How to Make Perfume Pomanders

For over a century, perfume pomanders have been used to decorate and scent the air of homes. Hung in closets, they also repel moths. Traditional pomanders are clove-studded fruits that have been rolled into a spice mixture and dried thoroughly. While oranges are most commonly used, lemons, limes, apples and hard pears can also yield good results. Scented pomanders are simple and fun to make, although you will have to be patient during the drying phase. Begin making the pomanders about one month before you intend to use them. The recipe that follows will produce well-scented pomanders to add to holiday season décor or use as elegant gifts. Smaller ones can be used as tree decorations or wired into wreaths. Larger ones can either be hung from doorways or placed on trays and bowls in your home to provide a fresh fragrance that will last for many months.

Things You'll Need

• Thin-skinned citrus fruit (oranges, limes or lemons)
• Darning needle or fork
• 50g whole cloves (with strong stems and large heads to stick into the skin)
• 2 tbsp spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, etc.)
• 2 tbsp orris root powder (to fix and preserve the fragrance)
• Paper bag
• Wax paper
• Ribbons, lace or colored net
• Lemon or orange oil
• Glue, hooks or pins

Instructions

1. Knead the fruit gently to soften it. If you wish, mark and groove a pattern on the skin. Rub the surface with lemon oil to keep it shiny. Stick the whole cloves into the fruit, pricking the skin with a darning needle first if necessary. Leave a clove's worth of space between each to allow for any shrinkage as the fruit dries. The fruit will usually shrink to about 2/3 its original size during the slow-drying process.

2. Leave a section around the fruit as wide as the ribbon you will be using to hang it with. This makes a handy groove to hold the pomander in place. You can use masking tape or elastic bands.

3. Mix the orrisroot powder with the spices. You can use cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice or coriander. Put the mixture on to a sheet of wax paper. Gently roll the decorated fruit in the spices and powder mix until it is evenly covered.

4. Wrap the finished fruit in a paper bag and leave in a dark, dry, airy place for at least three weeks. It should dry thoroughly, shrink and harden. The fruit must dry completely or it will become moldy.

5. Add the finishing decorative touches to the dried pomander. Secure it with ribbon, lace or colored net. To hang a pomander, make a loop of ribbon and secure with glue or pins.

Tips & Warnings

• The fragrance of pomander should last for many years. But if the scent begins to fade, refresh the perfume by lightly painting the pomander with an orange essential oil in which cloves have soaked. This will refresh the tropical smell of citrus and spices. Place the pomander in a warm place (between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius or 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit), where the scent will be strongest.

• You can make a crisscross pattern on the fruit with masking tape. After finished, Place ribbons in a criss-cross fashion where the tape was placed or elastic bands. Sew the ends together and make a loop for hanging.

• Pomander looks beautiful when several of them are placed in a bowl together. In this case ribbons are not necessary.

Resources

• Learn more about making pomanders by following this link!