I love to add the smell of stovetop potpourri to my house. It makes it smell good and adds just a little humidity to the air. (It also looks adorable in the jar.) I love adding a dry fruit tag and giving them as gifts. Simply balanced has energizing spruce, lime, and nutmeg scents with the mellow smells of vanilla and lavender. This creates a lovely aroma that is simply balanced by simmering it on the stove.
It is so much fun to create different scent combinations. It is interesting how adding different combinations can make such a big difference.
Ingredients
17 dehydrated lime rounds
13 lavender sprigs
1.5 vanilla bean pods
6 Spruce tips
3 whole nutmegs
twine (18 inches)
wide-mouth pint jar
lid and ring
The limes 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 two lavender sprigs. I set these aside for use later.
I then place 2 nutmegs in the bottom of the jar. I use this and 3 spruce to hold up the lemon rounds so they show better from the sides. I add 3 limes, 3 spruce, and 3 more limes to the bottom. I then add half a vanilla pod and 2 more limes. I use the lavender to line up along the edges of the jar. I usually use about 6 springs. I use 2 spruce to elevate another 2 slice of lime and 1/2 a vanilla pod before placing 1 more nutmeg and another spruce. I add 3 more limes to the top and finish it off by placing the last vanilla and 2 sprigs of lavender.
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 Lime. The cut ends are threaded through the folded end and the lavender is placed in the loop before 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.
