Potpourri, derived from the French for “rotten pot,” is a fragrant mixture of dried flowers, herbs, leaves, roots, barks, and spices. Skillfully blended, potpourri can last for a long time, whether displayed in decorative bowls, sheer fabric bags, or specialized vases.
Potpourri has many uses: to perfume the air, freshen closets and drawers, create attractive room decorations, or give personalized gifts to loved ones. Dry potpourri combines scented, dry materials chosen for both fragrance and visual appeal.
The basics of potpourri are simple. You’ll need dried or fresh sweet-smelling plant materials, aromatic ingredients like whole spices, citrus peels, or wood shavings, essential oils, and a fixative to preserve the fragrance. Aromatic plants include rose petals, marigold flowers, various foliage, lavender, mints, and fragrant herbs. Fixatives, available in dried, powdered, or liquid form, extend the scent’s longevity. Common fixatives include orris root, oak moss, cellulose, and benzoin.
Excellent herbs for potpourri include lavender, scented geranium leaves, lemon verbena, lemon balm, and mints. Dry them thoroughly before mixing. Add essential oils to enhance the potpourri’s fragrance. Experiment with different amounts to discover your own signature blends.
When creating potpourri, choose a theme like woody, floral, spicy, fruity, or citrus. Select flowers, herbs, and leaves accordingly. Mix the fixative with the spices and add a few drops of essential oil for fragrance. Blend thoroughly, seal in an airtight container, and store in a warm, dry, dark place for about a month. Display your potpourri in attractive containers, jars, and bowls.
Here are a few simple potpourri recipes for beginners:
Basic Rose Potpourri: Combine 1 teaspoon of rose essential oil with 3 tablespoons of coarse ground orris root and let sit for a few days. Adding 2 tablespoons each of ground cloves and cinnamon creates a spicy fragrance. 2 cups of lavender and ¼ cup of ground tonka bean produces a sweet floral scent. For a musky scent, add 1 cup of patchouli leaves and ½ cup of sandalwood and vetiver root. For a fruity fragrance, 1 cup each of dried citrus peel and lemon-scented geranium leaves works well.
Balsam Fir Potpourri: Mix 1 cup of balsam needles, ¾ cup of sweet woodruff leaves, 1 cup of dried violet blossoms, 1 cup of lavender, 2 tablespoons of salt, ¼ cup of bee balm blossoms, and 1 ounce of balsam Peru tincture. Shake occasionally and let age for about a month.
Christmas Gift Potpourri: Combine 1 cup each of whole allspice, star anise, ginger root, and sassafras bark, 2 cups each of orange peel, lemon verbena leaves, and rose buds and petals, and 30 drops of allspice oil. Seal and let cure, shaking occasionally.
Citrus Blend: Combine 4 cups of lemon verbena leaves, 2 cups of lemon balm leaves, 2 cups of orange mint, 2 cups of lemon, lime, or orange-scented geranium leaves, 1 cup of apple mint, 4 cups of ground citrus peel, 4 cups of marigold or calendula petals, and 2 cups of orris root, mixed with 1 tablespoon of orange oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon oil. Seal and let set, shaking occasionally.