How to Make Potpourri

Co-authored by Hannah Madden

Last Updated: March 3, 2022 References Tested

Potpourri is a mixture of dried ingredients, spices, and oils that scent a room. It can be made of many different types of ingredients and give off distinct fragrances and moods. If you’d like to make your own potpourri, choose your dry ingredients, pair them with essential oils, and let your potpourri sit for a few weeks to make your house smell great today.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making Classic Potpourri

1
Gather petals, cloves, and orange peels to create a spicy potpourri. All of your ingredients will combine to create a great smelling and looking mixture. For a spicy potpourri, use any type of flower petals along with some cloves, orange peels, and cinnamon sticks. These ingredients will complement each other in both smell and look.^{[1]
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2
Choose pine cones, pine needles, and peonies for a winter potpourri. The winter holidays almost have their own specific smell. To go with this theme, use pine cones, pine needles, peony petals, and rose hips to create a great smelling potpourri. Use any pine cones and needles that are native to your area.^{[2]
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- Get creative with your ingredients. If you love roses, add some petals in. If you find some amazing cedar bark, give that a try as well.
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3
Create your own combination of ingredients to experiment. If you want to make your own potpourri, get creative with what ingredients you use to make it. Combine your favorite flowers, bark, or any type of woody material that can be found in nature. You can even add in spices like cloves to your mixture. Use your discretion to make the potpourri that is right for you.^{[3]
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- Fruit peels are another great ingredient to include for your potpourri.
4
Dry your ingredients on a baking tray for 2 weeks. Set all of your ingredients on a baking tray or in a cardboard box. Make sure they are all in 1 layer and not overlapping each other. Allow them to dry out completely for about 2 weeks. Dry ingredients will be crumbly and might flake when you touch them.^{[4]
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- To dry your ingredients faster, place them in direct sunlight.
5
Put your dry ingredients into an airtight container. Carefully pour your dried ingredients into a container that can be sealed. Try not to crumble or crush them too much as you transition them. Your container does not have to look attractive since it will not be what you are displaying your potpourri in.^{[5]
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- Use a mason jar and a lid for small ingredients.
- Seal a large bowl with plastic wrap or a lid.
6
Add 2 drops of essential oils to your dry ingredients. Essential oils add fragrance and moisture back into your dry ingredients. Use an eyedropper to pour 2 drops of essential oils into your ingredients. Put 1 drop on each side of your container to evenly disperse them.^{[6]
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- Rose oil, cinnamon oil, lemon oil, orange oil, honeysuckle oil, and bayberry oil are all great choices for potpourri.
7
Seal the container and allow it to sit for up to 6 weeks. Let your dry ingredients soak up the essential oils so that they smell good for longer. Leave your container in a cool, dry place where it won’t be disturbed. Avoid opening the container before you want to display your potpourri.^{[7]
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- Try putting your mix in a closet or a dark bedroom to let it sit.
8
Display your potpourri in a bowl or open jar. Pour your ingredients into a bowl, jar, or container without a lid so that the smell gets into the air around it. Use small jars for individual gifts or put your potpourri into 1 large bowl to keep for yourself. Your potpourri should emit a strong smell for about 2 months.^{[8]
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Tip: If you are giving out a lot of potpourri, pour small portions into a resealable plastic bag to preserve the smell.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using Dried Flowers

1
Dry your flowers fully by baking or hanging them. To hang your flowers, tie them together by the stem and hang them upside down for 3 weeks until they are fully dry. To bake your flowers, arrange them on a baking tray and preheat your oven to 200 °F (93 °C). Bake them for 2 hours or until they are fully dry.^{[9]
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- Dry flowers will be flaky and crumbly to the touch.
2
Place your dried flower petals or heads in a container. If your flowers have any stems on them, cut them off with sharp scissors. Place individual petals or full flower heads into a container that can be sealed. The petals may crumble a bit in the container, but that’s okay.^{[10]
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- This container is not the one that you’ll display your finished potpourri in, so it doesn’t have to look aesthetically pleasing.
3
Add 5 to 6 drops of essential oil to your dried flowers. Rose oil, lavender oil, honeysuckle oil, and lemon oil are all good choices for potpourri. The essential oil is what will make your potpourri smell good, so be generous with your drops.^{[11]
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Tip: You can mix essential oil fragrances as long as they complement each other.
4
Seal your container and let it sit for 2 weeks. Put a lid on your airtight container and don’t open it up for at least 2 weeks. This allows the oils to soak into the flower petals and make them smell good for much longer. Avoid opening your container until you are ready to use your potpourri.^{[12]
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- You can leave your container sealed for up to 8 weeks for a stronger smell.
5
Mix in 1 tbsp (15 g) of orris root powder. Orris root powder is a “fixative,” meaning that it will keep your essential oils from evaporating and keep your mix smelling good for longer. Pour some orris root powder into your flowers and essential oil mix and shake it up so it covers all of your potpourri.^{[13]
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- You can find orris root powder at most grocery and health food stores.
6
Arrange your potpourri in an open jar or a shallow bowl. Display your potpourri in an open container so that the smell can permeate the air. Add decorative stones for some added bling or some cloves for a spicy kick. Replace your potpourri when you can’t smell the essential oils anymore.^{[14]
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- Potpourri generally smells good for about 2 months.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Reviving Old Potpourri

1
Pour your potpourri into a large mixing bowl or plastic bag. If your potpourri has lost its scent, transfer it to a large mixing bowl or a plastic bag that can be sealed. Make sure it is large enough to hold all of your potpourri ingredients without spilling. Don’t worry if any of your ingredients crack or crumble.^{[15]
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- You may even notice more of a smell as you start to move your potpourri around.
2
Add 2 to 3 drops of essential oil to your potpourri. Use the same essential oil that you started with to refresh your potpourri. If you can’t remember what you used or you don’t have it anymore, use an essential oil fragrance that complements what it used to smell like. There will probably be a little bit of essential oil left in your mix, so the scents will combine slightly.^{[16]
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- Lemon oil and orange oil are great for citrus potpourri.
- Rose or lavender oil are both good for floral potpourri.
3
Mix the ingredients thoroughly. Put a lid on your bowl or shake the plastic bag to mix up your potpourri. Let the essential oil coat all of your ingredients. If it still doesn’t smell as strong as you want it to, add essential oil 1 drop at a time until you like it. You can revive your potpourri up to 4 times.^{[17]
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Warning: If your potpourri is older than 6 months, it may not smell as strong as you’d like it to.

Community Q&A

Question

Can I dry elderberry flowers for potpourri?

Community Answer

Absolutely! Though you should do it in a dark place, and regularly monitor it for mold until it's fully dry.
Question

What can I use for strengthening the scent or for a strong smell?

Kicky Ricky

Community Answer

If you slightly mild the Potpourri it will release a more intensive aroma because the aetheric oils will start to evaporate.
Question

If the smell is too strong, how do I weaken it?

Community Answer

You can place it in some sort of diffuser, like a paper towel, cloth, or plastic wrap with holes in it.