Make Your Own Potpourri
Potpourri adds color and aroma to a room. A small bowl of potpourri works great on the bathroom counter, in the living room as a coffee table centerpiece, or on your kitchen island to help tame the harsh smells of a cooking experiment gone wrong. Not only is it easy to make, but potpourri is a great way to put old flowers to use without just throwing them out.
Here’s what you need
- Flower petals. Roses, tulips, marigolds and any mix of flowers that have vibrant colors and rich aroma. You can also use other things such as peelings from oranges and lemons, or pine cones
- Essential oils. These oils are concentrated mixtures of the natural oils that found in flowers and plants that give them their aroma. Dried flowers have a very limited aroma and adding essential oils to your mix is what gives potpourri its rich and vibrant aroma. There are dozens of different essential oils and blended mixtures that include scents such as lavender, jasmine, citrus, and vanilla. You can also use spices such as cinnamon or mint to perk up the scent of your creation.
- Orris root. This root, in powder form, acts as a fixative. It will keep the aroma of your potpourri strong because it prevents the rich scented oils from evaporating away. Orris root should be handled with care - it can cause allergic reactions in some people, and is poisonous if ingested. Always wash your hands after handling it.
Putting it all together
The first thing to do is too dry out your flowers. Tie them together in small bunches and hang them upside down by the stems in a dark, warm room. It should take about 1 to 2 weeks to dry them out thoroughly.
Once your flowers are dried, put about 2 or 3 cups of the petals and any other dried things into a plastic sealable container. Mix in about a teaspoon of Orris root and then sprinkle in a half dozen drops of essential oil (you don’t need much; essential oils are very powerful and can be a little expensive). Mix everything up very gently and then seal up the container.
You can dispense potpourri from your sealed container into an open bowl as needed. Just top up or refill the bowl as the scent diminishes or before you invite guests over for a party.
