The Book of Potpourri: Fragrant Flower Mixes for Scenting & Decorating the Home
These two books treat potpourri and other aromatics, which have once again become a popular accent in home decor, perfuming the air and pleasing the eye with colorful mixtures of flowers, herbs, and spices. Black explains how to create and display aromatic arrangements, sachets, bouquets, pomanders, and the like from wildflowers and other natural materials. She gives clear directions in her recipes, which range from mixes of traditional rosemary and lavender to exotic blends recalling the heady scents of the sensuous Orient. Even if readers buy their potpourri ready-made, this is a delight to browse through. In her guide to making potpourri and other aromatics, Duff details how to extract their essences in over 100 recipes. Unlike Black, however, she begins with an overview of flowers and herbs best suited to harvesting for their scent and color. She provides not only potpourri concoctions, but also recipes for making sachets, scented soaps, bath oils, pomanders, and even hanger covers and Christmas tree ornaments. Although all the suppliers appended are in the United Kingdom, Duff asserts that the ingredients can also be obtained through most supermarkets, health food stores, and herbal garden specialists. Given the popularity of potpourri and country decorating, this should prove very popular with public library patrons.- Pamela R. Daubenspeck, Warren-Trumbull Cty. P.L., Warren, OhioCopyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.