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!
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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.
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!
- Homemade Rose Bath Salts
- DIY Essential Oil Perfume
- How To Make Beeswax Candles
- Homemade Roll On Lip Gloss
- DIY Coffee Soap
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!