Your Basket

Shipping & taxes calculated at checkout

Checkout - Total:

25 March 2022 / Caitlin Devlin

A beginner’s guide to making potpourri with essential oils

Learn how to make a natural diffuser and seasonal centrepiece in one.

Potpourri ingredients.

Candle-making and soap-making tend to dominate the conversation when it comes to essential oil crafts, but potpourri can be a wonderfully simple way to get creative with your oils.

There’s many ways to diffuse essential oils throughout your home these days. Whilst making potpourri may be more time consuming than plugging in your electric diffuser, it’s a fun, easy and cheap craft that leaves you with a beautiful centrepiece for any room.

You can customise your potpourri decorations for a seasonal theme or use leftover flowers and fruits to reduce waste in your home.

Potpourri can also help you to bring your favourite scents to life by representing them visually.

There’s lots of fun potpourri recipes to try but today we’re just going to lay out the basics, so that you have all the information you need when it’s time to get creative.

Potpourri infographic.

Step one: Choose your ingredients

You may want to do this some time before you’re planning to sit down and assemble your potpourri.

Drying flowers and fruit can be a lengthy process and can sometimes take several days, so it’s important to research how best to try your specific ingredients and plan accordingly.

When choosing your ingredients, think of things that can bring out different aspects of the scent, or that are appropriate for the season or holiday you’re celebrating.

You’re not limited to natural materials – you can put anything in potpourri for decoration, such as candy hearts for Valentine’s Day or baubles for Christmas. Avoid perishable materials, but other than that, let your imagination run wild!

    Step two: Arrange your ingredients

    Once you’ve got everything ready, it’s time to get creative with your ingredients by arranging them in your container.

    Select something to display your ingredients in, such as a mason jar or a glass bowl. It should be transparent so that your ingredients can be seen.

    Your arrangement might be displayed in one large bowl, or you might divide it into smaller jars to give away as gifts.

    As you create your arrangement, think about how best to convey the scent or season your basing your ingredient around.

    Don’t just mix everything up – the best potpourri has a carefully designed appearance that makes it look as good as it smells.

      Potpourri in glass jar.

      Step three: Add your essential oils

      Now that your decorations are beautifully arranged, it’s time to bring them to life with a carefully chosen scent. Add a few drops of your chosen oil over the top of your arrangement. This can be an essential oil, a fragrance oil, or a blend of oils.

      How do you decide whether to use an essential oil or fragrance oil in your potpourri? Well, if you want a natural scent with aromatic benefits, then you may want to use an essential oil.

      If you want a more consistent scent, or a scent that can’t be sourced naturally, then you may want to use a fragrance oil. It’s really up to you and the scents that you prefer. You could also try creating your own blend of oils.Leaf infographic.

      Step four: Enjoy!

      Place your potpourri in a central position. Top up with essential oils as needed and enjoy the beautiful scent of your new centrepiece.

      Shop our essential oils here.

      Shop our fragrance oils here.

      You might also like to read

      Small spray bottle misting a room

      26 July 2023 / Laura Garvin Gomez

      How to Make Room Spray

      Master the art of creating enchanting room sprays at home with our step-by-step guide. Elevate your space with delightful, personalised scents.

      Two yellow candles with the wicks tied up to keep them straight

      25 July 2023 / Laura Garvin Gomez

      How to Choose the Right Wick for Your Candles

      Learn the art of selecting the ideal wick for your candles and achieve a perfect, even burn

      Circular soy wax melts with dried lavender sprinkled on the tops

      30 June 2023 / Laura Garvin Gomez

      How to Make Soy Wax Melts

      Discover the art of crafting homemade soy wax melts and fill your space with captivating aromas using our expert tips and easy-to-follow tutorials.

      Rows of gel wax melts

      29 June 2023 / Laura Garvin Gomez

      How to Make Gel Wax Melts

      Master the art of crafting mesmerising gel wax melts with our expert guide.

      Small pile of wax melts with dried lavender sprinkled on the top

      28 June 2023 / Laura Garvin Gomez

      How to Make Wax Melts to Sell

      Master the art of crafting and selling irresistible wax melts with our expert guide to create high-quality, in-demand products that will captivate customers and boost your business.

      Small pile of circular wax melts with botanicals within them

      24 June 2023 / Laura Garvin Gomez

      How to Make Wax Melts

      Master the art of crafting homemade wax melts with our expert guide, and fill your space with captivating fragrances.

      Small lit candle sat on a shelf

      23 June 2023 / Laura Garvin Gomez

      How to Make Candles From Old Candles

      Learn the art of candle recycling and create new candles from your old ones with our step-by-step guide.

      Three textured candles with varying ridges

      20 June 2023 / Laura Garvin Gomez

      How to Make Candle Moulds at Home

      Discover the secrets of crafting homemade candle moulds with our expert guide.

      We use strictly necessary cookies to personalise your site experience. You can learn more here.