A JAR OF FRAGRANCE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 131, 1 December 1930, Page 13

A JAR OF FRAGRANCE

SOME OLD-TIME KECIPES

"Goodo scents doe purefy ye braine," runs an old saying, and there is nothing inoro delightful and refreshing on a hot day than the faint, dolieato perfume of potpourri, or, as it was called iv the olden days, the "sweet jar." The sweetest smelling flowers will soon be in full bloom, and it is the time to decide upon the ingredients for. tho "stock-pot," states an exchange. Rose leaves, honeysucklo, gillyflowers, cloves, and jasmine constitute the foundation of many potpourris, and these must bo well dried in tho sun beforehand, caro being taken to sco that there is not a particle of moisture left. Another point tobear in mind is that flowers for drying aro never gathered after rain. Dry a large quantity of rose petals, add honeysuckle, lavender, sweot geranium, and lemon verbena, all of which must be well dried. Mix together'a tablespoonful each of cinnamon, pow'dored orris root, and bay salt, with a teaspoonful of powdered cloves. Sprinkle the rose leaves, etc., with tho mixture and place in a covered jar. Then add 20 drops of oil of lavender, 10 drops of oil of cinnamon, and as much oil of. musk as you can afford. This last item is exponsive, but a very tiny quantity goes a long. way. Keep the jar in a dry place, and stir from time- to time.

Dry rose leaves, sweet verbena, pinks, carnations, and lavender, allowing throe times the., quantity of rose leaves to the rost of the flowers. Mix together loz of orris root, powdered, and .loz each of gum benjamin and storax, pounded iv a mortar. Put a little bay salt in a wide-mouthed jar, then add a layer of the "mixed flower petals, throwing over them tho mixed orris root and gums. Btifput the layers until the jar is full. Keep well covered. If liked, dried rosemary,- lemon thyme, marjoram, aiyl bay leaves may bo added to tlio mixture of flower petals. Gather threo handfuls each of damask roses, clovo carnations, ■ and wallflowers; one handful of rosemary, lemon thyme, lavender, and marjoram. Spread these in the sun to dry, then acid to them, six . bay loaves, Joz of cloves, tho rind of.. a. lemon, and 4oz of mint loaves. Chop the mint, loinon rind, bay loaves, carnations, and wallflowers all together, and mix in tho cloves. Put a layer of bay salt in an earthenware jar, then a layer of rose petals, and a sprinkling of tho chopped mixture. Repeat until the ingredients

arc used up. The jars for these- potpourris should be covered with lids or stoppers, which are removed as required. Tho contents of the jars should be gently stirred from time to time.