There are many ways to make Rose Potpourri from very simple to more involved methods. Here a few starting with the simplest first.
One thing that many forget is to also dry the rose leaves and add them into your mixture. They have a very nice and separate fragrance.
First, you have to dry your roses. Remove all the leaves and dry them separately. The best way I have found to dry roses is to bundle them in no more than 5 roses somewhat loosely, tie with rubber bands and hang upside down in a darker room for several weeks. As the roses dry the rubber bands will shrink with the stems so they won’t fall out of the bundle. I use a paper clip that has been opened up and insert it in the rubber bands so you have something to hang it from.
First Recipe:
You can make a great potpourri quite simply by mixing a quart of rose petals with three tablespoons of orris root and a drop or two of rose essential oil. Allow the mix to sit for a couple of weeks, and add more oil if needed.
Second Recipe:
First collect petals from the rose as the flower reaches fully open maturity, but before it turns brown. Dry them until crisp on a screen, cookie sheet or any flat surface. Red roses, when dried, turn a rich burgundy color, while white and pink roses will turn a tan color. For each quart of petals you collect, add 1 tablespoon fixative. Dry lavender, oak moss, sandalwood or orrisroot are good choices and are available in chopped form at many herb and spice shops or drug stores.
Next, add your favorite complementary spice. cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, dried citrus peel and vanilla beans all make excellent choices.
Last, add a few drops of essential oil or, if you like, your favorite perfume.
Seal your potpourri mixture in a jar, allowing it to mellow for approximately 10 days. To properly blend the ingredients, shake the jar lightly every couple of days.
Third Recipe:
6 cups rose petals, 2 cups mini rose buds, 2 cups lavender, 1 cup rose leaves, 2 tablespoons powdered orris root or other fixative and 15 drops of rose oil.
Spread the fresh petals on a mesh screen or on a large tray; place them in a warm, dry place, and stir or spread them around a little everyday until they are dry. Put dried petals in a large glass or metal bowl.
Place the mixture in a paper bag and seal the top with clothespins or clips. Turn the bag over several times to distribute the fixative. Store it away from direct sunlight, and allow the mix to season for four to six weeks. Shake up the bag from time to time. When the potpourri is "seasoned" place in open containers in warm places. Add a few drops of essential oils and mix with your hands from time to time as the fragrance diminishes. Add a fixative such as powdered orris root, oak moss, cellulose,ground gum benzoin or fiberfix. Use a ratio of two tablespoons of fixative to about four cups of dried material. Add the essential oils and mix with your hands.
There are so many lovely uses for potpourri. Add it to the stuffing of pillows or hang it in pomanders in your closet. Small sachets can be used in any drawer and are also thoughtful little gifts for friends and loved ones.