Clove Orange Pomanders That Won’t Mold: The Original Holiday Scent

55 minutes ago

2 min read

THE PRINTABLE IS LINKED BELOW ⬇️

The first time I made pomanders, about fifteen years ago, I studded a whole batch of oranges, set them on a drying rack, and felt very proud of myself. Most of them molded.

So I went looking for why. And what I found is a step most people skip.

The step that stops the mold

After the oranges are studded, they get rolled in orris root powder and cinnamon. That's it. That's the difference between a pomander that rots on your counter and one that dries hard and keeps for years.

Why orris root? Because it's a fixative. It holds on to scent and lets it go slowly, so your pomander still smells like Christmas months from now. The coating also helps the skin dry evenly instead of going soft.

You won't find orris root at the grocery store. Order it online or from an herb shop before you buy your oranges.

The original holiday scent

Long before scented candles, this is what the holidays smelled like. Oranges, cloves and spice, hung in closets and piled in bowls.

Candles mostly took over that job. But most scented candles get their fragrance from synthetic fragrance oils. A pomander gets its scent from an orange, a handful of whole cloves and a little cinnamon. It costs very little, and you made it with your own hands.

Start now

Pomanders take a few weeks to cure. If you want them for Christmas gifts or the tree, the middle of November is your window. Running late? Use clementines or small lemons. Small fruit cures faster.

My best tips

I use a thumbtack to pierce the holes. Why a thumbtack? Because the flat head gives you something to hold on to, and you can feel exactly how deep you've gone.

Push the cloves in with the blunt end of a chopstick, not your thumb. I tried a thimble. It hides your pattern. Your thumbs will thank you. 😉

For straight lines, stretch a rubber band around the orange and stud right along its edge.

How I store them

I've had pomanders last for years. When the holidays are over, I wrap each one in tissue paper and keep them in a nice box. Never plastic. Plastic holds moisture in, and moisture is the whole fight.