Valentines Day make 2023 – Scented rose buds

I wrote an article about making rose potpourri on this blog some time ago. The general idea hasn’t changed much, but I’ve updated the potpourri recipe and tips in time for Valentines Day!

Working in a dried flowers shop I always have some dried roses to hand

This beautiful heart below was made a few years back using dried rose buds and petals from my shop including some larger ones from a bunch which had accidentally been snapped off their stems.

For this potpourri recipe, you will need:

About 1 litre of assorted dried rose buds and petals. I used mainly bright red rose buds, dark red rosebuds and dried rose petals, with a little bit of cream curly pod thrown in.
Home fragrance oil in a rose fragrance – I used Hassett Green’s Just Rose fragrance oil which has a great quality long lasting scent.
Plastic bag

Method – turn the dried flowers into potpourri

Place the dried roses in a plastic bag and add a few drops of fragrance oil.
Seal the bag and shake gently to disperse the oil.
Leave sealed for a few hours for the oil to permeate.
Display in your chosen bowl.
Refresh with a drop or two more of oil as the fragrance fades.

[Avoid contact of the oil or potpourri with polished, painted or synthetic surfaces. Keep out of reach of children and pets. May mark textiles.]

Tips for making this potpourri recipe

To gauge how many dried flowers you will need, one litre will fill one small bowl. That’s very roughly 200g rose buds or 100g rose petals depending on variety.
I chose the above fragrance oil because it is the most genuine rose fragrance. For a modern twist on rose, try Hassett Green’s Hearts and Roses fragrance oil (no they’re not sponsoring my blog but I do think they produce some great fragrances!). Or mix things up with a fruity, fresh or floral scent.
Of course you can make a more natural potpourri using essential oils and orris root powder in the traditional way – find out more about potpourri making here.