How to Make Pomander Balls?

The pomander, also known as a scent ball, is a lovely Christmas decoration that also serves as a natural air freshener for your home. It's a beautiful alternative to incense and electric diffusers, which can sometimes be harmful. Plus, it's a creative and aromatic activity that's very easy to make yourself or with family, especially with children during the short winter days. In our tutorial, we'll show you how to make pomanders to fragrance and decorate your home.

pomander - orange and cloves

1- What do I need?

Here's what you'll need to easily make pomanders:

Oranges
Cloves
String or ribbon
A knife or citrus zester

To make a spice powder (optional):

Ground cinnamon
Ground ginger
Ground nutmeg
Orris root powder
Absorbent paper

For decoration (optional):

Cinnamon sticks
A candle
Pine cones
Fir branches

2- How to make a pomander

With a knife or citrus zester, you can create designs by carving the orange peel;

pomander - orange and cloves

Stud your orange with cloves. Tip: if your orange peel is too hard, you can pre-pierce it with a metal nail before inserting the clove. It's also easier to insert cloves where the peel has been removed;

pomander - orange and cloves

Wrap your citrus fruit with pretty ribbon or natural string;
Ready! You can hang your pomanders directly on your Christmas tree branches. You can also place them in a pretty bowl as a centrepiece, with pine cones, some fir branches and cinnamon sticks as a natural diffuser. Known as a natural repellent, you can also hang them in a wardrobe where they'll fragrance your clothes and keep moths away.

Easy for children to make, pomanders are beautiful fragrant decorations

3- Optional: spiced pomanders

To enhance the fragrance of your citrus fruit, you can also roll the orange in spice powder. This technique isn't essential and requires a long drying time. If you'd like to try it, here's what to do:

In a bowl, mix 1 teaspoon of several ground spices to taste. You could use cinnamon, ginger or nutmeg, for example.
You can also add orris root powder, which is known to help the spices adhere better and intensify the fragrance. Be careful not to leave orris root powder within reach of children.
Roll your orange in the mixture.
Wrap your orange in absorbent paper and leave it to dry for 2 to 3 weeks in a warm, dry place.

4- Making a scented candle with a pomander

To create scented candles:

Cut a circle the size of a tealight candle on the top of your orange;
Hollow out just the top to insert the candle;
Place your orange in a pretty bowl to prevent wax spills or on a ceramic saucer;
Your candles will amplify the pleasant orange scent in the air and help create a natural ambiance.

pomander - orange and cloves