There are all sorts of reasons to try DIY potpourri sachets. For example: You like good smells. Or you love plants but suck at keeping them alive. Maybe you want to remind yourself that even though it’s winter now, flowers and sunshine still exist. Or you want to make something sweet for your friends for Galentine’s Day. Add to those “it’s easy”…and you might as well get yourself to the grocery store to get started. Here’s how…
How to make DIY Potpourri sachets
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
For the potpourri
Fresh roses—buds and not-very-open blossoms
Blood orange
Tangerine
Eucalyptus branches
Essential oils (we used a mixture of eucalyptus, orange, and rose oil)
Spray bottle
Super-sharp knife
Scissors
Sheet pan
For the sachets
Small muslin drawstring bags
Acrylic paint
Linocut stamps (see how to make your own here)
Index cards or paper scraps
Gift tags (we like these a lot)
Favorite pen
FIRST, MAKE THE POTPOURRI
The potpourri will take a few hours to make and dry, so get that going first.
- Preheat your oven to 200°.
- Snip the stems off the roses close to the head of the flower.
- Slice the citrus fruits super thin—like 1/8″.
- Spread the buds and fruit slices on parchment paper on a sheet pan.
- Add about a dozen drops of essential oil to a small spray bottle filled with water, and spray your pre-potpourri.
- Bake at 200° for a couple of hours. You want your fruit and flowers to dry but not burn, so keep an eye out. The oranges took 2-3 hours, and the roses took around 1 hour. When they’re done, let them cool completely.
- Snip the leaves off the eucalyptus.
- Toss the leaves and the dried citrus and roses in a bowl, and spritz with more of the essential oil spray.
OTHER KINDS OF POTPOURRI YOU CAN MAKE
Make DIY potpourri sachets following the same instructions but with other materials. For example:
- Lavender + rosemary + cedarwood oil
- Rose + lemon verbena oil + sandalwood oil
- Grapefruit + sage leaves + cedarwood oil
THEN DECORATE THE SACHETS
While the potpourri is in the oven, decorate your sachets and label the gift tags.
- Slip an index card or paper scrap in each bag to keep paint from bleeding through.
- Follow these instructions to make stamps and stamp your designs on the bags, and let the paint dry. (We’re in love with these tiny, minimalist designs.)
PUT YOUR DIY POTPOURRI SACHETS TOGETHER
Next is the easy part:
- Scoop the potpourri into each of the bags.
- Tie them shut and add pretty little gift tags.
If you have leftover potpourri, pour it in a glass or wooden bowl and plunk it on a table or shelf. If the scent fades, just spritz it with more essential oil.
Tell us what you think: Are you ready to put a fresh twist of your own on potpourri? As always, we’d love to see it. Tag us on Instagram @Think.Make.Share.
We’re fans of flowers. See how to press them, arrange them, fake them, and photograph them.