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A traditional way to capture the essence of a summer herb garden is to make a potpourri, a mixture of colorful, fragrant flowers and leaves displayed in a bowl, sachet, or whatever container you choose. You can use many different herbs, flowers, and leaves in your potpourri; you are only limited to your imagination. It is probably best to use a few recipes at first though, experience will soon tell you how much of each fragrant flower or leave to use.
Potpourri has become a term for many aromatic mixtures. There is the older moist method of making potpourri out of pickled flowers and leaves, the moist method gives a longer lasting perfume, but is more difficult to do and usually less attractive. The dry method, the one I will be showing you today is popular as it is easy, and colorful results can be displayed in bowls, potpourri balls, or used in herb pillows.
The basic ingredients fall into four categories: Flowers for scent and color, aromatic leaves, these represent the second largest group in a potpourri mixture and their scent is often more powerful than that of the flowers, select those that will harmonize well with others. Dry leaves whole and then crush some to release the scent. Spices and peels, these have a strong aroma and should be used sparingly. One tablespoon each to flowers and leave mixture, to obtain the best scent is to grind dried whole spices before adding to flowers and leaves. Last but not least is the fixative, these are available as powders and are used to absorb and hold the other scents so they last longer. The most popular vegetable fixative is orris root, its sweet violet scent doesn’t effect a blend strongly; use one tablespoon per cup of flowers and leaves. Gum Benzoin has a sweet vanilla scent; use 1/2 oz to 4-6 cups of flowers and leaves.
Now you are probably wondering, where is the actual scent to these mixtures? The actual scent is the flowers, leaves and spices themselves, but if you prefer a stronger scent you may add the essential oils that coincide with the flowers, leaves and spices you have chosen. Just be careful not to dominate the subtler scents of you aromatic mixture.
Dry Potpourri:
Select a theme for the scent such as woodland of country garden, and assemble paper-dry flowers and leaves. Gently combine the flowers and leaves, then mix the fixative with the spices and blend in with your hands. Sprinkle on essential oils if desired a drop at a time, stirring between each drop. Seal and store in a warm, dry, dark place for six weeks to “cure”. Display however you like. Enjoy!!!!
Flyaway Potpourri: A sweet scented insect repellent.
2 cups lavender flowers 1/4 cup pennyroyal
1 cup rosemary 1/4 cup tansy
1 cup southernwood 1/4 cup mugwort
1/2 cup spearmint 1/4 cup cedar wood chips
10 yellow tulips 3 tbsp orris root
Soothing Potpourri: Useful for creating a calming atmosphere.
2 cups lemon verbena 1 cup meadowsweet florets
2 cups rose petals 1 cup chamomile flowers
1 cup lavender flowers 1 cup calendula petals
1 oz angelica root 4 tbsp orris root
Woodland Blend: Just like a walk in the woods.
2 cups wild strawberry leaves 1/4 cup patchouli
1 cup pine needles 1/4 cup rosewood
1/2 cup violets 2 tbsp sweet violet root
1/2 cup rosemary 3 drops cypress oil
1/4 cup cedar wood chips 2 drops pine oil
1 oz Oak moss
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