Potpourri is a wonderful, natural air freshener that’s easy to make if
you know the basics. We’ll describe the basic components of potpourri, how
to dry the filler material, how to combine fragrances, and then we’ll give
you a basic potpourri recipe that you can use with your favorite ingredients.
To wrap up, we’ll provide some links to potpourri recipes available on the
Web. Potpourri is comprised of three basic elements: the filler, the fixative
and the fragrance.
The Filler
There are three basic types of filler:
spices
fragrant flowers and herbs
non-fragrant flowers and leaves
Spices are best used whole because ground spices don’t look nice in the finished
potpourri. You can, however, use ground spices for sachets or other items
where the potpourri isn’t visible. Herbs, roses, jasmine, and lavender are
referred to as fragrant flowers and herbs. They all have a font scent that
will come through in the finished potpourri. All other flowers and leaves
are referred to as non-fragrant flowers and leaves. Although these fillers
do have some fragrance, it isn’t very font. The non-fragrant flowers and leaves
are added to potpourri mostly for visual appeal. Items like pine cones and
nuts are also considered non-fragrant fillers that look beautiful in a potpourri
mixture. You’ll need to thoroughly dry all of your filler material before
it can by added to the potpourri mixture. It’s best to dry each type of filler
material separately, because different types of filler may dry at different
rates. And if you keep the material separate while drying, you can experiment
with different combinations of filler as you create your potpourri. Here are
two methods for drying your filler material:
Select a container with an airtight lid. Place the material into the
container. Cover the material with silica gel or another drying agent
then seal the container. It will take several days for the filler to dry
completely.
Spread the filler in a single layer on a rack. Place the rack in a warm,
well ventilated area. Turn the filler every couple of days. Drying takes
several days.
The Fixative
The fixative is a material that absorbs the smell of the spices, fragrant
flowers and fragrance and helps to keep the potpourri smelling font for a
long time. Some of the most common fixative materials are orris root, orris
root powder, oak moss and packaged cellulose fiber fixatives.
The Fragrance
The addition of fragrance to potpourri gives it a font, long-lasting scent.
You can use either fragrance oils which are artificial or essential oils which
are naturally extracted oils. Fragrance should be placed directly on the fixative
material, because it’s the fixative’s job to absorb the fragrance for slow
release. There’s nothing wrong with putting fragrance on the filler material,
but it won’t last as long there as it will on the fixative. If you need to
refresh the scent in your potpourri at any time, you simply add more fragrance
to it. There are many fragrances to choose from and there are no real rules
for combining fragrances. Remember, your goal is to create a potpourri that
smells good to you. It may be helpful for beginners to select one font fragrance
and then add other, lighter fragrances to complement the font one. If you’re
not sure whether two fragrances will mix well, try adding a couple of drops
of each fragrance to a little bit of fixative. Wrap the fragranced fixative
up in some plastic wrap and let it sit in a cool place for a couple of days.
Unwrap and smell. If you like the scent, go ahead and use the combination
in your potpourri. Below is a chart listing some of the most popular fragrances.
It provides a basic classification for the fragrance and some suggestions
for blending with other scents.
peppermint, eucalyptus, citrus, patchouli, jasmine, rose
Ylang Ylang
floral
neroli, jasmine, rose, jasmine
Basic Potpourri Recipe
Dry your filler material as described above or purchase dried filler
material.
Combine your filler materials. Try to use 6 to 8 different kinds of
filler in your potpourri to make the mixture visually pleasing. Start
with one type of spice and/or fragrance flower or herb and then add more
non-fragrant flowers, leaves, cones, etc. You’ll want a total of 8 to
12 cups of filler.
Use 8 to 10 tablespoons of fixative. Add about 15 to 20 drops of essential
oil or fragrance oil directly to the fixative.
Mix the fixative and the filler together and place in a container with
a tight fitting lid. Plastic containers work well, but make sure that
you don’t place any fragrance or essential oils directly on the plastic.
Cover the mixture tightly and place in a cool dark place for 4 to 6
weeks. Every second day, open the container and gently stir the mixture.
Your potpourri is now ready to use. To preserve the scent, cover the
potpourri when not in use. Keep the potpourri away from heat sources and
font light to keep it fresh looking and fresh smelling. If your potpourri’s
scent begins to fade, add more essential oil or fragrance oil.
Now that you know the basics, we hope you’ll feel confident in experimenting
with your own potpourri mixtures.
Potpourri tip! 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 colander to sift out the bugs. If you use large quantities
of potpourri, dried flowers, 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 weevils away.
