Potpourri is a mixture of dry ingredients, spices, and oils that can scent a room. These crafts can be made from various types of materials, and present a different aroma and atmosphere. If you want to make your own potpourri, choose dry ingredients, mix them with essential oils, and let them sit for a few weeks to make your home smell good.
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Method 1 of 3: Making Classic Potpourri
Step 1. Gather flower petals, cloves, and orange zest to make potpourri with a warm spicy aroma
Combine all the ingredients to make a fragrant and beautiful potpourri mixture. For a spicy or warm scented potpourri, use any petals and pair it with cloves, orange zest, and cinnamon. These ingredients will complement each other, both in terms of aroma and appearance.
Step 2. Use pinecones, pine leaves, and peonies for a typical winter potpourri
Usually, winter holidays have their own distinctive aroma. If you want to make potpourri with this theme, use pinecones, pine leaves, peony petals, and rosehips to create potpourri with a unique aroma. You can use pine seeds and leaves from species that grow in your area.
Get creative with ingredients. If you like roses, add some rose petals. If you find pieces of cedar, you can also use them to make potpourri
Step 3. Create or experiment with your own combination of ingredients
If you want to make a unique potpourri, get creative with the ingredients you use. Mix in your favorite flowers, wood chips or chips, and any other woody material you can find in nature. You can also add spices such as cloves to the mixture. Feel free to make potpourri to suit your taste.
The skin of the fruit can be another ingredient that can be added to the potpourri mixture
Step 4. Dry the ingredients on a baking sheet for 2 weeks
Place all ingredients in a baking sheet or cardboard box. Make sure all the ingredients are placed in a single layer and not stacked on top of each other. Dry the ingredients thoroughly for about 2 weeks. When touched, dried materials may crumble or crumble.
To dry faster, store the ingredients in a place exposed to direct sunlight
Step 5. Put the dry ingredients in an airtight container
Carefully transfer the dried ingredients into a sealed container. Make sure the materials don't fall apart or get damaged during transportation. The container you use doesn't have to be pretty as it won't be used to display your potpourri.
- Use glass jars with lids for smaller ingredients.
- Cover the large bowl with plastic wrap or another lid.
Step 6. Add 2 drops of essential oil to the dry ingredients
Essential oils provide fragrance and moisture to dry ingredients. Use a dropper to add 2 drops of oil to the ingredients. Dispense 1 drop on each side of the container so that the oil is evenly distributed.
Essential oils of rose, cinnamon, lemon, orange, honeysuckle, and bayberry can be great choices for potpourri
Step 7. Cover the container and let it sit for a maximum of 6 weeks
Allow the dry ingredients to absorb the essential oils so the aroma lasts longer. Store the container in a dry, cool and undisturbed place. Don't open the container before you plan on displaying the potpurri.
Try storing the mixture in a wardrobe or dark bedroom to cool it down
Step 8. Arrange the potpourri in an open bowl or jar
Pour the ingredients into a bowl, jar, or container without a lid to allow the potpourri aroma to diffuse into the air. Use small jars if you want to give potpourri as a gift or transfer the mixture to a large bowl for your own use. The potpourri will have a strong aroma for about 2 months.
Tip:
If you want to give potpourri as a gift, pour a small amount of the mixture into a sealed plastic bag so the aroma will last.
Method 2 of 3: Using Dried Flowers
Step 1. Dry the flowers thoroughly by roasting them or hanging them
To dry the flowers, tie the flowers to the stems and hang them upside down for 3 weeks until they are completely dry. To bake the flowers, place the flowers on a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 95 degrees Celsius. Bake flowers for 2 hours or until dry.
Dried flowers are usually easy to break or crumble to the touch
Step 2. Place the petals or flower buds in the container
If the flower still has a stalk, cut it with sharp scissors. Place each petal or floret in a sealed container. The petals may crumble or crumble when you put them in the container, but don't worry.
This container will not be used to display the finished potpourri so you don't have to choose a container with a pretty appearance
Step 3. Add 5-6 drops of essential oil to the dried flowers
Rose oil, lavender oil, honeysuckle oil, and lemon oil can all be good choices for potpourri. Essential oils work to scent the potpourri, so don't hesitate to use a lot of oil.
Tip:
You can mix different types of oil as long as the aromas match.
Step 4. Cover the container and let it sit for 2 weeks
Place the lid on an airtight container and do not open the container for at least 2 weeks. Thus, the oil can seep into the flower petals and make the dried flowers smell good longer. Do not open the jar until you are ready to use the potpourri.
You can let the mixture sit for up to 8 weeks for a stronger aroma
Step 5. Add 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of orris root powder
Orris root powder acts as a fixative that prevents volatilization of essential oils and keeps the potpourri mixture fragrant for longer. Add the powder to the flower and oil mixture, and shake the container to coat all the flowers with the powder.
You can get orris root powder from a supermarket or health food store
Step 6. Arrange the potpourri in an open jar or a short bowl
Display the potpourri in an open container so the aroma can diffuse into the air. Add a decorative stone as a garnish or some cloves for a sweet and spicy touch. Replace the potpourri once the aroma of the essential oil is gone.
Usually, the aroma of potpourri lasts for about 2 months
Method 3 of 3: Refreshing Old Potpourri
Step 1. Transfer the potpourri to a large bowl or plastic bag
When the mixture is no longer fragrant, transfer it to a large bowl or sealed plastic bag. Make sure the container or bag is large enough to hold all of the mixture without spilling or overflowing. Don't worry if the materials break or crumble during transport.
You can smell the essential oil when the potpourri is transferred
Step 2. Add 2-3 drops of essential oil
To refresh potpourri, use the same oil as the oil you previously selected. If you don't remember the oil used (or the oil has run out). Use an oil that matches the previous scent. There may still be a little essential oil left in the potpourri ingredients so the two aromas will mix.
- Lemon and orange oils are great for citron potpourri.
- Rose and lavender oils are great for floral potpourri.
Step 3. Mix the ingredients evenly
Place the lid on the bowl or container and shake to combine the ingredients. Make sure the essential oil coats all the ingredients. If the scent isn't as strong as you'd like, gradually add 1 drop of oil until you get the intensity you like. You can refresh or reuse the potpourri mixture for up to 4 uses.
Warning:
If the potpourri mixture has been used for longer than 6 months, the aroma may not be as strong as you would like it to be.
