Cinnamon and spice bouquet: a fragrant winter gift

Cinnamon sticks, star anise and dried orange slices turn an ordinary bouquet into a cosy winter gift with a warm scent. These arrangements are especially lovely in the cold season and for the holidays. Here is which spices suit a bouquet, how to attach them and what to pair them with.

Winter bouquets: flower baskets and flowers in a box.

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Which spices to use

• Cinnamon — tie sticks in bundles of 3–5 with twine and mount them on wire.
• Star anise — glue the stars to cones or set them in the centre of the arrangement.
• Citrus — dried orange, lemon or grapefruit slices; a whole orange studded with cloves is a European Christmas classic.
• Vanilla — pods add a light sweet scent.

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How to put it together

• Use evergreens (fir, pine), eucalyptus or warm-toned spray roses as the base.
• Mount spices on floral wire and insert them between the flowers like extra stems.
• Add cones, cotton, hypericum berries or dried flowers.
• Wrap in kraft paper or linen to underline the natural style.

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Tips

• Make dried citrus slices at home: slice thinly and dry in a low oven for a few hours.
• If the recipient is allergic to spices or strong scents, choose other decor.
• Keep spices above the waterline — they should not touch the water.

More winter ideas: New Year flower arrangements and DIY coffee bean topiary.

FAQ

How long does the cinnamon scent last?

A few weeks; rubbing the sticks lightly refreshes it.

Can I cook with the cinnamon afterwards?

Better not: decor may have been in contact with glue, wire and dust.

Author: Maria Svitlovir

Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.

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