How to Make Colonial Sachets

Colonial-style sachets will make your clothes smell fresh.

Sachets have been used for hundreds of years to make clothing and textiles smell fresh and clean for a longer period of time. People who lived during Colonial times filled handkerchiefs with dried herbs and flowers to scent clothing inside drawers. You can make your own Colonial-style sachet using a handkerchief, which you can then place inside a chest of drawers or closet to freshen your clothing.

Things You'll Need

• Handkerchief
• Dried flowers buds
• Dried herbs
• Essential oil
• Hemp twine

Instructions

1. Place a handkerchief onto a table top. Flatten it out with your palms.

2. Pour about 1/4 cup of dried flower buds and dried herbs into the center of the handkerchief. In Colonial times, people would use highly fragrant flower buds and herbs, such as lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage, rose and chamomile.

3. Drop 2 to 3 drops of your favorite essential oil over the dried buds and herbs. Select an oil that will complement the flower buds and herbs you are using, avoiding oils whose scents may conflict with the dried flora you are using. For example, lavender essential oil is the best choice if you are using lavender buds or dried sage, but will not work well if you are using dried thyme. Orange essential oil will work well if you are using thyme or rosemary, but will not work well if you are using dried rose buds.

4. Gather up the handkerchief into a pouch, and tie a 6-inch piece of hemp twine around the pouch to secure it.

5. Place the sachet underneath or in between your clothing.

References

• Lost Mountain Lavender: Lavender Handkerchief Sachet
• Super Herbs: Herbs Used in Sachets