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Pot-Pourri
Appears in
By Audrey Ellis
Published 1971
On a hot, dry day gather a good quantity of roses—the old-fashioned cabbage ones, if possible—some lavender and carnations, some sprays of myrtle, rosemary, thyme and sweetbriar and geranium leaves, and a couple of sprigs of garden mint. Spread these out on sheets of newspaper to dry slowly in the sun. Two or three days should be enough but stir the petals about a bit from time to time to make sure the drying is even.
When the flowers are thoroughly dry, mix 1 lb. of kitchen salt with ½ lb. of bay salt, 1 oz. of powdered orris root, ½ teaspoon each of allspice and ground cloves, and a pinch of nutmeg. Add the shredded peel of 1 orange and 1 lemon. Put a layer of this mixture at the bottom of a large jar and top with a layer of flowers, then add the two mixtures alternately until the jar is full. Cover closely and leave for about a week, stirring occasionally with a fork. You can then pack the mixture into smaller jars or place in open bowls to scent the house.