Methods and formulations for creating perfumed herb and spice blends.

If you are a gardener you can grow, harvest and dry a variety of herbs and spices to use in your own potpourri blends. The goal of drying your own materials for use in potpourri is to keep the pieces of herb as large as possible. Potpourri is a decorative as well as aromatic item to display throughout your home. Small, powdery pieces of plant materials are not only unattractive but the slightest breeze will cause them to blow all over the place.

See the article, How to Dry Fresh Herbs, for information on how to dry your own fresh herbs which can then be used in a variety of potpourri recipes.

In lieu of growing your own potpourri ingredients you can purchase all the necessary supplies from a variety of online sources. Companies such as San Francisco Herb & Natural Food Co., From Nature With Love and Glenbrook Farms offer a wonderful selection of bulk herbs, spices and fragrant essential oils for sale.

Extending Potpourri Fragrance

To prolong the life of your potpourri be sure to add a small amount of fixative to your potpourri blends. Fixatives help to preserve and extend the fragrance of the potpourri. The typical ratio is to add 1 teaspoon of finely ground or chopped fixative to every cup of dried potpourri material that you are mixing together. Common fixatives include cedar wood chips, dried lemon peel, oak moss, sandalwood chips, Tonka bean pieces and orris root. For further information regarding fixatives see the article Orris Root; Fixative for Potpourri.

Potpourri that is no longer fragrant does not have to be thrown out. Place the potpourri into a large container then add a couple of drops of a complimentary essential oil. Place the lid on the container then shake well. Leave the potpourri in the container for a day or two to allow the scent of the essential oil to thoroughly permeate throughout all the materials. The potpourri is then ready to be used throughout your house.

Potpourri Recipes

Add all the dry ingredients for each recipe to a large bowl. Then add the essential oil one drop at a time to the dry ingredients and stir together until well blended. Store each blend in an airtight container with a tight fitting lid. Keep your containers full of finished potpourri out of direct sunlight and away from any heat sources. When you are ready to use them, pour out a small amount of potpourri into a decorative bowl or jar which can then be placed in a location such as a guest room or powder-room. You may also like to keep a bowl full of aromatic potpourri next to your desk so that you can enjoy its scent while you are working.

Spicy Lemon Fresh Potpourri Recipe

This formulation makes a spicy, refreshing, cleansing blend.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups lemon verbena leaves
• 2 cups chopped lemon grass leaves
• ¼ cup whole cloves
• ¼ cup dried lemon peel
• 10 drops lemon essential oil
• 10 drops clove essential oil

Holiday Spice Potpourri Recipe

This blend is nice to have on hand during the Thanksgiving holiday. Its wonderfully spicy scent imparts an apple pie-like aroma to your home.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dried apple peel
• 1 cup dried orange peel
• ½ cup cinnamon stick pieces
• ½ cup star anise pods
• ¼ cup whole allspice berries
• ¼ cup whole cloves
• ¼ cup tonka bean pieces
• 15-20 drops clove essential oil

Pine Forest Potpourri Recipe

This blend is nice to use during the Christmas holidays.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole bay leaves
• 1 cup rosemary leaves
• 1 cup patchouli leaves
• ½ cup juniper berries
• ½ cup cinnamon stick pieces
• ¼ cup sandalwood chips
• 15-20 drops rosemary essential oil

Simmering Potpourri

Dry potpourris have a very subtle scent. For a more powerful kick you can add a few tablespoons of your favorite potpourri blend to a sauce pan full of water. Bring the water to a boil then turn the heat down to a low simmer adding additional water as needed throughout the day.

Blends such as the Holiday Spice Blend or Pine Forest Blend can be use throughout the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. When guests enter your home they are greeted by a delightful spicy fragrance. If you are uncomfortable with leaving your stove turned on for so long a period you may add the water and potpourri to a slow cooker turned on low with the lid removed.