Key Takeaways
- Christmas potpourri is dried orange, cinnamon, star anise and pine cones in an open bowl, and it scents a room for four to six weeks.
- Refresh a tired mix with a few drops of cinnamon or orange essential oil, and stir it gently to wake the scent up.
- Keep the bowl out of reach of small children and pets, and skip strong oils such as tea tree in a home with cats.
Christmas potpourri is the simplest natural way to make a house smell like the holidays, with no plug, no spray and no flame. A bowl of dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise and pine cones gives off a warm, spicy scent for weeks, and it doubles as a pretty table decoration. This guide shares ten Christmas potpourri recipes you can make at home, from a classic cinnamon and orange mix to a pine and cranberry blend that works as a gift.
What Is Christmas Potpourri Made Of?
Christmas potpourri is made of dried natural ingredients such as orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, pine cones and dried cranberries, mixed with a few drops of essential oil. The mix sits in an open bowl and releases its scent slowly, and you can refresh it with a drop or two of oil when the smell fades.
Dry the orange slices in a low oven until they feel crisp, and let the pine cones dry out fully before you use them. Store the finished mix in a jar with a lid until you are ready to display it, so the scent stays strong.
How Long Does Homemade Potpourri Last?
Homemade Christmas potpourri keeps its scent for four to six weeks in an open bowl, and longer if you store it in a closed jar between uses. Refresh a tired mix with a few drops of cinnamon or orange essential oil, and stir it gently to wake the scent up again.
Keep the bowl away from radiators and sunny windowsills, since heat dries the scent out faster. After Christmas, pack the mix into a paper bag and use it in drawers or the linen cupboard, where it keeps clothes smelling fresh for months.
Can I Make Potpourri as a Christmas Gift?
Potpourri makes a lovely Christmas gift because it is cheap to make, easy to pack in a jar with a ribbon, and feels personal in a way a shop-bought gift rarely does. Add a small handwritten label with the recipe, so the person who receives it can make more.
A small jam jar holds about a cup of mix, which is enough for one bowl. Tie the ribbon around the lid, tuck in a cinnamon stick and a dried orange slice, and the gift looks ready for the tree or the table.
Is Potpourri Safe Around Pets and Children?
Potpourri is mostly safe around pets and children, but keep the bowl out of reach, since dried spices, cloves and essential oils should not be eaten. Avoid oils such as tea tree and wintergreen in a home with cats or small children, and use plain dried fruit and pine cones instead.
If a child or a pet does eat some, offer water and watch for an upset stomach, and call your vet or doctor if you are worried. A high shelf or a sideboard keeps the bowl in sight and out of small hands.
10 Christmas Potpourri Recipes to Try at Home
These ten Christmas potpourri recipes use simple dried ingredients, and each one takes only a few minutes to mix once the fruit is dry.
- Classic cinnamon and orange — Mix dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks and whole cloves, then add two drops of orange essential oil for a warm, familiar scent.
- Pine and cranberry — Combine small pine cones, dried cranberries and sprigs of fir, with a drop of pine oil, for a fresh woodland smell.
- Star anise and clove — Use star anise, cloves and dried apple slices for a spicy mix that suits a kitchen or a dining table.
- Orange, lemon and rosemary — Dry lemon and orange slices together, add rosemary sprigs and a cinnamon stick, for a bright, clean scent.
- Vanilla and cinnamon — Split a vanilla pod, add cinnamon sticks and dried orange peel, for a soft, sweet mix that suits a bedroom.
- Cranberry and fir — Mix dried cranberries with fir sprigs and a few drops of fir oil, then display it in a wide, shallow bowl.
- Spiced apple — Dry thin apple slices, add cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, for a mix that smells like baking without the oven.
- Eucalyptus and pine — Combine dried eucalyptus leaves with pine cones and a drop of eucalyptus oil for a cool, fresh scent in a hallway.
- Orange and bay — Mix dried orange slices with bay leaves, cloves and a cinnamon stick, for a simple mix that looks as good as it smells.
- Gift jar mix — Layer orange slices, cinnamon, star anise and cranberries in a jam jar, tie a ribbon around the lid, and give it as a ready-made gift.
Christmas potpourri is one of those small homemade touches that makes a house feel cared for. A bowl on the table, a jar by the door, and the whole home smells like the holidays without a single plug or spray.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I dry orange slices for potpourri?
Slice oranges thinly, lay them on a baking tray, and dry them in a low oven at around 200 degrees Fahrenheit for two to three hours, turning them once. They are ready when they feel crisp and dry to the touch.
Can I reuse last year's potpourri?
Yes, you can reuse last year's potpourri if it still smells pleasant and shows no mould. Refresh it with a few drops of essential oil, add a handful of fresh dried orange slices, and it will smell like new.
What essential oils smell like Christmas?
Cinnamon, orange, clove, pine and fir essential oils smell most like Christmas, and a mix of orange and cinnamon is the classic choice. Use only a few drops, since a little oil goes a long way in a small bowl.
Where should I put a potpourri bowl?
Put a potpourri bowl where people pass by, such as the entryway table, the coffee table or the dining table, so the scent drifts through the room. Keep it away from radiators and sunny windows, which dry the scent out faster.
More Guides
Christmas potpourri costs almost nothing, takes an afternoon to prepare, and scents the house for weeks. Dry a batch of orange slices this weekend, mix your favourite recipe, and set a bowl where guests will notice it. It is the simplest natural decoration of the season, and the one your home will smell of long after the tree comes down.