DIY Potpourri

Spinning a scarf around my neck, mug of tea in hand, I leave the confines of my house to wander out into the neighborhood. Slowly but surely, little blossoms and bulbs are popping up and its a lovely sight. While it’s only late February, this winter has been considerably more moderate than in the past and it feels like spring is quickly approaching us.

If you’re like me and excited for the chance to return outdoors without five layers or simply being poured down on, then you probably enjoy the sights and smells that come along with spring. A nice way to preserve a little bit of the season is by making your own potpourri!

Start by clipping your favorite fragrant blossoms: lavender, tulip, rose, calendula, rosemary, freesia, etc. Be sure to collect a significant amount (3 to 4 times the mass you want to end up with, as the flowers will shrink as they dry).

Tie the stems together and hang them up to dry. You can also dry them on a screen in a warm place, be sure to turn them every day so they can dry evenly.

Once they are fragile to the touch, break them up in a ceramic or wood bowl.

When mixing, you can add various essential oils and spices to mix up the scent or leave it natural.

Store it in jars, sharing the fragrance for special moments, or a dish to let the scent spread. For a more intimate option, tie some up in a sachet and add it to your clothes drawers.

Read more: Crafts & Design, Green Home Decor, Home

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Veronique L.

3:24AM PST on Nov 10, 2012

Thank you!

November 10
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Danuta W.

12:41AM PDT on May 12, 2012

Thank you do much for sharing this!

May 12
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Jenna B.

7:01PM PDT on Mar 14, 2012

Cool! thanks for sharing

March 14
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Carole f.

9:37AM PST on Mar 3, 2012

i'm feeling so ready for spring and all those lovely fragrances, i could have written this! thank you so much for the pick-me-up today!

March 3
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Sheleen A.

9:37AM PST on Mar 1, 2012

Very encouraging thank you

March 1
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Paula B.

3:52PM PST on Feb 29, 2012

thank heavens spring is around the corner

February 29
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Rebecca S.

9:32AM PST on Feb 29, 2012

thanks.

Mary L.

8:13AM PST on Feb 29, 2012

What a great reminder of spring and summer when fall and winter come back.

Carolyn M.

8:05AM PST on Feb 29, 2012

Lovely to bring a bit of spring inside. Thank you.

Amanda M.

6:35AM PST on Feb 29, 2012

I've been kicking around the idea of growing such fragrant flowers as lavender for the purpose of making sachets out of for YEARS! Since the flower gardens are one of my projects marked for expansion anyway, this is a great excuse to do so!