This article was prepared with the support of UFL flower delivery. Is the bouquet you were given starting to fade? Don't be sad — it can still be useful. Mixed seasonal flowers can be dried for a dried-flower arrangement, and rose petals, lavender and herbs make a natural home fragrance: potpourri in a pretty jar or sachets for your wardrobe.
Air-drying. Spread petals in a single layer on paper or a mesh in a warm, dry, dark place for 5–10 days, turning them occasionally. Small flowers and herbs can be hung upside down in bunches.
In the oven. At 40–50 °C with the door ajar for 2–3 hours — watch that they don't scorch.
In silica gel. Keeps the shape and colour of whole buds, which are used to decorate potpourri.
Finished petals should be crisp — damp material will go mouldy.
Potpourri in a jar
A fixative (orris root, citrus peel, resin) helps the scent last longer.
You'll need:
dried rose petals and other fragrant flowers: lavender, calendula, chamomile, marigolds, jasmine;
dried herbs: thyme, mint, lemon balm, rosemary;
spices: cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, a vanilla pod;
dried orange or lemon peel;
a fixative: ground orris root, benzoin resin or coarse salt;
essential oils of your choice;
a pretty jar with a lid.
Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.
Add 1–2 tsp of fixative and 6–10 drops of essential oil and stir.
Transfer to the jar, close it and leave somewhere dark for 2 weeks, shaking every few days.
Open the jar or tip the mix into an open bowl — and enjoy the scent.
Orange peel, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, pine cones
Orange, cinnamon
Fresh summer
Mint, lemon balm, lemon peel, calendula
Lemon, lemongrass, mint
Scented sachets
Scenting linen with herb pouches is a long-standing French tradition, but our grandmothers also tucked fragrant sprigs into chests of drawers so clothes smelled fresh and moths stayed away.
Sew or buy small bags in breathable natural fabric: cotton, linen, organza or hessian.
Fill them two-thirds full with potpourri mix and tie with ribbon.
Place them in wardrobes, drawers, linen shelves or the car.
Choose the filling to suit your mood:
for relaxation and sleep — lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, hops;
for energy — citrus peel, rosemary, mint, lemongrass;
for cosiness — rose, vanilla, cinnamon;
against moths — lavender, wormwood, tansy, cedar shavings.
Every 2–4 weeks, shake the mix and add a few drops of essential oil.
Keep potpourri out of direct sun and away from radiators — the scent fades faster.
Squeeze a sachet gently to "wake up" the fragrance.
Replace the mix after 6–12 months.
Safety
Essential oils are concentrated: never apply them undiluted to the skin and keep them away from children.
Some oils (tea tree, citrus, peppermint, eucalyptus) are dangerous for cats and dogs — keep potpourri out of pets' reach.
If you have allergies or asthma, choose gentle scents and use less oil.
Fragrance as a gift
A jar of potpourri or a set of sachets is a warm handmade gift for your mother, a friend or a colleague, and a pouch of pine and citrus suits a man's car. Add a bouquet — for example roses, whose petals can later become potpourri too. For more ideas see rose petal recipes.
FAQ
How long does potpourri scent last?
With a fixative and regular refreshing, several months.
Can I use petals from a bouquet I was given?
Yes, just dry them completely. Don't use florist petals in teas or cosmetics — they're treated with pesticides.
What can replace orris root?
Dried citrus peel, coarse salt or cotton balls soaked in oil.
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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