Perfect Potpourri
Aromatherapy is “the use of aroma to enhance a feeling of well-being.”
Since nothing feels quite like being comfortable at home, I wanted to share one of my favorite tips for keeping my home smelling cozy and inviting!
Over the past few years I’ve tried to waste less and use more natural methods for just about everything - including home fragrance. While I could employ diffusers to do this job, there is nothing that can fill an entire home with an incredible aroma like stove-top potpourri.
Here’s how I do it. I keep a large bowl in my fridge. Throughout the day, instead of tossing fruit peels and herbal leftovers in the trash, I collect them in the bowl.
Items such as fruit peels (citrus works really well) and cores, unused fresh or dried herbs from cooking, cinnamon stick pieces that I’ve used to flavored teas, etc. all tend to work well.
It doesn’t take long to fill the bowl (especially with kids, juicing, and smoothie-making). Every 2-3 days, I empty the bowl into a pot, fill it with water, and bring it to a low simmer.
In minutes the entire house is flooded with goodness! Sometimes I walk outside just so I can come back and enjoy it again! It truly is a sensory experience that some might even call nostalgic.
The potpourri will hold well for 2-3 days, so I keep the pot covered with a lid when it’s not simmering. I simmer it several times daily for 15-20 minutes, and the fragrance lasts in my home. After the second day, I toss the now-mushy potpourri, wash the pot, refill with the contents of the bowl from the fridge, and get back to simmering.
Other items I sometimes include:
a bay leaf for its fragrance and energetic qualities
leftover botanicals that I’ve used from making Weaving Alchemy’s aromatherapy products (especially dried lavender, rose petals, or sage leaves)
star anise pods. I always keep them on hand, and adding even a small, broken pod will kick the potpourri up a notch!
a teaspoon of vanilla extract to sweeten the pot
herbs. When someone in the home isn’t feeling well, I include thyme to help disperse its natural respiratory supporting constituents into the air. (Thyme is excellent for coughs and bronchitis. Steep the herb in boiling water and drink it as a tea to cool coughs and respiratory upsets).
I love that each batch is a bit different from the one before, and endless aromas can be created with items that would have otherwise been thrown out. It’s a delightful way to make the home more inviting for visitors, and is the perfect cover up for harsh odors (like garbage, onions, and other heavy aromas).
Please feel free to share the “Perfect Potpourri” recipe, and let me know if you try it for yourself!
🍊🍎 Jacquelyn 🍋🍐
PS - What does “home” smell like to you?
