SACHETS
In making sachets, small muslin bags with a drawstring at the opening are excellent for this purpose,
and may be purchased at craft and culinary shops. If you choose to make your own bags
choose lightweight fabrics, preferably 100% cotton, cotton blends, silk, chintz, calicos
and chantilly lace. Bags may be made into decorative shapes, mini pillows or baggy dolls.
Large packets do well for trunks, drawers or closed storage areas.
Small packets are better for travel bags, suitcases and purses.
Sachet mixtures usually need more fixatives because the dry ingredients do not retain their essences
very long. Colorful botanicals may be added to enhance a decorative sachet.
Essential oils are often necessary to perk up fragrances..
RECIPES:
Oriental sachets.
1.
Rose Petals 1 part
Khus-Khus 1 part
Patchouli 1/2 part
Mace 1/4 part
2.
Orris Root 1 part
Sandalwood 1 part
Cassia 1/2 part
Rose Petals 1/2 part
Cloves 1/4 part
MILLEFLEURES SACHET
Orris Root 4oz
Gum Benzoin 4oz
Lavender Flowers 4oz
Rose Petals 4oz
Tonka Beans 2oz
Mace 1oz
Sandalwood 1oz
Cloves 1/2oz
Allspice 1/2oz
Cinnamon 1/2oz
All ingredients for this sachet should be coarsely ground.
ROSE SACHETS
1.
Rose Petals 2lbs
Sandalwood, coarsely ground 1lb
Oil of Rose or Rose Geranium 1/4oz
2.
Rose Petals 10oz
Orris Root 8oz
Lavender Flowers 2oz
Oil of Bitter Almond 5 drops
LAVENDER SACHET
Lavender Flowers 1/2 pound
Orris Root 2oz
Oil of Lavender 1/4oz
FRANGIPANI SACHET
Orris root 8oz
Sandalwood 1 1/2oz
Tonka Beans 1/2oz
Oil of Rose 5 drops
Oil of Neroli 3 drops
The three dry ingredients should be coarsley ground.
Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a mortar.
EXOTIC SACHET
Orris Root 2lbs
Rose Petals 1lb
Tonka Beans 4oz
Oil of Rose 1/8oz
Oil of Cinnamon 10 drops
Oil of Clove 10 drops
Oil of Nutmeg 10 drops
The Orris Root and Tonka Beans should be coarsely ground.
FLORAL BOUQUET SACHET
Orris root 4oz
Sandalwood, coarsley ground 4oz
Rose petals 4oz
Orange peel 4oz
Tonka beans 4oz
Oil of Rose 12 drops
Oil of Bergamot 12 drops
Oil of Neroli 5 drops
Oil of Lyang-Lyang 5 drops
Oil of rose geranium 5 drops
Oil of cinnamon 3 drops
Oil of bitter almond 3 drops
FLOWER OF THE FIELD SACHET
Calamus root 4oz
Corriander seed 4oz
Orris root 4oz
Rose petals 4oz
Lavender flowers 2oz
Mace, ground 1/2oz
Cinnamon 1/2oz
Cloves 1/2oz
The first three ingredients should be coarsley ground.
All should be mixed together thoroughly..
FIXATIVES FOR SACHETS AND POTPOURRI
Fixatives are those botanicals that should be added to sachets,
potpourris and perfumes to help retain their fragrances.
As most fragrance evaporates in time, fixatives are necessary to slow this process,
as well as to add their own aroma to the overall scent. The following botanicals are
highly regarded for their fixative qualities in the field of aromatics..
Balsam of peru
Balsam of tolu
Gum benzoin
Burgundy pitch
Calamus root
Clary sage herb
Khus-Khus (vetivert) root
Opopanax gum
Orris root
Patchouly leaves
Storax resin
Sumbul root
Tonka beans
Oil of bitter almond may serve as a fixative in place of animal produts..
For those wanting a musk-like scent in thier mixtures, Sumbul root can be used..
The fragrance of most aromatic botanicals dissipates with age,
but there are a few that actually increase their scent
if kept in a confined space such as drawers, closets or trunks..
Several of the most pleasant of these are Khus-Khus (Vetivert),
Orris root, Calamus roots, and Master-of-the-woods and Costmary herbs.
They are good additions to sachet and potpourri mixtures..
FRAGRANT INSECT REPELLENTS
An early practicle use of sachets and potpuorri was to help repel insects and
pests from the household and it's contents including the inhabitants.. The
addition of one or more of the following ingredients in a mixture or used
alone, may help deter the enroachment of insects..
