Basics of Making Homemade Potpourri
 

(Includes a recipe for easy Country Spice Potpourri)

By: Shiloah Baker

Making potpourri is not a cheap craft.  It is a good idea if you plan on making a large batch to sell it or give away as gifts.  Potpourri usually takes 2-4 weeks to make.

 

Use a wooden or metal bowl rather than a plastic bowl.   This prevents the fragrance from being absorbed into the bowl and being mixed with the fragrance of the next batch- or with your food!  The most important consideration in choosing a container for the potpourri is that it should be functional yet attractive.  You can use covered containers with removable or vented lids.  Glass or ceramic containers should have some area where the aroma can penetrate.

 

Use a wooden spoon instead of a metal spoon and be very gently when stirring so as not to crush any of the mixture.  Wash the spoon and bowl thoroughly after each use so the scent doesn’t transfer.  If you use bleach or strongly scented detergent, be certain to rinse them off well to eliminate any of their residual odor.

  Your bowl and spoon should always be large, even if you are preparing a small batch.  The better the ingredients are mixed, the higher the quality of potpourri will be, and it’s much easier to mix ingredients in a large bowl.

  You should have an eye dropper to measure the oils and other essential liquids.  Whenever you add essential oils to a potpourri, you only need a drop or two.  Any more and the potpourri will lose its bouquet.

  Freshly dried flowers and the herbs are not always available.  For these reasons, substitutes can be useful.  Certain herbs produce a reasonable facsimile.  For example, you can use lemon grass in place of lemon oil or lemon peel.    Substituting flowers or herbs can provide color and bulk to a potpourri, thus creating an illusion of more “bulk” or ingredients.

  To find the flowers you may need for your potpourri, there are many choices.  Sometimes you can ask your local florist what they do with their dying flowers.  At some florist shops you can get a bag of rose petals for about $3.  You can go to the craft stores, like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby, to find some ingredients that you may need.  The essential oils are usually available at an herbal or holistic healing store. They usually range from $5-$20 each; mostly on the lower price range. You also can get ingredients such as powered Orris root at an herbal store.

As for dried fruits such as apples and oranges you can do your own and they smell much better than store bought dried fruit.

Drying Apples:

Slice your apples down the center.  Slice apples 1/4 inch thick, leaving in the core.  Do not slice too thin as they will be too brittle and wither too much.  Don’t slice too thick as they will take too long to dry.

Soak the apple slices in lemon juice with a tsp. of salt for 20 minutes. Be sure to cover completely.

Remove slices and pat dry with paper towels. Place on wire rack placed on cookie sheets (for easy removal) in a 150 oven for approximately 6 hours until dry. If they start to curl, turn them over. When done, the slices should have a leathery feel.

If you are really impatient, you can use the microwave.  Follow the same directions as those for the oranges.

Drying Orange Slices

Cut the orange cross-wise.

Place on wire racks which have been placed on cookie sheets in a 150 degree oven. Dry for about 6 hours, turning over if edges start to curl. When dried, they should be pliable.

If you are really impatient and want to speed up the process, you can use the microwave.

Bake the orange slices in a microwave oven on high for about 6-10 minutes, until the slices turn very bright yellow. When you remove the orange slices, they will be sticky and spongy to the touch, and the paper towels will be saturated.  Place the orange slices in a preheated oven on the lowest possible temperature, and bake about 45 minutes.

 

The salt speeds up drying process.  The apple slices will last about 3 or so years, if properly stored.

 

 Now that you have learned the very basics of making potpourri, you can try your hand at some easy potpourri.

Country Home-Spice Potpourri

4 Oranges
4 Lemons
1/2 cup Whole cloves
1/2 cup Whole allspice
10 Cinnamon Sticks, broken
10 Bay leaves, crumbled
8 oz Decorated jelly jars with bands & lids

Using a vegetable peeler, peel fruit carefully, removing only the peel, not any of the white pith. Cut or tear into one inch pieces.
Spread peel on paper towel lined pan. Place in preheated oven to 175, or set oven to WARM. Dry in oven for 1 1/2 hours, tossing occasionally. Peels should be leathery and/or slightly crunchy.
Spread peels on dry paper towels and let air dry for 24 hours.
Combine with remaining ingredients. Fill jars with mixture, place lids on and screw bands on tightly.

Yield: 3 or 4 half pint jars.

To use: remove lid and leave band on for decoration to fragrance a room. OR put one tablespoon into a jar and fill jar with boiling water to release fragrance.