How to Make Lavender Potpourri

Lavender potpourri is easy to make and has many uses around the home as well as making a thoughtful gift. Potpourri mixtures are usually dried flowers and other ingredients that are placed in open containers to give off their aromatic scent.

Step 1: Collecting and Drying Lavender Leaves and Flowers

Start out by collecting the lavender leaves and flowers on a day that’s dry—no excessive moisture. Cut stems so there’s a good 8 inches of stem below the leaves. Bundle stems together with a rubber band and store upside down in a cool, dark place for 3 weeks.

Step 2: Crushing Flowers for Lavender Potpourri

Although potpourri can be made from a combination of several different kinds of flowers and herbs, such as lavender, roses, carnations, marigolds, delphiniums and statice, a strictly lavender potpourri lends a distinctively sweet aroma to any area.

Take the dried lavender and strip off the flowers and leaves into a pillowcase. Roll up the pillowcase and move it gently on a flat surface to loosen the buds.

Step 3: Adding Orris Root and Essential Oils

Pour the lightly crushed flowers into a large bowl or plastic bag. Add ¼ cup of orris root per 4 cups of lavender (or 1 to 2 tbsp.— per cup of the dried lavender potpourri mix). Orris root, which has little scent of its own, helps to preserve flower and herb fragrance.

The next step is to scent with a few drops of essential lavender oil. This needs to be evenly distributed in the flowers and will intensify the scent of the lavender potpourri.

To allow the scent to completely permeate the lavender potpourri, store the potpourri mixture in a closed container for several weeks.

Step 4: Arrange in Container

Now that the lavender potpourri is well mixed and well scented, it’s ready to set out in a display container. Be sure to choose one with an open top. This could be a crystal or china or other bowl or specialized potpourri container.

To add visual interest and to fill out a container, you can also add pine cones, berries, twigs or other leaves.

Step 5: Add Lavender Oil Periodically

Over time, the scent of the lavender potpourri will diminish. Give it a boost with a few drops of lavender oil about every 4 to 6 months. This will rejuvenate the potpourri and allow it to last—at least until the next lavender harvesting time.