How to Make Scented Potpourri with Rice and Oil

Make your own potpourri with rice and fragrance oil to fill your home with your favorite aroma.

Making your own potpourri allows you to customize it to suit your tastes. You can add your favorite scents, flowers and herbs to the potpourri. The addition of dry rice will help keep the scent of your potpourri lasting longer. When you make your own potpourri, you will need to plan and decide on the types of ingredients you wish to add as well as a scent so that you have all of the ingredients ready. Once you make your own homemade potpourri, you can fill your home with a pleasant scent.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. uncooked rice
• 1 qt. glass jar with lid
• 1 tsp. fragrance oil
• Coffee filter
• ¼ cup citrus peel
• 4 cups dried flower petals
• 4 tbsp. crushed spice
• Large bowl with lid
• 6 drops fragrance oil
• 2 tbsp. orris root
• Glass jars or baskets

Instructions

1. Pour 1 pound of uncooked rice into a 1 quart glass jar.

2. Pour 1 teaspoon of fragrance oil over the rice grains.

3. Sit a coffee filter over the jar. Screw the metal lid on to the jar. Shake the glass jar to cover the rice with the fragrance oil.

4. Place the jar in a cool and dark place. Shake the jar once a day for 1 to 2 weeks to soak the rice in the fragrance oil.

5. Add ¼ cup of citrus peel, 4 cups of dried flower petals and 4 tablespoons of a crushed spice to a large bowl. Add another 6 drops of the fragrance oil and 2 tablespoons of orris root to the ingredients.

6. Place a lid over the bowl. Shake the ingredients to mix them together.

7. Store this potpourri mixture in a dark area for 4 weeks. Shake the container every other day.

8. Add the rice to the potpourri mixture. Place the potpourri in uncovered glass jars or baskets to enjoy the aroma.

Tips & Warnings

• Use rose petals, spearmint leaves or balsam needles for the best results.

• You can add spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves to the potpourri.

• Do not use instant rice.

• Only use dry flowers and herbs with potpourri, or it will grow mildew and smell bad.

References

• Blue Bonnet Village: Scented Rice
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Making Your Own Potpourri
• Cornell University: Potpourri