Orange Pomanders are sweet smelling, and make a pretty display for your end-of-year festivities.
With well placed bowls around your home filled with fresh or dried orange pomander balls, you’re sure to set the tone for a relaxing, back to nature Christmas vibe.
You may already be familiar with the orange pomander. Some may recognize the clove studded orbs, from childhood memories of visiting grandparents.
There’s quite a bit of history surrounding the pomander. In ye olde times, pomanders were worn on the body as protection from infection and to cover bad smells (I suspect the latter was more effective than the former).
Through the centuries the formula for making a pomander has changed, and these days pomanders are made rather simply with oranges and dried cloves.
I find the combined scent of orange and cloves to be both subtle and lovely.
Ah, yes… I could sniff that all day.
Let me show you how simple it is to make an orange clove pomander.
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Three Easy Steps to Making an Orange Pomander
You will need:
- Firm Orange
- Pack of dried cloves
- Ribbon (optional)
- Skewer (optional)
How long does an Orange Pomander last?
Fresh orange pomanders have a shelf life of 3-4 days. For a brief extension try refrigerating the orange pomander overnight.
Pomanders may be dried to extend their life for several years in a dehydrator or oven.
As a guide, place it in the oven at a low temperature (150F/65C) for several hours. The pomanders are ready when they are dried up and feel light in weight. They should sound hollow when tapped.
Store in a cool dry place free from humidity to prevent mold growth.
How to:
1. Wrap a ribbon around an orange and tie a bow at the top.
2. Decorate the orange by pushing dried cloves into the skin. You can lightly decorate the orange with fun and interesting patterns. If you have time up your sleeve you can completely blitz the orange with cloves.
Note: If you’re struggling to drive the cloves into the orange, you can gently puncture the orange skin with a skewer or thick needle.
3. You can hang the orange pomander as an ornament, or keep several in a bowl.
The scent of cloves mixed with orange is fragrantly subtle and lovely.
Melissa is a hyper creative artist, and content creator.
