesn't smell the same, the child knows a mismatch occurred earlier and can try again.

Extending the Activity

Once your child enjoys the scent bottles, consider planting an herb garden together. Aromatic herbs such as rosemary, lavender, basil, and thyme provide a wonderful opportunity to exercise the sense of smell in a real-world context. The herbs can later be used to make fresh potpourri or incorporated into Practical Life cooking lessons — connecting sensorial exploration to everyday activities.

Related Articles

• What is Sensorial Education? — Learn why refining the senses is central to the Montessori method.
• Sensorial Sound Boxes — Another great DIY matching activity for the senses.