One of my favorite things to do in the late fall and winter is make homemade potpourri. And since avoiding toxins is vitally important to me for my family’s health, it’s a great alternative to scented paraffin candles. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), candles made of paraffin wax contain petroleum, a by-product of the oil industry, and emit inhalable toxins into the air which damage your lungs. These toxins can be carcinogenic and neurotoxic as well.
Homemade potpourri can be made without the use of toxins, pesticide, harsh chemicals like bleach, and artificial fragrances. It’s especially important that the oranges be organic for this, since the peel is where pesticide is concentrated. You don’t want to put pesticide into the air you breathe by simmering a peel like that.
There is an another benefit to making your own potpourri as well: adding moisture to dry winter air inside your house. I keep this mixture over low heat and continue adding water as needed, creating a fantastic smell and moisture too.
Above is Ashley spotting me taking pictures of our oranges, picking one up, and smelling it sweetly. Oranges are one of her favorite fruits. When I make this potpourri she eats the orange for me 🙂
Add to pot:
2 organic orange peels
4 whole cloves
1 whole nutmeg
1 cinnamon stick
About 3 inches of water
Simmer
Other alternatives to paraffin candles include beeswax and soy:
100 % Soy Candles
zebe912 says
I’ve always been extremely sensitive to scents of all kinds, including essential oils and the like. I’ve always wished I could have scented candles or potpurri in my house, but it hasn’t been an option. How strong is the smell of this? Would using more water dilute the smell at all?
Kelly says
It’s not so overpowering like candles or oils. More like the smell of baking at the holidays. You could use less of all the ingredients and more water too. That would create an even lighter scent.
Vittoria says
when I was in little, around the holidays, we used to pierce a whole orange with whole cloves and my mom would hang them in the closets
Kelly says
That sounds wonderful. I might use that idea as a centerpiece, maybe a row of them, or a bowl of them. I love to use the color orange. Thanks Vittoria!
Vittoria says
we would make patterns with the cloves and red and white ribbons tied around the orange. They last forever, as long as they’re in a dry place, they just dehydrate over the winter
heacollins says
We’ve pierced oranges with cloves too, it looks really neat 🙂
I just love those photos. Ashley is precious!!
Ginger says
I’ve been doing this for years and love it. You can add apple cores and lemon peels to the pot, too.
Nikki says
sounds wonderful! loves Ashley’s sweet little hands :o)
thehealthyhappywife says
I love this post. The last time I lit a paraffin candle at home I ended up with a migraine and realized I made a huge mistake. When I need a quick fix for taking away strong dinner smells I just simmer some cinnamon on the stove. I will definitely have to make your pot-pourri