Painting freshies is one of the best ways to make a design stand out, but it can take a little practice to achieve clean lines and smooth coverage. These simple tips can help you avoid common painting problems and create a cleaner finished product.

New to making freshies? Start with our Beginner's Guide to Making Freshies with Silicone Molds before diving into decorating.

Use Matte Acrylic Paint

Matte acrylic paint is the only paint we recommend for freshies, in any circumstance. Glossy, satin, metallic, neon, and other specialty paints will either peel off the freshie or stick to the bag during storage. Matte acrylic paint provides the best coverage, layers cleanly, and holds up properly once the freshie is packaged.

Use Needle-Tip Paint Bottles

For clean lettering, outlines, facial features, and small details, we recommend using needle-tip paint bottles.

Needle-tip bottles give you more control over where the paint goes and can create smoother, more precise lines without leaving visible brush marks.

We generally do not recommend small paintbrushes unless you are intentionally trying to give the freshie a more vintage, distressed, or rough-painted appearance.

Apply Thin Layers

Avoid applying one thick layer of paint. Heavy coats may take longer to dry, cover the details of the freshie, remain tacky, or peel later.

Apply a thin layer and allow it to dry completely before adding another coat. Several thin coats usually create a cleaner finish than one heavy coat.

Prevent Red Paint from Bleeding

Red paint can sometimes bleed or seep into aroma beads over time, especially when it is applied directly to a white or light-colored freshie. This may cause staining or discoloration around the painted area.

Before applying red paint, create a barrier between the freshie and the red pigment.

You can apply a thin layer of Mod Podge and allow it to dry completely before painting. Another option is to apply a base coat of another paint color, such as black, and allow it to dry before adding the red paint.

A lighter base coat will help the red remain brighter, while black may create a deeper or darker shade of red.

Add Glitter While the Paint Is Wet

Glitter can be added directly over wet paint.

Work with one paint color at a time. Apply the paint, immediately add the glitter, and allow the paint and glitter to dry completely.

Once dry, gently brush away the excess glitter before moving on to the next color. This helps prevent different glitter colors from mixing or sticking to areas where they do not belong.

When working on a large area, paint and glitter it in smaller sections so the paint does not dry before the glitter is applied.

Allow Plenty of Drying Time

Allow each paint color to dry completely before adding another color beside or over it. This helps prevent smearing, mixing, and accidental paint transfer.

Once the freshie is completely painted, allow it to dry overnight before placing it into a bag. Freshies with several layers of paint or glitter may need additional drying time.

Even when the surface feels dry, the paint underneath may still be curing.

Be Careful When Packaging

Do not bag a freshie while the paint is still damp or tacky. Paint that has not dried completely may stick to the bag, smear, peel, or transfer.

Use freshie-safe packaging and make sure the finished freshie is completely dry before sealing it inside the bag.

Do You Need a Sealer?

Sealers are a personal preference, but after six years of making freshies, we rarely use one. In most circumstances, we find a sealer to be completely unnecessary when you are using the right paint and allowing it to dry properly.

If you do choose to experiment with a sealer, be aware that some may become tacky, create an odor, cause condensation inside the packaging, or react with the paint or fragrance oil. Always test on a sample freshie first and allow it to sit for several days before using it on finished products.

Practice Makes Progress

Painting freshies takes patience and practice. Work slowly, apply thin layers, and allow every color to dry completely.

For the cleanest details, remember our preferred method:

Use needle-tip paint bottles, work one color at a time, and never rush the drying process.

Ready to get started? Browse our Silicone Molds and Pre-Scented Aroma Beads to find everything you need for your next freshie project.