Make Potpourri from Moist Ingredients

Potpourri is a lovely addition to any room. The atmosphere in your home will be much more pleasant with a lovely scent in the air. Here are the steps you need to follow to make moist potpourri for use in your own home or to give as gifts.

First you will need to gather the tools necessary for your task. You will need a widemouthed, straight-sided container. This should be of nonporous material and be glazed in the inside. It will also need a cover. It is also important to have a long-handled wooden spoon to mix the ingredients. And you will need a heavy dish or saucer that is slightly smaller than the circumference of the container. An iron doorstop or a heavy rock will be needed to use as a weight to press the petals and salt down into the container. And, you will need coarse, noniodized salt. You can use any type of salt, such as kosher or sea salt, as long as it is course and noniodized. Two mixing bowls are needed to mix the ingredients together. And, lastly, you will need the ingredients for your potpourri recipe.

The flower petals you use will need to be partially dry. Be sure to use flowers that are fresh and very fragrant. The petals should be placed on a flat surface and set in a dark, airy place. When they become limp and have a soft, leathery texture, they are ready to use. If the petals become too dry, they can only be used for dry potpourri.

In the glazed container, place a layer of petals and sprinkle them with a layer of salt. You should use a ratio of three to one, petals to salt. This will absorb the excess moisture. Keep layering in that order until the container is almost full. You can either do this all at once, or over time as you collect more flower petals. The heavy weight should be placed on the petals to press them down hard. Check the container each day and be sure the mixture is caking together. The mixture should be stirred each day as you check it. Scrape any residue from the sides of the container with the wooden spoon. If a froth appears, just mix it in with the petals. However, if liquid accumulates at the bottom of the container, be sure to drain it off. This process should be repeated daily until a dense caking of all the ingredients occurs.

Once the ingredients are at a sufficient mass, empty them into one of the mixing bowls and crumble them by hand. In the other mixing bowl, you will blend the other ingredients, such as herbs and spices that are called for in your potpourri recipe. Once the other ingredients are mixed well, add them to the petal mixture and blend with the wooden spoon.

Now the potpourri needs to age. If it does not smell as you anticipated, do not worry. This is what the aging process is for. Put the ingredients back into the glazed container and press them down with the weight until they are tightly packed. Cover the crock with a piece of muslin and use a rubber band to keep the cover on the container. Put the container in a closet for about six weeks. Check it to make sure it has the correct odor. If not, add a bit of essential oil that was in the recipe and place back in the closet for another week. Keep checking on the potpourri until you are satisfied with the scent.

Now you have a batch of lovely scented potpourri to use in your home. It is also wonderful to give as a gift. You can leave it in the container with the muslin cover, or put it in decorative containers or bowls to match your decor. Hopefully, these instructions will help you make all the moist potpourri you desire.