You can make a simple batch of homemade watercolor paint with pantry basics, then turn it into scratch-n-sniff paint with one easy add-in. Each batch makes one color, dries in small containers, and works well for quick kids’ craft projects when you don’t feel like buying another specialty paint set.
The base paint uses vinegar, baking soda, cornstarch, light corn syrup, and food coloring. For the scented version, stir in instant gelatin mix before the paint hardens. Since this is a moisture-containing homemade craft, store any leftover wet paint covered in the refrigerator and use it within 3 to 4 days.
The USDA recommends that homemade perishable mixtures stay refrigerated at 40 degrees F or below and get used within that window for best safety and quality, which is a smart rule here too since this paint contains food-based ingredients and moisture from the start. See their guidance on leftovers and food safety.
Ingredients
For one batch of homemade watercolor paint, you’ll need:
- 1 T vinegar
- 1 T baking soda
- food coloring
- 4 T corn starch
- 1 T light corn syrup
To turn that same batch into scratch-n-sniff paint, add:
- 2 tsp any flavor instant gelatin mix
How to Make Homemade Watercolor Paints
- Stir the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl.
- Allow the foam to settle for a minute or two.
- Add a couple drops of food coloring.
- Carefully mix in the remaining ingredients.
- Pour the paint into small containers such as Styrofoam egg cartons.
- Allow the paint to harden before using. Each batch makes 1 color.
Scratch-n-Sniff Variation
Liss Notes: To Create Scratch-n-Sniff Paints add 2 tsp of any flavor instant gelatin mix to your paints before they harden.
Fruit flavors work especially well if you want the scent to match the color, but any instant gelatin flavor you have on hand will do the job.
How to Use the Paints
These paints are used like simple homemade watercolor paints once they’ve hardened. Dip a brush in a little water, swirl it over the color, and paint as usual. If you like making your own craft supplies, these pair nicely with Watercolor Paints, Puffy Paints, and Bath Paints.
Tips
- Let the foam settle first. If you rush that step, the mixture stays too bubbly and can dry unevenly.
- Use small containers. Egg carton cups, condiment cups, or bottle caps help the paint harden into usable single colors.
- Start with just a couple drops of color. You can always add more, but you can’t pull it back out once the bowl looks like a tie-dye accident.
- Add the gelatin before the paint sets. Stir it in well so the scent distributes through the batch instead of sitting in one gritty patch.
Storage
Wet paint: Cover tightly and refrigerate any leftover wet paint. Use it within 3 to 4 days as an estimate for best quality and safety.
Dried paint cakes: Once fully hardened, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. For best quality, use the plain paint within about 18 months. If you make the scratch-n-sniff version, use it within about 18 months too, since the gelatin is the shortest-lived dry ingredient and the scent will usually fade before the paint becomes unusable. Keep moisture out so the paint doesn’t soften or spot with mold.
💸 Budget101® Price Breakdown: Scratch-n-Sniff Paints
Ingredient |
Walmart Item |
Pkg Price |
Amount Used |
Cost Used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Vinegar |
$1.18 |
1 T. |
$0.02 |
|
Baking soda |
$0.92 |
1 T. |
$0.03 |
|
A couple drops food coloring |
$1.12 |
1 ≈ a few drops |
$0.18 |
|
Corn starch |
$1.92 |
4 T. |
$0.14 |
|
Light corn syrup |
$2.98 |
1 T. |
$0.09 |
|
Instant gelatin mix |
$0.78 |
2 t. |
$0.05 |
💸 |
Cost |
|---|---|
🧾 Total Batch Cost |
$0.51 |
👨👩👧👦 Cost Per Serving |
$0.51 |
📅 Walmart prices last verified August 26, 2026. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change. Learn how to calculate the cost of a recipe on your own!
🛒 Walmart Grocery List
- Distilled White Vinegar, 32 fl oz
- Baking Soda, 16 oz
- Assorted Food Colors, 1.5 fl oz
- Corn Starch, 16 oz
- Light Corn Syrup, 16 oz
- Instant Gelatin Mix, 3 oz
Not sure exactly what this batch costs you per serving? Here’s how to break down the real cost of any recipe so you know before you shop.
Frequently Asked Questions about Scratch-n-Sniff Paints
You can, but then they’re just the plain homemade watercolor version. The gelatin is what adds the scent, so if you leave it out, you’ll still get color and paintability, just not the scratch-n-sniff effect.
Letting it settle keeps the paint from trapping too many bubbles. If you mix the starch and syrup in while it’s still foaming hard, the texture can dry lumpy and the color may not set as evenly in the container.
Small shallow containers work best because the paint dries faster and is easier to re-wet with a brush later. Styrofoam egg cartons work well, and so do small plastic condiment cups, bottle caps, or any similar container that gives you one color per well.
Start with a couple drops, just as written, then add more only if you want a deeper shade. Liquid food coloring gets strong fast, and too much can make every batch look more muddy than cheerful.
Absolutely, just make separate batches if you want clean colors. One batch makes one color, so dividing a single bowl after tinting usually gives you less paint and more confusion.
Dip your paintbrush in a little water and rub it over the hardened paint cake like a basic watercolor set. You only need a small amount of water, because too much can turn the surface gummy instead of smoothly workable.
Keep it covered in the refrigerator and use it within 3 to 4 days. Since it contains moisture and food-based ingredients, it’s better treated like a short-term homemade mixture than something you leave on the craft shelf for a month and hope for the best.
Store the fully dried paint in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot. The biggest troublemaker is moisture, so if the paint feels tacky, soft, or shows spots or odor, toss it and make a fresh batch.
It may scent the paint, but regular instant gelatin is usually the safer bet for predictable texture because that’s the version named in the directions. If you swap products, make a small test batch first so you don’t waste the whole color on an experiment.
Give each color its own container and use a clean or well-rinsed brush between shades. Homemade paints are forgiving, but not magical, and muddy brush water will absolutely win that fight.
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Did you make this recipe? Drop a comment and tell us which scent you made first, or what clever container you used for your paint colors.
🖨️ Print-Friendly Scratch-n-Sniff Paints
Scratch-n-Sniff Paints
Equipment
Materials
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- A couple drops food coloring
- 4 tablespoons corn starch
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 2 teaspoons instant gelatin mix optional
Instructions
- Stir the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl.
- Let the foam settle for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add a couple drops of food coloring.
- Carefully mix in the corn starch and light corn syrup until combined.
- Stir in the instant gelatin mix, if making the scratch-n-sniff version.
- Pour into small containers such as Styrofoam egg cartons.
- Let the paint harden completely before using. Each batch makes 1 color.
Notes
Cook time is 0 minutes because no heating is required.
Estimated cost is based on current online ingredient pricing and will vary by store and location.
Store leftover wet paint covered in the refrigerator and use within 3 to 4 days.
Store hardened paint in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 18 months for best quality.
my kids will get a kick out of this :d i cant wait til i have a chance to do this for them