Growing up, my mom always studded our Christmas ham with cloves.
I loved the smell!
So the amazing scent of a bowl full of orange pomanders always reminds me of Christmas.
Pomander comes from the word pommel d’ambre which means apple of amber.
Set a bowl of cloves and a bowl of oranges on your coffee table and watch your family get creative.
They are so simple to make.
How to Make Orange Pomanders
1) Wash and dry oranges
2) Simply poke cloves into oranges (if you have trouble inserting them, use a skewer to poke a hole no deeper than the clove, then place clove into hole)
Get creative with patterns: swirls, spirals, flowers …
3) Place the pomanders in a paper bag for a few weeks to dry them out
The cloves will draw out the juices and they’ll shrink in size.
4) Check on your pomanders every couple of days to make sure they aren’t getting moldy (make sure to remove any that develop mold)
The best part, they’ll last for years.
Why stop at a centerpiece, or these patterns?
See my Monogrammed Pomander Place Settings.
It’s how I’m setting my Christmas table this year.
Make sure to check out my tips on how to incorporate nature in winter decorating.
I have always loved these and wanted to try it. I’m pinning so that maybe someday I’ll make one! Have a very Merry Christmas!
Leslie
I remember making these in school as a kid. It’s nice to know it’s still a desireable item, they do last long time.
Glad you shared this project, would like to make one or two again someday.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Doing this for New Years, Kelly — Merry Christmas, friend!
xo Heidi
Definitely going to have to give this a try! I can only imagine how amazing it must smell!
I make these every year and adore the smell!
So easy to do and great fun to share with family & friends 🙂
Tilly x
You can make clove apples too! You usually cover the whole fruit and hang it with ribbon. I love this center piece!
We always used Orris Roos to preserve these. Is that not needed now?
Never heard of it Barbara but if that works for you, keep on doing it!
Thank you, finally, someone says they can go mouldy! Mine did, but I didn’t know about the paper bag trick. I will definitely try again for this Christmas. My dad made me one and sadly died a few days later so the smell of them is so poignant.
Thanks again
I’m so sorry that you lost your dad Jennybell – I hope the smell of the pomanders bring back good memories