| Pot ~ Pourri |
| There are two basic types of pot pourri ~ dry mix, and wet mix. Firstly, the dry pot pourri: |
| Firstly, choose your dry petals, leaves and seeds. You will need a fixative to hold the fragrance (this will be dealt with more indepth later), and ground orris root will work well for a petal mix. Next, you will need the essential oils that you have chosen to add scent to the pot pourri. The amount of each ingredient you use will vary on the choice of pot-pourri you decide to make. Place the ingredients in a jar and seal the lid. This will then need to be stored for 6 to 8 weeks at room temperature, and will also need to be shaken every day to ensure that the scent and fragrance has fully combined. |
| Most common choice for a dry pot pourri base is rose petals, though any dried petals may be used. To make a very simple mix, it is useful to have a few petals from a wide variety of flowers. |
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| POT POURRI FLOWERS AND PETALS Most popular and fragrant of the flowers used in the making of potpourri are rose petals and lavender. There are many others that can be used to make exotic and inviting scents. Try using these in a home-made pot-pourri: stock ~ the perfume is almost oriental, very heady and spicy lily-of-the-valley ~ sweet smelling scent, very distinctive. Harvest in spring when the flowers are in full bloom freesia ~ sweet scented flower sweet pea ~ a pure, distinct scent ~ sweet without the muskiness of most sweet scented blooms roses ~ many differing scents depending on the bloom. Pink and red colours have a stronger and better scent lavender ~ most aromatic of the scented blooms tobacco plant ~ has a mild nutmeg scent lilies ~ oriental, and very spicy fragrance star jasmine ~ a very strong, sweet scent rosemary ~ aromatic, with a sharp woddy scent pinks ~ clove fragrance ~ not to be confused with carnations marigold ~ sharp distinctive fragrance tuberose ~ a heavy scent ~ very rich and inviting peonies ~ a rich scent ~ almost buttery, very warm mock orange ~ a heady fragrance ~ more so than lilies |
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| SPICES AND FIXATIVES Spices add warmth and depth to pot pourri, and fragrance it with a musky hint. |
| FIXATIVES Fixatives are an important part of your pot pourri mix, as it is this ingredient that will absorb and hold the scent and perfum of the petals you use. This needs to be done, as the scent of the petal can last a very short time. The most common used fixative is ground orris root, which has a very strong violet scent, though it captures the scent of the petals very well. Other fixatives include: frankincense ~ also known as olibanum resin gum benzoin ~ this is a resin derived from trees oakmoss ~ has a 'woody' smell tonka beans ~ vanilla scented, and most used to scent tobacco cinnamon ~ combines well with most scented flowers and petals, it needs to be finely ground before adding to the pot pourri mix. |
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| SPICES AND FIXATIVES INCLUDE: citrus peel ~ adds a piquant, yet sharp tang to your mix star anise ~ has a liqourice fragrance lavender ~ newly opened flowers have the strongest scent juniper berries ~ used to make gin, they have a pine smell when crushed bay leaves ~ aromatic additive to your pot pouuri ginger root ~ spicy scent ~ may be added sliced or ground to your mix chamomile flowers ~ a tangy fragrance hawthorne ~ when crushed, adds a sharp scent to the mix cedar cone segments ~ a very strong woodt fragrance cloves ~ mainly used for citrus pomanders ~ a heady, strong scent vanilla ~ a lightly spicy, yet also reminiscent of caramel fragrance orris root ~ a strong scent, violet |
| WET/MOIST POT POURRI |
| Moist pot pourri is actually quite simple to make: Layer partially dried petals and flowers of your choice with coarse salt and stir daily. More petals may be added as each day goes by, and as they are ready to be added. When the ingredients are all added to your satisfaction, the final mix must be left to ferment for at least ten days. The remainder of the ingredients are then added, and the pot pourri is sealed in a jar/container and left for 6-8 weeks, being shaken every day. |
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| OTHER IDEAS |
| SOURCE: 'POT POURRI ~ THE LITTLE SCENTED LIBRARY' BY MALCOLM HILLIER |
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