Seasonal Crafts: Old Rose and Lavender Potpourri

Here is a simple, classic potpourri recipe you can try. It's a wonderful way to sweeten the indoor air.

Don't be afraid to experiment with your own formulas.  For hundreds of years, people have invented ways of preserving the fresh fragrance of flowers and herbs! 

Potpourri Recipe

* 1/2 cup rose petals
* 1/2 cup lavender blossoms
* 1/2 cup sweet woodruff
* 1/2 cup pot marjoram leaves and blossoms
* 1/4 cup mint
* 2 teaspoons orange peel
* 2 teaspoons whole cloves
* 1/2 teaspoon crushed cinnamon stick
* 2 drops each of lavender and rose oils
* 1/2 teaspoon powdered orrisroot

Combine the first eight ingredients. Sprinkle the oils and the orrisroot over the dry ingredients and mix well. Place in a covered jar, and stir gently every few days for a month, until the scents have blended and mellowed. Remove the jar's cover to freshen a room, but be sure to replace the cover between times of use. All potpourris need time to recoup their scents. The above recipe will also work well in sachets.

Illustration by Margo Letourneau