Lemongrass in Potpourri

by FRANS HENDRIK
(VRYHEID KZN)

Can one use lemongrass in a potpourri bag made for your cupboard?

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Frans, lemongrass can be used in making potpourri very successfully. You can combine the lemongrass with other herbs and spices such as lavender, cloves, whole cinnamon sticks, and even dried citrus peel to bring out the perfume. Combining lemon grass with rosemary and lemon peel gives a real citrus fragrance to your potpourri.

Adding orris root or cellulose fiber, to your potpourri will help fix the fragrances and adding essential oils will help deepen the fragrances.

To further enhance the fragrance of your homemade lemongrass potpourri we suggest that you leave it in an air-tight container for at least 6 weeks before using it. This allows the essential oils to infuse with the rest of your ingredients and will last longer than if you use it straight away.

Finally, lemongrass has very tough leaves. The best way to chop them up small enough for your homemade potpourri is to put the lemongrass into a coffee grinder.

Here is a lemongrass potpourri recipe for you.

3 cups dried and sliced lemon peel
2 cups cut and dried lemon grass
2 cups dried lemon verbena leaves
1 cup orris root, or cellulose fiber
1/2 cup coriander seeds
1/2 cup dried rosemary leaves

Place all the ingredients together into a plastic bag. Add 1/8-1/4 fluid oz of lemon essential oil over ingredients evenly. You don't want the oil to end up clumping the ingredients together. Shake bag for a few minutes to distribute the oil evenly.

Place the lemongrass potpourri into an air-tight container and leave for 6 weeks before using.

Regards
Kathryn
Country Farm Lifestyles