How to Make a Spicy Pomander

Spicy pomanders are the perfect craft to freshen up and add flavor to any atmosphere. They can be made with spices from your own pantry and are easy to make. All it takes is a little patience and the right materials. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Orange
• Cloves
• Cinnamon
• Ginger
• Nutmeg
• Ribbon
• 3/8 inch masking tape
• Waxed paper
• Nail or something to pierce holes for cloves
• Orris root (optional)
• Bowl for spices

1. Begin by mixing 1 tbsp. of cinnamon, 1 1/2 tsp. of ground nutmeg, 1 1/2 tsp of ginger and 1 tbsp. of orris root in a bowl large enough to hold the orange. The orris root is optional but highly recommended. Set the spice mixture aside.
2. Mark the location of the ribbons on a firm orange by taping it with 3/8 inch masking tape. Start at the stem end and wrap the tape completely around the orange from top to bottom. The orange now has two sections. Do it again starting in the middle of one of the sections. The tape now has divided the orange into four equal areas.
3. Begin to poke holes in the orange, starting as close to the tape as possible. You can use a nail or knitting needle. These holes are for inserting the cloves. Leave enough space for the heads, but not too much. The more cloves you have, the more aroma there is. This step of the project is good when you need to vent frustration.
4. Insert the cloves into the holes that you made and remove the masking tape.
5. Roll the completely studded orange in the powdered mixture. The more that sticks to the orange, the more prominent the scent.
6. Tie two sections of ribbon around the orange to cover the spots where the tape had been. Make one quite long, to use as a hanger. The other should be long enough to make a decorate bow or curl for the top of the orange. Lightly tie them, since the orange will shrink as it dries and you will need to tighten the ribbon.
7. Store the orange in a cool dry area wrapped in wax paper, for 5-6 weeks. This allows it to dry out and harden. Tighten the ribbon. Curl the ends if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Orris root is the dried root of the Bearded Iris or Purple Flag. It's used as a fixative and enhances the aroma, making the fragrance of the pomander last longer. A few extra benefits go along with adding it. It gives the pomander a hint of violet scent and some claim that sniffing it helps to clear sinus headaches.
• Some people prefer to remove the tape after poking the holes and before studding with cloves. They feel the tape is easier to take off at that time. Others like to keep it on as a guide until the orange is studded.
• When attaching the ribbon, loop the second ribbon under the first and then tie. This will catch the first ribbon inside the knot so that it is more stable.