Increasing the aesthetic appeal of the house is a challenge for most homemakers and a lot of money is spent on buying really expensive articles for the home like showpieces, paintings, air fresheners and the list goes on to that and this.
Few have the time to think of making something on their own, specially in urban places. Now that the summer is here and the children are home, try to make some creative pot pourri.
Pot pourri is a mixture of fragrant plant material that has been in use since ancient time around the world.
The material used could be naturally scented, like jasmine flowers, sandalwood shavings, orange peels etc or artificially scented with perfumes or
Pot pourri ingredients
Any dry plant material could be used, but firm material is best for beginners. Go around the house and collect wilting flowers and dry them. Roses, jasmine, zinnias, carnations and chrysanthemum are easily available and easy to handle.
Beautiful leaves could also be pressed and used. Wild berries and wood shavings give a nice look and add volume. Spices like cinnamon, cloves, all spice leaves, fennel, lemon peels when used give a natural aroma of their own.
Method: Sort out the collected material to exclude the damaged parts. Different colours could be used to add vibrancy. The flowers could be painted with the colours of your choice in different shades.
Add the material in a thin bag made of cloth. You could add a few drops of your favourite essential oil to the bag, or if unavailable, use a few sprays of perfume into it.
Keep the bag away from air in a box for a fortnight in the dark. Every two days, gently mix the pot pourri. Once the aroma settles in the pot pourri, it is ready for use.
Stuff some pot pourri in small pouches made out of thin muslin cloth or decorative paper and use in your cupboard or bookshelf or at the front door for a nice aroma.