Hang a pretty sachet of homemade potpourri in your clothing, linen or shoe cupboard for a fragrant sensation. Bloemfontein rose guru Gerrit van Tonder and his wife Fransie say you can use any combination of fillers and complementary spices in this recipe.

• 10 cups dried rose petals.
• 15ml orris root powder (Iris florentina) as a fixative
• 5ml freshly ground cloves
• 5ml fine spices
• 2 vanilla pods or 15ml vanilla seeds
• 15 drops essential rose oil

Filler

• 1 cup dried Delphinium or African marigold (Tagetes) petals
• 2 cups dried lavender
• 15ml dried mint leaves
• 15ml dried lemon peel

1 Mix the fillers, orris root powder and spices.
2 Add the vanilla to the essential oil and sprinkle over the mixture.
3 Mix in the rose petals, place in a jar or sealable container and store for 10 days to allow the fragrance to blend, shaking every other day or two.
4 Then place in a muslin bag and refresh every two weeks or so with a sprinkling of essential oil.

How To Dry Roses
Dry roses in thin layers in a cool well-ventilated area; I place the petals on sheets of newspaper spread out on the floor and then leave the windows open. Otherwise, simply tie and hang them upside down.

TIPS

• Sweet almond oil can also be used as a fixative in place of orris root, otherwise cellulose and dried lavender will also work.
• You’ll find essential oils and fixatives at pharmacies and health shops.
• Brown paper bags, pillowcases, and glass containers can all be used to store the potpourri. Buy small muslin bags that will allow the fragrance to escape (or stitch your own) and hang them wherever you’d like a scent sensation.
• Make a potpourri sachet by placing a handful of the fragrant mixture in a lace or linen handkerchief and tying the four corners with a satin bow or ribbon.

 

Words and image: Home magazine