Potpourri??

Question

What is the BEST way to make potpourri out of roses given to you?? I am very sentimental and love saving roses from my husband. I know that all you do is let them dry up but over weeks, months and or years it gets this moldy smell or just doesn't look right. And also what would be the best container (open, airy, closed...) to keep it all in? Thanks!

Answer 1

i have kept the roses that my now husband had given to me when we were dating. it has now been 7 years since i got the first set i had dried. i dried mine upside down and then put them in an open container. what i have learned from doing this is...

gently pull the dried petals off instead of leaving them fully intact. the centers of mine have gotten a little mildew and gross inside because they were not able to dry out properly. i think that might be because they were too thick. also, put them in a CLOSED container once fully dried. the first reason would be that they can get dusty & you can't dust them! plus, the air only makes things break down further and decay. you don't want tha obviously. in addition, i would look into some products they sell at craft stores that help in the drying process. i have not tried them, but i heard they work well. once the flowers start to wilt, that is when you want to start drying them. the more they die in the water, the grosser they will dry.

Answer 2

I've kept all the roses that my fiance has given me. As with the other answers, I hang mine upside down but I put a paper bag over the heads of the roses, just in case any petals drop off. Once they are dried I then put the in a special potpourri dish that has an open, decorative lid, with a cotton wool ball of essential Rose oil on it, because they will inevitably lose their scent. Hope that helps. :)

Answer 3

I hang my roses upside down and dry them. They all lose their smell eventually. Humidity in your area will have to do with if they mold, how they look, smell etc. Not sure how to store them, I leave mine on the stem and put them in a vase.