You can use almost anything in your garden to make an aromatic potpourri mixture. Traditionally, potpourri is a mixture of dried fs and other ingredients, placed in open containers, like small bowls or cups and placed to allow their aroma to delicately scent the room. Sachets are usually small cloth "pillows" containing potpourri, which can be used almost anywhere. Sachets have the advantage of being portable, you can place them in drawers, pin them to pillows, or carry them in your purse wherever you go.Generally, potpourri ingredients should not be finely ground, petals of fs should be lightly crushed. Ingredients such as cinnamon sticks or orange peels should be broken into small pieces or finely chopped.
Some fs that are especially good to use in potpourri are roses, carnations, hibiscus, violets, sunfs, and lavendar. Some herbs that work well in potpourri are chamomile, lavender, thyme, sage and rosemary. Eucalyptus leaves are a nice addition to any potpourri. You shouldn't limit yourself to this list however. Experiment, use your imagination and whatever you have at hand.
For all the following recipes, start with bone dry fs, leaves, herbs and spices.
POTPOURRI RECIPES:
Essence of RoseIngredients:
Floral 1Combine 3/4 cup calamus root, 1/2 cup caraway seeds, 1/4 cup ground cloves, 2 cups lavender fs, 1 cup marjoram, 1 cup mint, 2 cups rose leaves, 1/2 cup rosemary and 1/4 cup thyme. Mix well.
Floral 2Combine 10 marigold blossoms, 6 geranium leaves, 5 rose blossoms, 2 tsp dried lavender,
2 tsp orrisroot, 2 drops rose fixative
SpiceCombine 1/4 cup orrisroot, 4 cups lavender fs, 3 cups patchouli, 1/4 cup ground cloves, 1 cup deerstongue leaves and 1/2 cup ground allspice. Add 10 drops oil of rose, 10 drops oil of lavender, 12 drops oil of neroli and 1/4 tsp. oil of sandalwood. Mix well.
CassieCombine 4 cups cassie fs, 1/4 cup orrisroot powder and 1/2 cup starch. Mix well.
PineCombine 1/2 cup bayberry leaves, 1/2 cup snipped balsam needles, 1/2 cup miniature pine cones, 1/2 cup rose hips, 2 tsp orrisroot, 2 drops pine-scented fixative
Mix the bayberry, balsam, pine cones and rose hips in a large bowl. Add the orrisroot and fixative and stir gently. This makes a great Christmas potpourri!More stuff...
Processed Corn Cob Additive - Put some ground corn cob material (sold as cellulose, or litter material at your Walmart or pet store) in a jar. Add several drops of essential oil, place lid on jar and shake. Shake jar about once every day or so for about 10 days. Add it to your potpourri to give body and help hold the scent.
Potpourri Filler - If you don't have enough dried fs to make potpourri, or if you just need some filler, remember you can use almost anything in your mixture. Pine cones (whole or just the petals), bark, leaves, etc. Orris root is commonly used as a filler/fixative. Another alternative is to buy a "Filler".
Some fs that are especially good to use in potpourri are roses, carnations, hibiscus, violets, sunfs, and lavendar. Some herbs that work well in potpourri are chamomile, lavender, thyme, sage and rosemary. Eucalyptus leaves are a nice addition to any potpourri. You shouldn't limit yourself to this list however. Experiment, use your imagination and whatever you have at hand.
For all the following recipes, start with bone dry fs, leaves, herbs and spices.
POTPOURRI RECIPES:
Essence of RoseIngredients:
- 1 cup pink rose petals
- 1/2 cup red rose petals
- 1/2 cup white rose petals
- 1/4 cup chamomile fs
- 1/2 cup crushed statice (blue or white)
- 1/4 cup eucalyptus leaves
- 1/4 cup oakmoss
- 20 drops rose oil
Floral 1Combine 3/4 cup calamus root, 1/2 cup caraway seeds, 1/4 cup ground cloves, 2 cups lavender fs, 1 cup marjoram, 1 cup mint, 2 cups rose leaves, 1/2 cup rosemary and 1/4 cup thyme. Mix well.
Floral 2Combine 10 marigold blossoms, 6 geranium leaves, 5 rose blossoms, 2 tsp dried lavender,
2 tsp orrisroot, 2 drops rose fixative
SpiceCombine 1/4 cup orrisroot, 4 cups lavender fs, 3 cups patchouli, 1/4 cup ground cloves, 1 cup deerstongue leaves and 1/2 cup ground allspice. Add 10 drops oil of rose, 10 drops oil of lavender, 12 drops oil of neroli and 1/4 tsp. oil of sandalwood. Mix well.
CassieCombine 4 cups cassie fs, 1/4 cup orrisroot powder and 1/2 cup starch. Mix well.
PineCombine 1/2 cup bayberry leaves, 1/2 cup snipped balsam needles, 1/2 cup miniature pine cones, 1/2 cup rose hips, 2 tsp orrisroot, 2 drops pine-scented fixative
Mix the bayberry, balsam, pine cones and rose hips in a large bowl. Add the orrisroot and fixative and stir gently. This makes a great Christmas potpourri!More stuff...
Processed Corn Cob Additive - Put some ground corn cob material (sold as cellulose, or litter material at your Walmart or pet store) in a jar. Add several drops of essential oil, place lid on jar and shake. Shake jar about once every day or so for about 10 days. Add it to your potpourri to give body and help hold the scent.
Potpourri Filler - If you don't have enough dried fs to make potpourri, or if you just need some filler, remember you can use almost anything in your mixture. Pine cones (whole or just the petals), bark, leaves, etc. Orris root is commonly used as a filler/fixative. Another alternative is to buy a "Filler".
TIPS!
Got bugs?
Try these ideas:
- Bag up your potpourri in freezer zip-locks and place in the freezer for a minimum of two weeks. This should also kill the adults and eggs. Afterwards use a collander to sift out the bugs. If you use large quantities of potpourri, dried fs, foliage or herbs in your crafts storing them in a deep freeze will eliminate this problem.
- Try placing dried red chili peppers in the potpourri. It seems to drive the weavils away.
- Have an eye for color
- Potpourri ingredients should be chosen for visual appeal as well as smell. You might choose to include small pine cones in your potpourri, for instance, just because they add an interesting color and texture.
- Try adding unusual seeds, seed pods, or pussywillows to your potpourri.
- If your potpourri will be displayed in glass bowls or containers, think about using plants just for contrast. If your potpourri is looking a little bland, toss in some f petals or leaves of a dark or contrasting shade.