How To Make Homemade Dry potpourri - 10 Seasonal Recipes

10 dry potpourri recipes that make lovely homemade gifts to give to friends and family or use yourself! Having these different blends of stovetop potpourri simmering throughout the seasons is sure to get you into the holiday spirit!

5 mason jars filled with various dried fruits, spices and herbs to make different dry potpourri

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When I used to think of potpourri, I would picture baggies of multicolored dried shavings or florals that smelled like the antique store. Something I’d seen in my grandma’s house a long time ago.

But real homemade potpourri is nothing like that. It’s made with natural dried fruits, herbs and spices that aren’t perfumed with artificial scents. The smell you get from handmade potpourri is amazing and delicious!

Making your own dried potpourri blends is really fun because you can get really creative and make seasonal combinations for Fall, Winter or even Summertime.

If you aren’t sure where to start though, it’s helpful to have a recipe to go off of. I’ve put together a list of my favorite seasonal dried potpourri blends that you can throw together to use in your own home, or gift to family and friends!

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why you’ll like these dry potpourri recipes

They smell amazing

If this is your first time making potpourri, I think you’re going to be really surprised by just how wonderful it smells! The different combinations of fruits, herbs and spices are so fresh and vibrant.

Better than any candle or air freshener you’ve used!

a natural Way to make your house smell Good

If you’re looking for an alternative to scented candles and air fresheners, stovetop potpourri is the way to go.

As much as I love (and miss) the coziness that a flickering candle brings, I don’t miss the headaches the artificial scents brought on.

If you are looking for a natural alternative to scented candles, try making beeswax candles made with essential oils.

Using a homemade stovetop potpourri is not only not bad for you, it’s actually good for you physically and emotionally to smell fresh, natural scents.

Another benefit to simmering stovetop potpourri is that it works as a humidifier putting moisture into the air when it’s dry in the Winter months.

easy to make

Just gather the ingredients for a potpourri recipe that sounds yummy to you, combine them in a jar to give as a gift, or add them to a pot of simmering water to use yourself!

If you’re missing any of the ingredients, don’t overthink it. Just use what you have on hand! Stovetop potpourri recipes are always open to tweaking.

they Make Wonderful Gifts!

Dried potpourri makes such a sweet, homemade gift that just about anyone can use. Put the ingredients in a cellophane baggie or mason jar with a cute little label saying what it is and how to use it.

what you need to make dry potpourri:

ingredients

Dried Citrus – lemons, limes, grapefruit or my favorite, dried orange slices.

Dried Apples – it’s easy to make a few dried apple slices to add a sweet scent to Fall potpourri recipes.

Dried Herbs – like rosemary, thyme, lavender, mint, eucalyptus…purchase them already dried or dehydrate them yourself.

Whole Spices – like cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, star anise, nutmeg, cloves, allspice berries…

Essential Oils – adding essential oils is optional but will enhance the scent of potpourri. Choose an oil that enhances the scent of one of the ingredients in your potpourri, or a different scent that compliments the other ingredients.

supplies

Glass jars or Plastic Gift Baggies – for gifting potpourri to family and friends.

a mason jar flled with dried fruits, spices and herbs to make a dry potpourri

how to make dry potpourri:

Collect Ingredients – If you’re starting with fresh ingredients, make sure to fully dehydrate them before using them in a dry potpourri mix. If there is any moisture left, they can quickly turn moldy.

Assemble Potpourri – combine your ingredients in a baggie or jar using one of these recipes, or get creative and make up your own recipe.

Dried Potpourri Recipes:

Cinnamon Roll:

cinnamon sticks
vanilla bean
whole nutmeg

Christmas Baking:

cinnamon sticks
dried orange slices
whole cloves

Apple Orchard:

dried apple slices
dried bay leaves
cinnamon sticks
star anise
whole cloves
whole nutmeg

Citrus Fresh:

dried orange slices
dried lemon slices
dried grapefruit slices
cardamom pods
cinnamon sticks

Holly Jolly Christmas:

candy canes
vanilla bean
cinnamon sticks
star anise

Walk In The Woods:

pine branches
cinnamon sticks
whole cloves
dried citrus slices

Gingerbread Man:

dried ginger root
cinnamon sticks
vanilla bean
star anise
whole cloves
whole nutmeg
cardamom pods

Fall Spirit:

apple slices
orange slices
cinnamon sticks
star anise
whole cloes
dried ginger root

Rose Bouquet:

dried rose petals
dried eucalyptus

Clean Home:

dried lemon slices
dried rosemary
cinnamon sticks

Fall Fruit Blend:

dried pear slices
dried apple slices
cinnamon sticks
dried cloves

tips for success:

To Use: Heat water on a low temperature in a pot on the stovetop or in the crockpot set to a high temperature.

Add the potpourri ingredients and let them simmer for up to 3 days. Make sure the water level doesn’t get too low or the potpourri will burn.

To Store: Dried potpourri can be stored in a loosely sealed container or baggie for months. It should not be tightly sealed because dried fruits can mold if they aren’t dehydrated completely.

Variations: All of these recipes can be made using fresh fruits and herbs if you plan to use them in a simmer pot within 2 days. Store fresh potpourri in the fridge until you are ready to use it.

Substitutions: Feel free to play around with the ingredients. There isn’t a strict science when it comes to making potpourri, so have fun with it!

FAQ about dry potpourri

what is potpourri?

Potpourri is a blend of fruits, florals, herbs and spices that are used to scent your home. Dried potpourri can be used left out in a bowl, bagged in sachets to scent clothes in dresser drawers or simmered in a pot of water on the stove.

how long does dried potpourri last?

The shelf life of dried potpourri will depend on the way you are using or storing it.

Stored in an airtight container, well dried potpourri will last for over a year.
Left in an open container on the counter, it will start to lose it’s scent within a few weeks.
Potpourri that is used in a sachet in a drawer will keep it’s scent for several months.
Dried potpourri can be added to a saucepan of water to simmer for several days.

how do you refresh old potpourri?

The easiest way to restore the smell of potpourri is to add a few drops of essential oils to it and give it a stir. Stirring potpourri up will also release more of the original scent.

Another way to bring the original scent back is to spritz it lightly with rubbing alcohol and give it a good stir.

What are some alternative uses for dried potpourri?

There are so many ways to use dried potpourri in your home!

add it to a simmer pot on the stove
place it in a sachet and stick it under the seat of your car or in the glove compartment
add a sachet to linen closets, clothing closets or dresser drawers
leave an open container of potpourri in the bathroom
leave it in an open bowl on the counter or coffee table
tie a sachet to door knobs around the house
give them as gifts for holidays, housewarming parties or as an addition to gift baskets

How do I package dried potpourri for gifts or sale?

Properly (completely) dried potpourri can be tightly sealed in mason jars tied with a ribbon. Attach a handmade or printed label with instructions on how to use it.

Dried potpourri can also be gifted in cellophane baggies or net sachets tied with a bow or twine.

Can I make dried potpourri for different seasons or occasions?

Yes! That’s what makes homemade potpourri so fun! You can choose ingredients that remind you of the seasons to make your house extra festive.

How do I dry and store the ingredients for dried potpourri?

It’s very important to use properly dried ingredients for a dried potpourri if you plan to store or gift it in a sealed container.

Using fruits or florals with any kind of moisture left in them will result in a moldy mess within a few weeks. (trust me, you don’t want to learn the hard way like I did)

Here are some step by step instructions for drying orange slices, florals and other fruits.

Once you know that your ingredients are completely dried out, they can be stored in an airtight container like a zip lock bag or mason jar for years.

more handmade Gifts on the blog:

If you enjoyed these dry potpourri recipes, I think you’ll love making these other DIY gift ideas!

I hope you love these dry potpourri recipes! If you make it, I’d love for you to come back and leave a comment and rating so that I know how they turned out!

Pin these steps to try later. Tag @athomeontheprairie on Instagram to share what you’ve made with us!

How To Make Homemade Dry potpourri – 10 Seasonal Recipes