Herbal Treasures

        Displaying and Enjoying Your Decorative Potpourri

Best shown off in open containers, dry-method potpourris may be both an aromatic and a decorative touch to your surroundings. When properly blended, these fragrant mixtures retain delicate colors and scents of the plant materials used. As such an accessory, coordinate the container with the room, furnishings, and overall scheme. Suitable containers for displaying potpourri are virtually limitless, and many are already somewhere in your home!  Some ideas: baskets, bottles, bowls, jars, pottery, shells, vases.

Inspirations for creative displays: layer potpourri in varied bands in glass jars; place potpourri in a silk flower-filled vase; incorporate miniatures to create a theme or scene in a chosen container.      

Make small sachets with the potpourri blend: as lovely enclosures in gifts and cards, these make them more special; also tuck under furniture cushions. 

Spicy Potpourri: add dried apples and/or orange slices, or decorative (non-edible) gingerbread cutouts to your potpourri blend.

     Special Hints for Making Potpourri:

*Do NOT use any plastic bowls, jars, or utensils, as they absorb and retain odors.

*Do NOT use wooden spoons, as they absorb oils and fragrance.

*Do NOT use kitchen equipment to mix potpourri, returning it to kitchen afterward,.for safety.

*Use amber or dark glass jars for storing potpourri, while aging.

*Using two small bottles (up to about 4oz size), add high quality grain alcohol, using one to clean the eye droppers, to remove any traces of oil.

*If using essential oils (not fragrance oils), when the alcohol is changed in the small jars used for previously for cleaning, adjust alcohol with addition of desired essential oil, to make a cologne! .

CAUTION:  Orris root and orris root powder are commonly-used fixatives in potpourri formulas. Orris root, and the very finely powdered orris root may cause allergic reactions. Great caution in handling this material in blending, as well as the finished potpourri is recommended.

     Creating Potpourri Blends

A potpourri may also be created beginning with a base blend, a complete potpourri in its own right, with a predominating scent (ie, citrus, floral, herb, spice, woody, etc.). In this case, botanicals are added for color and texture, for eye appeal. The formula for this type of potpourri:

“Scented Base” + Fixative + Essential Oils/Fragrance Oils + Botanicals for Color/Fragrance = Finished Potpourri

           Blending Essentials

No special or expensive equipment is necessary to make potpourri, however it is recommended the supplies you use to mix and store be dedicated just to this process:

Glass or glazed ceramic bowls for mixing potpourri blends

Glass or stainless steel measuring cups

Stainless steel spoons, for mixing 

Glass jars with tight-fitting lids to store potpourri while aging (recommend non-reactive lids)

Eyedroppers, for adding essential oils to potpourri blends

Mortar and pestle, to crush or bruise seeds

Blender, grain mill, spice grinder or coffee-type mill (thoroughly cleaned, if ever previously used)

A small sharp knife for slicing

Stainless skewers, to pierce fruit for pomanders