How to Make a Pomander

Most home owners enjoy making their house smell better. And, pomanders have been used to do this for hundreds of years. Here are instructions on how to make these lovely additions to your home d©cor.

To make a pomander, you will need firm, thin-skinned oranges or apples. These should not have any blemishes or bruises. You can also use lemons or limes, if you prefer. You will also need some whole, large-headed cloves. For the best visual effect you should buy top quality cloves and make sure their smell is good and strong. You will need a thin, metal crochet hook or knitting needle. This is for piercing the fruit. Having a tool to do this will make the job go faster and the process will be much easier on your fingers. A large glazed pottery bowl is needed to cure the pomanders.

The last item you will need is a curing spice mixture. This will need to be mixed together before you start making the pomanders. You will need to mix four ounces of powdered cinnamon, two ounces of powdered cloves, half an ounce of powdered allspice, half an ounce of powdered nutmeg, and one ounce of powdered orris root. Store this mixture in a plastic bag and re-use later when you are making more pomanders.

Once you have the curing spice mixture blended, you need to start inserting the cloves into the fruit. You should hold the fruit firmly, but do not squeeze it. You can be creative and make a pattern with the cloves. However, this is not necessary. Be sure they are close together, but not crowding each other. You do not want the skin of the fruit to split. Use some kind of tool to pierce the skin of the fruit wherever you want to insert a clove. If you plan to hang the pomander by a ribbon, you need to leave a half inch path around the fruit so the ribbon can be tied around it. Do not start the insertion of the cloves if you cannot finish it on the same day or the remainder of the fruit may begin to decompose.

In a small bowl, sprinkle about half of the curing spice mixture you have previously prepared and place the fruit with cloves on top. Sprinkle the rest of the mixture over the pomanders. Every day you will need to turn the pomanders and sprinkle them with the spice mixture. This should continue until the pomanders are completely hardened. It can take anywhere from two weeks to over a month. It will depend on the size of the fruit. Once they have hardened, they are ready to use.

Pomanders can add a lovely fragrance to many parts of your home. And, they are easy to make at home. Hopefully, these directions will help you make as many pomanders as you desire to use in your home or give as gifts.