|
Thimble or masking tape to cover
fingers.
4 drops sandalwood oil (a natural
preservative)
Ribbons for hanging pomanders.
Note: In traditional pomanders,
orris root is used to act as a preservative and scent enhancer.
Orris root is from the Iris bulb that has been dried and ground
to a fine powder. Some people have shown allergic reactions to
orris root, so we suggest you use sandalwood oil as an alternative
preserver.
Let's get started!
To begin, select fruit that
is blemish free. Oranges are very suitable for this project.
Mix the spices with the Sandalwood
oil in a bowl or bag and set aside. Cover fingers with masking
tape or thimbles when making the holes for the cloves, otherwise
it can be painful after awhile. At this point, if you want to
decorate the pomander with ribbons, using masking tape, make
a crisscross design on the fruit.
This will be the marked off
area when the ribbons will be. Using the knitting needles or
something similar, poke holes starting from the top of the orange
straight down to the bottom, inserting cloves as you go along.
Continue this all around the
fruit until it is completely covered in cloves. Make sure the
hole is about double the size of the clove stem, since the orange
will shrink to about half its original size. Maximum spacing
between cloves should be no more than 1/4 inch, the closer together
the better. Once the orange is clove studded, place the spices
in a paper bag. (Do not use plastic bags as it will prevent the
pomander from curing properly). Roll the orange in the spices
until it is completely and evenly coated. Next leave the orange
in the bag and place in a cool, dry area for approximately 4-6
weeks to dry the pomander out. Roll the orange in the spices
daily. Note: If you notice any mold or the orange decomposing
then throw it out. Curing time varies anywhere from 3 weeks to
6 months. On average it's about 3 1/2 weeks. To check if your
pomander is dried, it should sound hollow when tapped with your
knuckle, and feel light in weight. Once dried, shake off any
excess spices. You pomander is now ready to fill your house with
the sweet spicy scent that has been enjoyed since the Victorian
era and beyond.
Decorating the pomander: Place
ribbons in a criss-cross fashion where the tape was placed or
elastic bands. Sew the ends together and make a loop for hanging.
Pomanders look beautiful when
several of them are placed in a bowl together. In this case ribbons
are not necessary.
Pomanders last many many years.
When the scent starts to fade, add a few drops of clove oil to
your spice mixture and reroll in the spices. |
Refer
