I love to create natural homemade gifts and stovetop potpourri is a great one to gift. It is useful, usable, and pretty. Citrus Perfection has a great scent for invigorating the senses. Citrus has a reputation for adding energy for a reason.
Ingredients
4 dehydrated lime rounds
3 dehydrated lemon rounds 3 dehydrated orange rounds
3 fir or pine tree tips
3 whole nutmegs
twine (18 inches)
wide-mouth pint jar
lid and ring
The lemons, limes, and oranges are dried by slicing them into 1/4 inch thick rounds, dehydrating them at 135 degrees, or placing them in the oven on its lowest setting.
I like to make my potpourri jars for gifting. So, I start by choosing my favorite lime and orange. I set these aside for use later.
I then place 2 nutmegs in the bottom of the jar. I use this and 1 fir to hold up the fruit so they show better from the sides. I add 3 lemons, 1 orange, and a lime to the bottom. I then add another orange, 1 fir tip and 1 more lime. I try to make it so it is pretty from the outside of the jar. I add another lemon, orange and lime as well as a nutmeg towards the top. I finish it off with a fir and two more limes at the top.
The lid and ring are then added.
The last step is to cut a hole about 1/4 inch from the edge of the lime that was set to the side earlier. It's easier than it seems due to the fruit being so dry. I usually just press a scissor tip to it and turn the scissors.
The twine is then folded in half and the folded end is placed through the hole in the orange and the lime. The cut ends are threaded through the folded end and it is tightened. This fruit tag is then tied around the ring.
To use stovetop potpourri, just add the jar contents plus the "tag" to a small pan of simmering water or add it to a crockpot with water on the high setting. Maintain your water level so it doesn't burn and you should be able to get about 6 days of good scents out of one jar.
