How To Make Potpourri Gifts

There are many benefits to giving potpourri as a gift. Not only is it attractive, but its scent can freshen linen closets, drawers and even entire rooms. By making the potpourri yourself you are giving a gift that has your personal touch. However, although it is fairly simple to make, it may take several weeks to complete your potpourri gifts from start to finish.

1. Collect a variety of colorful flowers and herbs that have a desirable, natural scent. Suitable flowers to consider when making potpourri include roses, jasmine, chamomile and lavender. If using herbs, consider basil or thyme.


2. Separate the petals from the flowers and lay them on several pieces of newspaper, in a well-ventilated room.


3. Turn the flowers on a daily basis as they are drying. Drying them out can take up to one week.


4. Put the dried flowers in a bowl along with dried citrus peel, which will act like a fixative. The fixative will help the scent last longer.


5. Add several drops of essential oil to the dried petals if they are not fragrant enough.


6. Pour the potpourri in a jar and close it tightly. Let it set for one to two weeks to strengthen the scent.


7. Place some of the potpourri in an organza bag or small pillow. Fill it up, but leave enough room for the ribbons to tie the bag close. If filling a pillow, stitch the open end closed so that the dried petals do not come out. Make several of the pillows and stack them one on top of the other. Tie the stack together with decorative ribbons to give as a gift. These bags and pillows make good anytime gifts and are ideal for placing in drawers.


8. Fill clear cellophane bags until they are 2/3 to 3/4 of the way full. Tie the end of the bags with rubber bands before tying an attractive ribbon around the band.


9. Buy hollow plastic or glass ornaments from craft stores and fill them with your potpourri. Tie a colorful cloth ribbon through the loop on the ornament that typically holds the hook. Give the potpourri ornaments as holiday gifts.