Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 7: Potpourri ingredients
• Method 2 of 7: The dry method for making potpourri
• Method 3 of 7: The wet method for making potpourri
• Method 4 of 7: Breathe new life into old potpourri
• Method 5 of 7: Rose potpourri
• Method 6 of 7: Various potpourri options
• Method 7 of 7: Beyond the shell - more ways to apply potpourri
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

There are many different uses of potpourri for the home, from dispelling unpleasant odors to creating a fragrance that matches the season. There are many ways in which you can make potpourri - in this article you will learn the basics, after which various types of potpourri to choose from will be discussed.

To step

Method 1 of 7: Potpourri ingredients

1. Most potpourri consists of the following ingredients:
   • Fragrant flowers and / or petals.
   • Scented pieces of wood, root or bark.
   • Herbs.
   • Spices.
   • Other natural plant materials: root such as orris root and vetiver root; bark / wood such as sandalwood or pieces of cedar wood; resins such as patchouli or frankincense; seeds such as vanilla pods / pods or tonka beans; citrus peel (orris and citrus fruits are generally the most commonly used because they are cheap and readily available)
   • High quality essential oils or fragrance oil.
2. Try to be creative when it comes to using ingredients. While fragrant flowers, wood, etc. should make up the bulk of the potpourri, the appearance of the potpourri is just as important as the scent these days, so there is still room for you to add materials that do not emit scent.
   • Unscented material can often be scented by the addition of essential oil. For example, nuts or pinecones can be rubbed with essential oil to enhance their fragrance.
3. Select a suitable container for the potpourri. There is an enormous diversity in the types of containers you can put the potpourri in, as long as the potpourri fits in and the scent can flow freely. Although there are special containers for potpourri, you can also use many items from your household for them, such as trays, bowls, baskets, pots, large shells, bags, large plates and in fabric such as pillows and pillows.

Method 2 of 7: The dry method for making potpourri

This method is the faster of the two potpourri making methods. It is also the most widely used method.

1. Use dry material. All plant material must be dried first so that no moisture leaks once it is mixed.
   • If you are going to collect plant matter, it is best to do this after the dewdrops have dried, but before the sun has shone on the plant for too long as this can weaken the plant's volatile oils. However, keep in mind that this is not a problem for everyone who makes potpourri; if you live in a mild and dry climate it can be fine to pick in the afternoon.
   • Always use the freshest and brightest flowers and herbs. Discard any vegetable matter that looks damaged or is decaying.
   • Both flowers and petals can be dried on kitchen paper, tissue paper or an insect screen.
   • Petals are ready to use in the dry potpourri when they are crisp to the touch. When you dry them, shake them regularly so that the same air circulation takes place everywhere and they dry faster.
   • If you are using lemon peel, always remove the pulp and pits before drying the peel, as these moister parts of the lemon can cause mold.
2. Place ground spices and a thickener in a small mixing bowl. An often used and inexpensive binder is orris root, which is available at hobby and flower shops. The proportions depend on the recipe you are following, but in general:
   • For every 4 cups of dried vegetable matter, 2-3 tbsp. spices ground to powder, 2 tbsp. ground iris root (or another binding agent), a strip of lemon zest and 2-3 drops of essential oil added.
3. Add several drops of essential oil. The more oil you add, the stronger the final fragrance will be.
4. Mix the oil, thickener and spices well together. To make sure the essential oil spreads well, rub the mixture together with your fingertips.
5. In a larger mixing bowl you put all other dry ingredients. The ingredients depend on your recipe, but they are usually dried petals / flowers, dried leaves, whole pods, bark, dried moss, pine cones, herbs, etc.
6. Combine the binder mixture with the dry ingredients mixture in the larger bowl. Mix it with your hands so that everything mixes evenly together.
7. Put the ingredients in a box with a lid or closure. Place them in a dark, dry place for four to eight weeks, or as long as the recipe calls for. This gives the ingredients time to mix with each other and to create a rich scent.
   • Shake the box every day for the first week.
   • If necessary, leave the mixture in the box longer than the time prescribed in the recipe; the scent will become stronger and stronger.
   • You can keep materials of the mixture that you do not need in the closed box until you need them.
8. Put the dry potpourri in a bowl or anything else you present it in. After you have sprinkled the potpourri in it, always arrange it again, so that the most beautiful pieces are visible because you put them on top. Place the bowl or other container where you want to spread the scent.

Method 3 of 7: The wet method for making potpourri

The wet method of making potpourri requires more effort than the dry method and the end result sometimes looks a bit unattractive. But the smell is much stronger than with the dry method, which is why this method is still used for making potpourri. In this method, the flowers, petals and leaves preserved and this allows you to create a strong rich scent.

1. Use semi-dry scented flowers, leaves and petals.
2. Place a first layer of dried flowers, leaves and / or petals in a large glass jar or other suitable container or storage box, with a lid or closure.
3. Sprinkle the first flower layer with a layer of coarse salt. This layer should make up about a third of the thickness of the flowers / petals.
4. Add another layer of flowers or petals. Press them down with your fingers, then add another layer of coarse salt.
5. Drizzle the coarse salt layer with a little brown sugar. Then drizzle a few drops of brandy or vodka over the brown sugar.
6. Continue with the layers as follows:
   • The next layer of flowers is again followed by a layer of salt.
   • The next layer consists of flowers, followed by a layer of salt, sugar and alcohol.

1. • The next layer consists of flowers, followed by a layer of salt.
   • The next layer is a layer of flowers followed by salt, sugar and alcohol.
   • Continue like this until you reach the rim of the pot.
2. Put the lid on the jar. Put it in a dark and cool place so that it can soak in. Leave it on for about 2 months.
   • Check it now and then. If it looks too soggy, drain the excess moisture.
3. After a minimum of 2 months, the flowers / petals should look like a cake, preserved by the salt, sugar and alcohol. Remove the mixture from the jar and crumble the Cake in a mixing bowl where you have already added spices, a binding agent, herbs and essential oils.
   • The moist method is a great opportunity to use your expensive essential oils, such as rose or jasmine, as you only need 2-3 drops.
4. Mix everything. Transfer the mixture to another jar and close the lid. Leave it on for a month.
5. Put it in a bowl or other container. You now have the choice of two options:

1. • 1. Place it in an open dish or similar. The scent will immediately spread through the space where the bowl is placed.
   • 2. Put it in a box or jar with a lid on. Only open this if you want the scent to spread around the room.

Method 4 of 7: Breathe new life into old potpourri

After a while the potpourri loses its fragrance. Of course you can throw away the potpourri, but you can also breathe new life into the potpourri a few times before throwing it away.

1. Place the potpourri in a mixing bowl.
2. Add 2-3 drops of essential oil. If you don't have that, you can also add a few drops of brandy or vodka.
3. Stir the mixture together. Smell it to determine if it smells right now. Put it back in the bowl or container.

Method 5 of 7: Rose potpourri

The earliest recipes for potpourri always prescribed rose petals and were often referred to as rose scales. Hence, it is appropriate to provide a rose potpourri recipe here.

1. Gather the following ingredients:
   • 8 cups of scented rose petals, dried (if possible, use geranium red roses, because they look like red geranium).
   • 3 cups of dried red geranium petals
   • 1/2 cup orris root powder
   • 3 drops of rose oil
   • 2 drops of geranium oil
2. Place the rose petals and geranium petals in the mixing bowl. Add the binder and stir well.

1. Add the oils, drop by drop. Keep stirring as you add the oils so they are well distributed.
2. Put them in an airtight storage box. Place them in a dark and dry place for six weeks or more so that they can soak in well. Shake the box from time to time to allow the ingredients to redistribute evenly.
3. Use something in which you present the potpourri. Use the method described above to revive old potpourri when the scent begins to fade.

Method 6 of 7: Various potpourri options

There are many different types of potpourri, and there are probably just as many blends yet to be discovered. To stimulate your imagination, here are some recipes that you can easily find on the internet:

• Citrus potpourri
• Christmas potpourri
• Patchouli potpourri
• Apple potpourri
• Potpourri against flies (see Wikihow for the recipe)
• Lavender potpourri

Method 7 of 7: Beyond the shell - more ways to apply potpourri

While filling a bowl with potpourri is probably the most common way to use potpourri, there are other ways to get the most out of your freshly made potpourri. Here are a few suggestions to get started:

1. Make bags or pillows filled with potpourri. Bags can be used in wardrobe drawers to spread their wonderful scent, while pillows can be used to improve your sleep. Depending on the potpourri mixture, you can adjust the ingredients to repel insects, promote sleep, make certain objects smell good, and boost your mood.
2. Make potpourri bath bags. Put the potpourri in voile (thin cotton, also called muslin or batiste) bags. Hang the bag under the hot tap while the bath is filling; the scent will spread through the bath water.
3. Make fragrant paper. Sprinkle some potpourri between sheets of writing paper and let it sit for a few months. If you then start using the paper, it will smell wonderful.
   • Be aware that the potpourri mixture can release oil - and that can stain the paper.

Tips

• Citrus kernels and blossoms can be crushed and dried to act as a binding agent.
• If the appearance of the potpourri is important, do not leave the potpourri in bright sunlight. In no time at all, direct sunlight will fade the brilliance of the potpourri.
• Collect vegetable matter for making potpourri whenever you want. You can keep all materials, dried, in boxes with lids on (make sure you label them). Put the boxes in a dark and dry place and take them out if you need them to make potpourri.

Warnings

• Be careful with essential oil. Some oils are sensitive to light once spilled on the skin, and some oils can cause an allergic reaction. Know the properties of the oils you use.
• If you let the potpourri soak, don't use metal jars to store them. This prevents a chemical reaction, which could destroy the wonderful scent. Use a glass, ceramic, or plastic jar or storage box. If you are using plastic, make sure it is odorless as you don't want any potpourri that smells like plastic!
• Keep the potpourri out of the reach of small children and pets. Potpourri cannot be eaten and can even be poisonous if ingested. If you don't want to leave anything to chance, use a potpourri box or jar with a secure lid so little fingers or legs can't get it open.

Necessities

• Potpourri ingredients / constituents
• Thickener (e.g. orris root)
• Ingredients to make the potpourri
• Pots or boxes to store the potpourri
• Something to present the potpourri in