How to Make Potpourri From Dried Flowers

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It's easy to make potpourri from dried flowers
Image Credit: Jonathan Fong

Of all the endless varieties of potpourri one could make, a potpourri mixture of dried flowers might be the purest and most beautiful combination of them all. Dried petals nestle with whole flower blooms to create a colorful and fragrant decor essential that will freshen up any room in the house. It's also a great way to preserve flowers that you've picked from the garden, or received as gifts.

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Start with Dry Petals

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Dry rose petals add delicate beauty to your potpourri
Image Credit: Jonathan Fong

In a potpourri of dried flowers, the majority of the contents should be flower petals, as they add a delicate, airy beauty to the mixture.

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• Many varieties of flower petals dry nicely for potpourri. Look for flowers that have large petals such as roses, tulips and peonies, so the dried versions hold their shape.

• It's easy to dry the petals in a microwave, an oven or pressed in a book

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• Use more than one color of petal in the potpourri to provide depth and visual interest.

Include Full Flower Blooms

Add dried whole flower blooms
Image Credit: Jonathan Fong

Complement the petals in your potpourri with whole, dried flower blooms.

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• Dried rose buds have an elegance that goes with most design styles.

• Experiment with other varieties of flowers. Chrysanthemums and hydrangeas dry well, and their texture is completely different from the dried roses.

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• Because they are so much heavier than the dried flower petals, use these full blooms sparingly.

Accent with Dried Botanicals

Botanicals from your yard make great accents
Image Credit: Jonathan Fong

The focus of this potpourri is the flowers, so when it comes to additional botanicals, a little goes a long way.

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• Don't let the botanicals overwhelm the dried flowers, especially the delicate petals.

• Forage for leaves and woody elements in your own yard.

• Use artificial silk leaves, or leaves made of paper, if you don't have a yard.

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Mix All Ingredients Together

Add fixative and essential oils so the fragrance lasts
Image Credit: Jonathan Fong

In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together.

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• Add 5 or 6 drops of essential oils to pump up the fragrance of the potpourri.

• Sprinkle one to two tablespoons of fixative onto the mix to help preserve the fragrance and make it last longer.

• Place the mixture in a sealed container for 4 to 6 weeks to allow the fragrance to reach its peak.

• Stir or shake the mixture once a week.

• For additional tips, see this recipe for basic potpourri.

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