The holidays are a time for beautiful decor, festive parties, and seasonal scents. Potpourri can evoke memories of holiday celebrations and is a timeless scent for bringing a festive atmosphere to the home and helping your loved ones feel in the Christmas spirit, but what do you do with all that leftover potpourri after the party is over? Many people discard it in the trash or store it away until next year; however, there is a multitude of unique and creative ways to repurpose your favorite scented wax chunks and dried flowers into new objects of beauty. As potpourri not only gives you a pleasing aroma during the holidays but can be useful throughout the rest of the year as well. So if you are wondering what to do with leftover potpourri from the holidays, here are some ways to continue to use your potpourri after the holidays.
- Make a potpourri sachet to keep in your closet or car
- Create a Cleaner
- Sprinkle some on top of your dresser, nightstand, or other surfaces in your home for a refreshing smell
- Put the potpourri in a pretty jar and give it as a gift to a friend
If stored properly, potpourri can last for many years and be reused during the next holiday season. Potpourri needs to be stored carefully and safely because it could pose a potential danger if done carelessly. If you do not plan to reuse your potpourri, you can dispose of it properly by bagging it up and placing it in the trash. Next, we’ll discuss the dangers of potpourri and how to make sachets and cleaners with leftovers.
Be Careful With Potpourri
Potpourri has the potential to have a long lifespan if it is taken care of. As long as it can continue to hold its smell and still be considered good and fragrant and able to fill the room. If not stored properly it has the opportunity to lose its fragrance and become dull. To store potpourri, place it in an air-tight container and keep it away from direct sunlight or heat sources. The most important thing to remember is that dried potpourri can contain flammable materials, such as dried plant matter and oils. Therefore, potpourri should never be placed near open flames or in an area where it can come into contact with heat sources. Additionally, potpourri should not be used in areas intended for cooking or food preparation.
Creating a Potpourri Sachet
Creating potpourri sachets with leftover potpourri is an easy and creative way of repurposing items usually considered trash. To make a simple sachet you just need your leftover potpourri and some fabric, so grab a plain muslin bag, and cheesecloth or take an old pair of tights and fill them with your excess potpourri. You can add whatever other essential items you want to add, such as spices, small pieces of fabric, and flowers.
How to make a potpourri sachet:
1. To begin, gather the potpourri and desired ingredients together in a bowl or pile them on the counter.
2. Then snip cheesecloth or muslin into smaller squares that are roughly around four inches by four inches.
3. Place your desired combination of potpourri ingredients in the center of the square. Don’t worry if the contents don’t appear fragrant, as these will become extra aromatic once enclosed in the fabric.
4. Finish by tying off your sachet with a piece of twine or ribbon bow for an attractive touch.
5. Hang these around your house for a delightful aroma. Also, why not add some drops of essential oil to increase the scent?
Place one near your bed to ensure a blissful night’s sleep or give them away as unique presents to family and friends! Once made, your homemade sachets may last for several months before needing to be re-stuffed with new ingredients. This is an easy task that can be enjoyed at any time by anyone – so get creative and start making those potpourri sachets today! Getting creative never smelt so good!
Creating a Potpourri Cleaner
Making potpourri a cleaner is an excellent way to reduce waste and make use of something that was originally only intended to be used for decoration. There are multiple different ways to make different cleaners with either soap, vinegar, or other ingredients so we will discuss a few.
1. Soap-Based Potpourri Cleaner
To make a potpourri cleaner, begin by boiling any dried leaves, petals, or spices in a pot of water over medium heat. Once they have simmered for several minutes, you can strain the liquid into a jar or container. To this liquid, add two tablespoons of Castile soap and your choice of essential oils – such as peppermint or lavender – to give it a pleasant scent. Now your homemade cleaning solution is ready to use! Use it on countertops and other surfaces to clean and deodorize while giving your space the fragrant aroma of natural botanicals.
2. Vinegar-Based Potpourri Cleaner
To make a vinegar-based cleaner Start by grabbing a quart-size glass jar and layer in your leftover potpourri that consists of dried flowers, spices, and herbs. Add enough white vinegar to the jar that covers the contents in it. Allow the mixture to steep for two weeks, shaking it occasionally. After two weeks, strain out the solids from the liquid with a sieve or cheesecloth. You now have an incredibly all-natural cleaner with beautiful scent notes, ideal for countertops and other surfaces in your home! It’s also perfectly safe for usage around children and pets, making it truly a win-win product.
3. Potpourri Cleaner With Other Ingredients
With some other basic ingredients, such as baking soda, vinegar, essential oils, and different herbs or spices, you can transform the rest of your unused potpourri into a natural, eco-friendly cleaning product. Begin by mixing one cup of baking soda with any dried herbs or spices from your leftovers. Next, add the essential oil of your choice for extra freshness. Finally, blend ¼ cup of white vinegar with 2 cups of water for the perfect all-purpose cleaner. Your concoction should help clean surfaces with ease while infusing your home with a pleasant scent of potpourri!
Conclusion
From making homemade candles and air fresheners to creating delightful display pieces for weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries. The possibilities are endless! Don’t let it sit in a box! There are so many ingenious ways to reuse your holiday potpourri to keep enjoying the scent of happiness all year round! Thanks for reading!
Related Questions
How to make potpourri?
Collect dried flowers or herbs in colors that you like. Lavender, chamomile, eucalyptus, climbing rose petals, clover, rosemary, and jasmine are all great choices. Place your desired items in an airtight container along with a few drops of essential oils such as lavender or orange to add even more fragrances. If you would like, you can also add pieces of pine cones and cinnamon sticks for texture and decoration. These aromatic items will also help freshen the air around them! Shake the container lightly every week or so, allowing for better scent blending.
Can you eat potpourri?
The short answer is no. Potpourri does not belong on any plate and should never be considered for consumption. Although it looks and smells like something that would be enjoyable to eat, the combination of spices, herbs, dried fruit, and artificial fragrances are not meant to enter our bodies. Simply put, potpourri is an item designed to decorate our homes with wonderful smells and pleasing sights. But it should definitely not make a trip to our stomachs.
