Natural Potpourri

The word potpourri used to make me cringe, evoking memories of a stale, musky fragrance wafting through the craft store or over-charged artificial spice coated pinecones outside the grocery store.

The smell of REAL cinnamon, however, brings me to a warm kitchen with molasses cookies in the oven, to the frothed milk of my favorite espresso with just a touch of nutmeg sprinkled on top.

This year I brought the feeling of fall into my home with natural potpourri and made sachets, complete with beeswax-dipped leaves, to include in my fall orders for Charleston Bee Works.

Do you know what a putka pod is? I had no idea. Those little, pumpkin-shaped pieces in traditional potpourri are actually the fruit from the Glochidion Ferdinandi tree, native to eastern Australia; the fresh pods are a favorite food of rainforest parrots!

These cute little treasures last many seasons when dried. To make an autumn-inspired natural potpourri for your home simply add putka pods, cinnamon sticks, leaves, pinecones and any other natural objects to a wooden bowl and add as many drops of cinnamon essential oil as you please, with maybe a little nutmeg and clove for extra spice. The warm scent adds a coziness to your home entryway or beside your favorite reading chair.

I hope you’re able to get outside and enjoy the beauty of fall. West Virginia is particularly magical this of year.

Y’all be careful and I’ll holler at ya later.

Brooke