Learn how to make potpourri with your own flowers from pots and your flower gardens with this easy method. You will love having this homemade potpourri reminding you of your gardens inside your home all year long.
Have you ever made garden potpourri from flowers that grow in your garden? If you are growing flowers and herbs you might want to try this age-old craft. After all, it's so easy to make and can be adapted to all kinds of preferences and tastes.
This post contains some affiliate links (that means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, there's no additional cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission.) i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.
Three Main Parts of Making Potpourri
- Plants - Choose for color, plants for scent, and plants for texture. (see the list of ideas below)
- Fragrance - Use essential oils, blends, or fragrance oils to enhance the fragrance of the dried flowers and plant material.
- The third ingredient is a fixative. Fixatives are materials that hold the fragrance for longer periods of time. Here I'm using cellulose fiber which is affordable and readily available. Other options are Orris root powder, calamus root, and oakmoss.
How to Dry Flowers for Potpourri
Air Drying - This is my preferred method. It takes time so you may be surprised that this impatient girl would go for this method. However, I've been air drying flowers for a long time and I just like the ease and the results of this no-cost method. Often I'll group bunches of flowers like lavender with a rubber band and hang them upside down to dry in our basement. However, for this project, I'm drying them on a screen on our porch.
Silica Gel - You can buy silica gel and cover the flowers with it in an airtight container. The silica gel is a desiccant and will absorb all the moisture in a few days though the time varies based on the flower. There's obviously a cost to this, however, it does a great job of preserving the look of the flowers.
Oven Drying - You can try drying flowers on a baking sheet in the oven at the lowest temperature. This is the fastest method allowing the flowers to dry in a few hours. However, I have had varying success with this quick dry method. Still, if you have access to lots of flowers it may be worth experimenting.
Microwave Drying - Some people use a microwave to dry flowers. This is also a hit-or-miss option. Depending on the flower you can dry them in the microwave although thicker flowers will be harder to work with.
Be the first to receive new posts and get access to our Subscribers Only Page.
Air Drying Flowers for Potpourri
Gather some flowers, herbs, and seed pods. Choose some from the garden beds and any that you have in your garden containers. Pretty wildflowers and roadside flowers will work too.
Spread them out on an old screen in a warm place to dry out.
Here's what they look like after one week.
How to Make Dried Flower Potpourri
Step. 1 - In a small bowl add several drops of fragrance or essential oil to the fixative and stir well. You can use fragrance blends or a single fragrance for your potpourri.
Step 2. - In a large bowl mix together the dried flower heads, petals, scented leaves, and seed pods, discarding longer stems.
Step 3. - Then add the fixative. You can also add any other materials you have on hand, such as whole spices, pieces of cinnamon sticks, or other dried materials. In this mixture, I added a few leftover tea rosebuds, small pine cones, and whole cloves.
Step 4. - Gently stir together and enjoy.
How to Use Potpourri
- Place the potpourri in a pretty bowl anywhere you like in your home.
- Fill sachet bags. Then set them in your drawers or hang them in your closet for a nice air freshener.
- Do you have plenty to share? This dried flower potpourri would be a great gift. Fill pretty jars and give them to all your family and friends.
Plant Choices for Color
- Bachelor's Button
- Black Eyed Susan
- Calendula
- Coneflower
- Delphinium
- Globe Thistle
- Globe Amaranth
- Ornamental Salvias
- Peony
- Strawflowers
- Yarrow
Plant Choices for Scent
- Beebalm
- Citrus Peels
- Lavender
- Roses
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Verbena
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Scented Geranium Leaves
- Thyme
Plant Choices for Texture
- Dried Berries
- Pine Cones
- Rose Hips
- Seed pods
Spices for Scent and Texture
- Allspice
- Cinnamon sticks or chips
- Cloves
- Coriander Seed
- Star Anise
Drying your own flowers looks way better than any commercial potpourri you can purchase. Plus it offers a great sense of pride knowing they are from your garden. And, can I tell you, this homemade garden flower potpourri smells as good as it looks.
Do you love it? You may also like this Stovetop Potpourri idea or this Dried Fruit Potpourri with dried oranges and apples.
More Dried Flower Crafts
DIY Potpourri from the Garden
Materials
- Plant Material whole spices too
- Fixative orris root, cellulose fiber, or oak moss
- Essential oils or Fragrance Oil
Instructions
- Gather some flowers, herbs, and seed pods.
- Spread them out on an old screen in a warm place to dry out.
- In a small bowl add several drops of fragrance or essential oil to the fixative and stir well.
- In a large bowl mix together the dried flower heads, petals, scented leaves, and seed pods, discarding larger stems.
- Add in the fixative and any other materials you have on hand, such as whole spices or other dried materials.
- Gently stir together and place in bags or jars for gifts, or simply set it out to enjoy.
Heather @ new house new home
Gorgeous! I used to make potpourri with a group of friends every year - we had an arrangement with a local garden to trim their rose garden every week and gather the blooms. We had garbage bags full by the end of the season and gave it away for gifts. This brought back those fond memories. Will give it a try.
Patti
Hi Heather,
You know what they say. Everything old is new again, right? What a great idea regarding trading service for rose petals. They, of course, are one of the best for potpourri.