Spicey 99

We’re always singing the praises of potpourri in this blog – whether it’s a traditional mix of dried floral pieces or a newer blend of spices and essential oil. Now it’s time to focus on the many uses of this fragrant household favorite. Living rooms, dens and bathrooms are perhaps the most popular areas where the smelly stuff might be found, and for good reason. In the living room, potpourri is out in the open – inviting guests to partake of its pleasant odor. In the bathroom, it might be used to mask less pleasant smells.

Whenever possible, potpourri should be kept away from dining areas. Pungent smells – no matter how delectable they might be – can detract from the taste and odor of freshly cooked food. Especially if you’re hosting a dinner party, avoid the temptation to place potpourri on the table. Let your guests enjoy its wafting scent notes before dinner, as they mill around the house or sit sipping cocktails.

As an elementary school art teacher, I’m always on the lookout for arts and crafts projects that would appeal to the younger crowd. Some of my sources for inspiration include family, friends, and coworkers, but lately I draw many of my best ideas from the Internet. On one of the arts-and-crafts listservs to which I subscribe, some other teachers were talking about making potpourri in the classroom.

In my experience, I’ve found that kids are most engaged when they can use several of their senses at once during a project. This one would allow them to use their hands to combine dried flowers and other fragrant elements, and it goes without saying that they would use their noses as well. I’m saving that particular project until spring, when nearby farmers begin spreading manure on their crops.

In earlier times, fresh herbs and fresh flowers were used in Potpourri. While fresh herbs and flowers are still used, today’s potpourri is more of a mixture of pre-dried material and essential oils which provide a gentle scent in homes and offices.  

Potpourri is put in special pots with perforated lids to perfume rooms. It can also be tied in small bags made from sheer fabric and hung throughout the house.

In a way, potpourri is like a fine wine. Just as a high-class red or white reveals its character over time as the taste buds notice each distinct flavor note, so does effective potpourri require time and patience to savor. There’s nothing wrong with overtly simple potpourri. Dried botanicals can have a pleasing effect when set out in a bowl, but they don’t exactly thrill the olfactory sensors.

It turns out that the best potpourri supplies include a number of complementary elements that work well as a whole. While a few dried botanicals and essential oils are less than impressive on their own, they achieve a divine new aroma when combined. Before you put the time and effort into creating your own potpourri, consider all of the enticing blends of fragrances that are already available.

Ever since I moved to the Midwest a few months ago, I’ve embraced the new lifestyle and the slower pace it allows. I’ve taken special care to decorate my home with a country motif, and the kitchen is a constant thrum of activity. Since my husband and I are always welcoming company into our home, we wanted to make it feel even more warm and inviting. It struck me that the house didn’t really smell like a home. In fact, it didn’t smell like much of anything.

That’s when I began searching online for sweet-smelling potpourri with floral accents. As an added bonus, I found high-quality potpourri that features fragrance oils. I’ve noticed that these oils have a soothing effect that makes our living room feel even more comfortable than it did before. Guests and neighbors are constantly commenting on the pleasant odors emanating from the potpourri, and we’ve done well to ingratiate ourselves to the neighborhood.

When we describe a winning sports team or even a particularly delicious recipe, we often say that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is also true in the fragrance world, where potpourri reigns supreme. The smell of potpourri could be compared to the taste of a fine wine – the more time you spend getting to know it, the more distinct aromatic notes you begin to perceive.

After cracking open some aromatic potpourri, your senses will be overwhelmed with a unique fragrance – that of the whole. But given time, you’ll likely pick up a number of separate aromas that weren’t detectable at first sniff. These fruit and floral extracts make their presence felt over a period of days, and they come together in such a way that everyone in the household will enjoy the olfactory atmosphere.