Making Rose Petal Potpourri.
(The hardest part is spelling it correctly!)

Rose petal potpourri extends the enjoyment of the fresh cut roses you bring in from your garden, or the bouquet sent to you by a loved one.

This natural air freshner has been named "Potpourri" although the french words from which it is derived have a rather different meaning. "Pot" is some form of container and "pourrir" means to rot: a rotting jar or fermentation jar!

Of course we like to think of our "potpourri" as fragrantly scented, not rotting.

Rose petal potpourri usually has three major ingredients. Dried flowers, spices and some form of fixative. Fillers could also be added.

Dried Flowers
Our basic flowers are dried rose petals, but the second recipe adds some lavender flowers as well.

Spices
A variety of dry spices could be added. We have chosen Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Marjoram, Cloves, Cardomon, Rosemary and Thyme. One of the recipes adds lemon balm and the third adds Sandalwood.

Fixatives
These substances stop the volatile rose oils from evaporating from your rose petal potpourri. Orris root is the most common, although there are many others including gum benzoin, vetiver or even dry lavender or sandalwood helps.

You find dry, powdered Orris root (Iris Florentina) in healthfood stores or craft stores that sell soap making materials. Use about one tablespoon to two cups of petals.

Fillers
These are just to brighten up the mixture and give it bulk.

Items such as small pine cones, dried leaves, colored glass, sea shells, small bits of driftwood etc etc. Dried peel, Bay and Eucalyptus leaves are a good addition as long as they don't overpower the rose petal scent.

Three very old Rose Petal Potpourri Recipes

SPICED ROSE PETALS
1 Quart of dried Rose Petals
1/2 teaspoon each of crushed nutmeg, crushed cinnamon, crushed cloves, crushed mace and crushed Allspice
1 cup of dried Thyme
1/4 cup of powdered Orris.(or benzoin)

LAVENDER ROSE PETALS
1 quart of dried rose petals
1 teaspoon each of nutmeg and cinnamon
2 cups of dried lavender flowers
1 cup of Gum Benzoin.(or orris root)
1 cup of dried marjoram
one drop of sweet-orange oil

SANDALWOOD ROSE PETALS
1 cup of dried rose petals
1 tablespoon of nutmeg
1 cup of sandalwood shavings
1 cup of Gum Benzoin or Orris root
1 cup of dried rosemary
1/2 cup of dried orange peel
1 drop of oil of Thyme.

In all these recipes you need to mix the ingredients together and let them sit in a warm, dry and dark area for a couple of weeks or so, so the mixture can "ferment" a little. Make sure the dry mixture is in a sealed canister or jar. Adding a small drop of unscented alcohol (Brandy maybe?) will help release the fragrances when you are ready to use it.

Be creative with your containers but make sure they have a sealed base and be careful of bugs. Cover the top with netting perhaps. It has been suggested that adding dried chili peppers helps keep the bugs away: keeping it away from heating registers or direct sunlight will prolong the scent.

Check out the section on, "How to dry rose petals" if you are not sure.

www.rose-works.com helping you get the most from your roses, even when they are dried.

Return to Rose Petals from Rose Petal Potpourri