MAKING POTPOURRI ~ Books of Shadows

MAKING POTPOURRI

(Dry Method)

There are 5 basic groups of ingredients in a dry potpourri:
*Thoroughly dried flowers and/or fruit
*Thoroughly dried leaves and/or fragrant herbs
*Whole or ground spices
*Fixative (usually orris root)
*Essential oil(s)

Steps in Making Potpourri
1. In a small glass bowl, thoroughly mix and ground spices,
the fixative, and the essential oils.
With with glass, wood, or fingers.
2. In a separate mixing bowl, place the remaining dry ingredients
including whole spices.
Pour the mixture of fixatives and essential oils
into the dry material and blend thoroughly.
3. Place the mixture into an airtight container and store in a cool,
dark place for 4 to 6 weeks.
Shake the mixture every few days during this maturation period.
4. Transfer the aged, mature potpourri to a decorative container for use.

Recipe 1
Rose and Garden Flowers
2 cups rose petals and blooms
2 cups mixed garden flowers
1 oz. lavender
2 oz. mixed green leaves and sweet herbs
1 oz. orris root
1 tsp. whole cloves
1/4 vanilla bean
20 drops lavender
2 drops patchouly

Recipe 2
Strawberry Potpourri
2 cups of mixed pink, red, and white flowers
1/2 to 1 cup dried, sliced strawberries
1 cup mixed green leaves
1/4 vanilla bean
1/2 oz. orris root chunks
30 drops essence of strawberry

Recipe 3
Spring Potpourri
2 cups jonquil, hyacinth, lily of the valley, bluebell, lilac, and violet
1 oz. mixed fragrant herbs, lemon verbena and bay
1 tsp. cinnamon powder
1/2 tsp coriander
20 drops hyacinth
2 drops lavender

Recipe 4
Seville Citrus Potpourri
2 cups peel of lime, lemon, orange, tangering, and grapefruit
1 oz. bay leaves
1 cup mixed yellow flowers
1/2 cup broken cinnamon sticks
1 tsp. coriander
1/2 tsp. grated nutmeg
1/2 tsp. whole cloves
15 drops lemon or orange oil
5 drops bergamot or lavender
Dried kumquats and yellow flowers to decorate.