Making Potpourri with Dried Flowers | Easy DIY Home Fragrance
There was a time I thought potpourri was reserved for fancy guest bathrooms and my grandmother's end tables. But now? I completely get the appeal. There's something charming about filling a jar with dried garden blooms and warm spices, letting their scent drift through the room. It's one of those small, seasonal details, like this spring lemon wall hanging I made last year or the 100% beeswax candles we love to burn as the days get shorter, that makes a home feel cared for and lived-in.
On our homestead, making potpourri has become one of those cozy, end-of-season projects we look forward to. It's easy, inexpensive, and a lovely way to stretch the beauty of your cut garden through the colder months. Plus, it's a creative craft to do with the kids after harvesting and drying your flowers.
A Quick Look At This DIY
Skill Level: Beginner
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Best For: Fall & winter crafting, gifting, or simple home decor
Main Tools Needed: Mixing bowl, glass jar, optional mesh or breathable lid
Best Flowers to Use: Roses, calendula, lavender, gomphrena, peonies
Fixative: Orris root powder (for long-lasting scent)
Essential Oils: Rose, lavender, geranium, orange, or your favorites
How Long It Lasts: 3-4 months with occasional oil refresh
Kid-Friendly: Yes - a gentle, hands-on project
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Jump to:
- A Quick Look At This DIY
- Why You'll Love This Homemade Potpourri
- Choosing & Sourcing Flowers for Potpourri
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Crafting Your Potpourri Blend
- Don't Skip the Fixative
- Easy Substitutions & Variations
- Need to Substitute an Ingredient?
- Expert Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions About Potpourri
- Troubleshooting Guide
- Storage Tips
- More Related DIYs You'll Love
- Homemade Potpourri with Dried Flowers
Why You'll Love This Homemade Potpourri
- Beautiful way to preserve homegrown or foraged flowers
- Uses simple, natural ingredients-no artificial fragrances
- Easily customizable with oils, dried fruits, and herbs
- Makes thoughtful gifts in jars or sachets
- Adds warmth and charm to any space
Choosing & Sourcing Flowers for Potpourri
If you're growing a cut garden and herbs, plan to set aside blooms just for drying. I like to hang bundles of calendula, lavender, gomphrena, and peonies in the pantry or craft room to dry slowly over a few weeks.
Already have a bouquet that's starting to fade? Don't toss it, dry the petals and repurpose them! You can also forage roadside blooms like Queen Anne's lace or check with your local florist for past-prime arrangements they'll sell at a discount.
If you're in a pinch, Amazon flower kits can be helpful, but avoid using them for anything edible or on the body.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Dried flowers (rose, calendula, gomphrena, lavender, etc.)
- Optional: dried fruits like lemon, figs
- Whole spices (star anise, cinnamon sticks)
- Essential oils (rose, lavender, geranium, orange, etc.)
- Orris root powder (natural fixative)
- Glass jar or breathable container
Crafting Your Potpourri Blend
Once your dried flowers are ready, you can start blending. I usually combine a mix of soft petals, structured blooms, dried fruit slices, and a few whole spices for visual interest and scent layering.
Some favorite additions:
- Dried roses, calendula, and lavender
- Gomphrena and peony petals
- Lemon peels or dried figs
- Star anise or cinnamon sticks
Essential oils deepen the fragrance. I use rose, geranium, and orange oil most often. A few drops go a long way. Start with 10 to 15 drops and adjust as needed.
Don't Skip the Fixative
To help the scent linger, add orris root powder as a fixative. This helps hold and slowly release the oils over time. Just sprinkle it in and toss to coat your mix evenly.
Once combined, store your potpourri in a wide-mouth glass jar topped with breathable fabric or a decorative grid lid. Refresh with a few drops of oil as needed.
Easy Substitutions & Variations
No orris root powder? Try crushed oakmoss or ground cloves as a natural fixative alternative (they won't last quite as long but still work well).
Out of dried fruits? Use citrus peels from your kitchen-dry them in the oven or air dry over several days.
Want seasonal flair? Add cloves and orange in winter, or mint and lime in the spring.
Need to Substitute an Ingredient?
If you're short on a few items, here's what you can swap:
| If You Don't Have... | Try This Instead |
|---|---|
| Orris root powder | Crushed oakmoss or ground cloves |
| Dried lemon slices | Orange peel or dried apple |
| Gomphrena | Marigold or bachelor's buttons |
| Rose oil | Geranium or ylang-ylang |
Expert Tips
- Add a few drops of essential oil every 2-3 weeks to keep the fragrance fresh.
- For best scent, use freshly dried flowers-not ones that have been stored for years.
- Always store your potpourri in a container with some airflow so the scent can diffuse.
- Mix your blend in a large bowl first before transferring to jars to ensure even distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions About Potpourri
No, they'll mold. Always dry flowers completely before using.
It's widely available online. Look for food-safe or cosmetic-grade if possible.
Start with 10-15 drops per medium bowl of potpourri. Add more if you prefer a stronger scent.
Troubleshooting Guide
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Potpourri smells weak | Add more essential oil or replace fixative |
| Flowers turning brown | Store out of direct sunlight |
| Scent fades quickly | Ensure fixative is mixed well and jar is breathable |
| Mold developing | Flowers weren't fully dried before use |
Storage Tips
- Store in a cool, dry spot
- Keep out of direct sunlight to preserve color
- Use wide-mouth glass jars, mesh sachets, or decorative bowls
- Refresh scent with oils every few weeks
- Replace batch every 3-4 months
Homemade Potpourri with Dried Flowers
Equipment
- 1 Large mixing bowl for combining flowers, spices, and oils
- 1 Wide-mouth glass jar for storing or gifting your potpourri
- 1 Breathable lids or fabric & twine to allow scent to escape while keeping contents contained
- 1 Spoon or gloved hands to mix essential oils and fixative evenly
- 1 Scissors if trimming petals or citrus peels
- 1 Funnel for transferring potpourri into jars cleanly
- 1 Mesh sachet bags for drawer or closet use
- 1 Labeling tags or stickers if giving as gifts
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried flowers rose, lavender, calendula, etc.
- ½ cup dried fruit slices or peels (optional)
- 2 tablespoon whole spices star anise, cinnamon
- 15 drops essential oil
- 1 tablespoon orris root powder (fixative)
Instructions
- Combine all dried flowers, fruits, and spices in a large bowl.
- Add essential oil drops and toss gently.
- Sprinkle in orris root powder and mix again.
- Store in glass jars or sachets.
- Refresh with essential oils as needed.
I love making a fresh batch of this every fall. There’s something so calming about mixing dried flowers and spices while the kids help sort petals at the table. It brings a soft scent to the house and uses up all those garden blooms I can’t bring myself to toss. If you end up trying your own blend, tell me what you add in, everyone’s mix turns out a little different, and I always enjoy hearing your favorites.