Dawn Cusick, author of A Scented Christmas (Lark Books, 1990), explains how to make and use potpourri. Materials:
Base fragrance includes rose petals, scented geraniums, miniature rose petals and lavender (additional suggestions: money plant, lamb's ear, globe thistle)
Various oils, e.g., rose, lavender, orange blossom
Brown paper bag
Orrisroot
Dry dark closet or room
- Start with purchased dried flowers, or dry your own. Pick fresh flowers and lay them out on paper towels to dry. Turn the petals every few days.
- Place a basic mixture in a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon orrisroot per cup of petals. Orrisroot, a fixative, absorbs and holds the fragrance.
- To enhance the fragrance, add few drops of essential oil. Remember that essential oils are highly concentrated. Such oils may harm furniture, so take care that the mixture doesn't directly contact furniture. Mix with a plastic spoon or your hands.
- Pour the mixture into a brown paper bag, and shake it. Place the bag in a dark place for six weeks. Shake the bag weekly. After six weeks, add more essential oil, or pinch some of the petals to release more fragrance.
Suggested Uses Carve a small indentation with a knife in a purchased cake of soap. Put white glue in the center, and fill the depression with potpourri. Place several in a bowl in the bathroom (figure A). Cover a Styrofoam® wreath with white glue and sprinkle with potpourri. Hand-dip pieces of potpourri in glue, and carefully place them to cover any exposed Styrofoam (figure B). Fill a cloth Christmas ornament with potpourri and hang (figure C). Place potpourri inside a lace band sewn to the top of a Christmas stocking.
RESOURCES :
A Scented Christmas
Model: 0806974710
Author: Dawn Cusick
October, 1990
Lark Books / Altamont Press
Website: www.larkbooks.com
| 
)
)
)
