Potpourri

Over the centuries of using fragrant plant materials to scent our homes and ourselves, certain botanicals have proved to be true friends that always give us pleasure. Old-fashioned roses, lavender and lemon verbena give a rich base of natural scent to any potpourri mix. Calendula and sunflower petals add long-lasting colors of mellow gold's and oranges to a blend, while bachelor's buttons maintain their brilliant blue. Pink rose petals usually retain their color, as do bright yellow roses, while a red rose tends to turn a deep maroon. Textures of bark and small cones add a touch of the forest and hints of wither. There are very few rules in the making of potpourri. Think of them as guidelines that are useful in experimentation. The essence of creating a potpourri is a threefold mix of ingredients: dried botanical materials, essential oils, and a fixative to hold the oil's scent. Dried botanicals are accessible through growers and some health-food stores that sell bulk rosebuds and lavender as well as selections of interesting, exotic herbs and spices. When you choose materials for a potpourri, Keep in mind the mood you want to create. A spring garden fragrance will require delicate colors and textures in perhaps a subtle blend of whites, pinks and soft greens. Capture the felling of fall with autumnal potpourri. Small, colorful leaves, twigs,dried yellow roses, and mosses, A beautiful potpourri can be made by using white petals only; a combination of white roses and carnations, daisies and alyssum create a lovely bridal potpourri. Look for unusual shapes and colors. Sassafras adds a rosy brown and subtle spicy scent. Lotus and eucalyptus pods add a textural flair to woody potpourris. Roses are in a category by themselves. A potpourri made by combining petals from roses of every color is absolutely breathtaking, particularly when it is scented with damask rose oil. The Pens, Pencils and Markers makes an especially interesting Potpourri, as the petals are red on one side and pure white on the other. They dry well and add a lovely touch of cream and crimson. A delicate rose potpourri can be made by using only petals from miniature roses. Modern roses are quite different from the old-fashioned varieties in that they dry well and have wonderful color but do not have the scent of old-fashioned roses. Fixatives are a key ingredient in potpourri; they absorb and retain the volatile scented oils. If the fixative is omitted, the potpourri will quickly loose its fragrance. Fixatives can be used individually or combined. Iris Germanic tubers, harvested at three years of age, dried and ground, yield orrisroot powder. Gum benzoin, oakmoss and cellulose are commonly used fixatives that are also readily available. Creating a potpourri is as simple as mixing a few ingredients together. Gather all the materials, including a large glass of pottery bowl, a crockery cup, an eye dropper, and a small wooden spoon (metal and plastic are not recommend). Be sure to keep the potpourri spoon separate from other kitchen spoons after mixing essential oils. You will need a large paper bag for seasoning potpourri and a few clothespins to seal the bag. Measure dried botanicals following the recipe or invent your own pleasing combination.. Mix dried petals and other botanicals in the large pottery bowl. Blend with your hands, or a wooden spoon, using gentle motions to prevent damage to petals. Set the mixture aside and place 2 to 3 tablespoons of orrisroot powder in a cup. The amount of fixative needed will be found in a recipe, however, if you are experimenting, a ratio of 2 tablespoons of fixative work well with about 4 cups of dried material. Add essential oils to fixative, 1 drop at a time, blending with wooden spoon. The fixative should be slightly moistened but not saturated with oils. Add the scented fixative to the dried material. Place the mixture in a paper bag and seal the top with clothespins or clips. Turn the bag over several times to distribute the fixative. Store the bag away from direct sunlight and allow the mix to season for 4 to 6 weeks.