| 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 Rose
Ingredients:
- 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
Gently combine petals and leaves in a large bowl. Scatter drops of rose
oil over the mixture using an eyedropper. Stir gently. Place mixture in
a brown paper bag lined with wax paper. Fold and seal the bag with a paper
clip and leave in a dry, dark, cool place for 2 weeks. Every other day,
stir the contents gently to blend and disperse ingredients and scents.
Place in glass bowls or candy dishes. Top with small white or pink rose
buds.
Floral 1
Combine 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 2
Combine
- 10 marigold blossoms
- 6 geranium leaves
- 5 rose blossoms
- 2 tsp dried lavender
- 2 tsp orrisroot
- 2 drops rose fixative
Spice
Combine 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.
Cassie
Combine 4 cups cassie fs, 1/4 cup orrisroot powder and 1/2 cup
starch. Mix well.
Pine
Combine:
- 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".
Make
Your Own Sachets |
