DIY Apple-Cinnamon Homemade Potpourri Sachets

By Angela Tague in Thinking Sustainably

It's no secret I like to dig out my craft supplies during the cold days of winter. I've made everything from handmade earrings and necklaces to baked goods and homemade potpourri—all of which make great gifts for the holidays, or even Valentine's Day.

If you're short on time, whip up a batch of this fragrant apple-cinnamon potpourri to put into delicate sachets. These make wonderful gifts to give to teachers, neighbors, friends, and family members. Homemade gifts are a great way to save money, use items from around the house, and live more sustainably. Be sure to save some of the potpourri for yourself so you can mark air fresheners off your shopping list.

Dried apple slices for homemade potpourri

Ingredients

Here's what you'll need to make the apple-cinnamon potpourri sachets:

  • fresh apples
  • cutting board and knife
  • food dehydrator
  • eco-friendly landscaping mulch
  • small plastic tote
  • large mixing bowl
  • cinnamon essential oil
  • metal mixing spoon
  • cinnamon sticks
  • organza or tulle sachet bags
  • recycled raffia ribbon
  • dried flower buds

Homemade potpourri

Directions

Choose a mixture of red, yellow, and green apples to give your potpourri splashes of color. Start by making dried apple slices. Slice the apples into thin, round disks and dry them in a food dehydrator.

While the fruit dries, buy a small bag of eco-friendly mulch or grab one from your garden shed. Save the large pieces of wood for landscaping projects; you want the wood shavings from the bottom of the bag for this project. Pour the bag of mulch into a small plastic tote and let the kids sort the large and small pieces.

Place the wood shavings in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle it with cinnamon essential oil and stir with a metal spoon. A little oil goes a long way, so use a small amount at first. You can always add more for a stronger fragrance. Then add the apple slices and cinnamon sticks to the wood shavings. You will want one apple slice and one cinnamon stick for each sachet.

Scoop the homemade potpourri into pretty organza or tulle sachets. Tie the tops of each gift with recycled raffia ribbon and a few dried flower buds. Add a handwritten tag with directions to use the fragrant gift to freshen a clothing drawer, hang in the car, place in a bathroom, or use in an office. Now that you know how to make potpourri, be sure to save some for yourself!

Do you also like to get crafty during the winter? Tell us what homemade gifts you've been making on Twitter!

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Why It's Good

Crafting handmade gifts shows you've put care into your present and promotes sustainable living. Homemade potpourri is a gift anyone on your list can enjoy—plus, the kids will have fun helping you make it!