How to Make Gardenia Sachet

Make a gardenia sachet

Gardenias are heady, fragrant flowers that grow in thick bushes. The gardenia bloom is white with a smooth, supple feel, and the leaves are dark and waxy. Its strong scent is traditionally used to stave off musty, stale odors. Make your own gardenia sachets and enjoy the pleasant scent of gardenia every time you open your drawers or closets.

Things You'll Need

• Gardenia blossoms
• Baking sheet
• Oven
• 1 yard white silk fabric
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• White thread
• Needle
• Cord
• Gardenia essential oil
• Scoop

Instructions

Make Gardenia Potpourri

1. Harvest gardenia blossoms in the late morning after the dew has dried from the leaves. Place the harvested blossoms in a basket.

2. Bring the blossoms inside when the harvesting is complete. Place the blossoms on newspaper.

3. Pull the petals gently from the flowers and lay them on a cookie sheet. Preheat your oven to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Dry the gardenia petals in the oven for one hour, turning the petals every 15 minutes.

5. Let the dried gardenia petals cool, then transfer them to jars for storage. Store the petals until you are ready to use them in your sachets.

Make Sachets

1. Lay the fabric on a table. Cut out two 6-inch squares.

2. Sew a 1-inch hem on one end of each square. Place two pieces together so that the hems line up, with the sewn sides facing outward.

3. Sew the three unhemmed sides together with an easy whipstitch: slide the needle through the fabric along the edge, pull it up then back under, keeping the thread taut. Tie the thread off with a knot and trim the excess.

4. Flip the pocket inside out. The sides should be smooth with no stitches showing.

5. Slip the cord through the two hems. Leave the cords untied.

6. Spread the dried gardenia potpourri mix on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the mix with gardenia-scented essential oil.

7. Mix the dried gardenia petals with the oil using your scoop. Allow the potpourri to soak up the oil for about 15 minutes, then scoop the potpourri into the bag.

8. Tie the cords together and toss the sachet into a drawer or closet.

References

• Green Chi Cafe: Potpourri and Sweet Herbal Scents