MAKE IT CUTE

As the weather slips from sun-baked Indian summer to the chill and damp of full-on fall, chances are you’ll spend less time romping in the great outdoors and more time cooped up inside. Thanks to this DIY autumn potpourri, there will be no reason to leave the delicious scents of the season outside when it’s time to go in.  

What You’ll Need

1 red apple

½ orange (Peel half and eat the rest!)

1 cinnamon stick

1 tablespoon of whole cloves

1 whole nutmeg

Acorns and other tree nuts

Small pinecones

Paper towels

Cookie sheet

Scissors

Hammer

Sturdy paper bag

Bowl or jar for storage and display

Amounts will differ depending on how much you intend to make, but to keep your mix from being too overpowering, go heavy on the big stuff—apples, oranges, nuts and pinecones—and light on the pungent spices. Remember, you can always store extras for other projects! The amounts listed here should make one bowl of potpourri.

What You’ll Do

1. Slice your apple paper-thin and toss the slices onto a cookie sheet in a single layer. Preheat your oven to 150 degrees (F) and put ‘em in for half an hour.

2. Peel your orange, then lay the peels on paper towels, cover with another layer of paper towels and put them in the microwave. Heat for about five minutes on low heat.

Apple slices and orange peels not all the way dry? Store them in a cool, dry place for a couple of days before assembling your potpourri.

3. Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves and nutmeg into the paper bag and seal well. Using your hammer, smash them into pieces—not powder!

To keep damage to a minimum, take your sealed paper bag outside to crush the ingredients.

4. Time to assemble! In your bowl or jar of choice, mix the apples and oranges with the pinecones and nuts. Sprinkle your spice bits over top, mix well and enjoy the aroma!

Mix It Up

Does fall have a different scent to you? Try adding in snippets of vanilla bean, fallen pine needles, and dried flowers for a different potpourri mix.

Make It Personal

A bowl of potpourri in your room is fab, but if you want to give your morning routine a bit of zing, try making sachets to stash in your underwear drawer. Pulling on a bra and panties with a spicy sent will make your autumn a.m. rush warm and cozy, and it’ll keep you smelling great all day long. While you’re at it, why not toss one into your locker to freshen up stinky gym clothes?

by Brittany Taylor | 2/1/2016