The notion that certain fragrances can evoke emotions and create a soothing environment has been around for thousands of years. This Mother’s Day, build on this idea by making pretty scented sachets as gifts for Mom.
Use combinations of herbs and dried flowers to create the desired fragrances. You can choose one of the aromatic blends listed here, or mix together one of your own. Then bundle up the scents so the pouches can be tucked into dresser drawers or even under Mom’s pillow.
Aromatic blends
Some of the ingredients listed below can be found at the supermarket. Stop by a gourmet shop for unusual, fragrant teas. Get fresh eucalyptus and cedar tips at a florist; look for cedar shavings at a pet-supply store. Specialty shops carry dried flowers.
Most sachets will require several tablespoons of filling. Vary the ratio until the fragrance appeals to you. Next, mix in one part sand for every three parts of the scented mixture. The sand will act as an abrasive, releasing fragrant oils when you rub the sachet between your fingers.
* Vanilla beans and peach tea make a sweet fragrance. You can mix in grapefruit rind, which is considered a moth repellent, for added zest. Use a peeler to make citrus shavings; dry them overnight on a paper towel.
* Lemon peel and lemon verbena are restorative. Blend with chamomile, which may have a sleep-enhancing effect. Note, however, that chamomile is a common allergen.
* Orange tea adds zing to the fluttery romance of dried roses.
* Cornflower petals and Earl Grey tea yield a smoky, floral scent.
* Lime peel and eucalyptus, sharp yet soothing, make an enticing blend.
* Lavender has a soothing effect. It is also thought to ward off pests – as do cedar tips and cedar shavings, which can be mixed in.
Basic sachets
You can make a little sack (sachet in Old French translates to “sack”) with a remnant of any type of medium-weight cloth, such as silk shantung. Make a single one in Mom’s favorite color, or make several in matching prints and group them together.
Avoid heavy fabrics, such as wool, which won’t release enough fragrance, and those with loose weaves, which may let some ingredients escape.
1. Use pinking shears to cut an 8-inch circle from a piece of fabric.
2. Place about 3 teaspoons of the desired mixture of ingredients in the center of the circle.
3. Gather the fabric edges at the top, and cinch the bag with a ribbon.
Napkin sachets
Make elegant linen sachets from two hemstitched 6-inch-square cocktail napkins.
1. Place the undersides of two napkins together. With ribbon (1/8-inch wide and 24 inches long) and a tapestry needle, stitch the napkins together by weaving the ribbon through the hemstitched edge. Begin at a corner, leaving about 5 inches of extra ribbon for a bow.
2. When you’re approximately 2 inches from finishing, add about 1/4-cup of filling. Finish stitching, and tie the ribbon ends into a bow.
Handkerchief sachets
For a sachet with old-fashioned charm, look for embroidered vintage handkerchiefs at flea markets.
1. Lay a piece of plain, inexpensive fabric (such as a small muslin bag or square of cotton) atop your handkerchief.
2. Place the desired mixture of ingredients in the center of the fabric. The amount you need will vary depending on the handkerchief’s size.
3. Gather the edges of the fabric and the handkerchief at the top, and cinch them with a ribbon.
Envelope sachets
Use stationery envelopes of different colors, shapes and sizes to make unique paper sachets. Using a T pin (available at crafts stores), poke holes in the envelopes to create perforated designs or patterns, then add scented ingredients.
1. On plain paper, draw a simple design, a heart, for example, or the outline of a butterfly. Or use your computer and print out your mother’s first initial in a decorative font.
2. Photocopy your design to make it the proper size to fit your envelope. Working on a cutting mat or a piece of felt, center your template over the envelope.
3. With a large T-pin, punch holes through the template and both sides of the envelope until the design is complete.
4. Fill the envelope with several tablespoons of scented ingredients, depending on its size: 1 tablespoon will fill the smallest gift-card envelope.
5. With a glue stick, carefully seal the envelope.
Send questions to Living, care of The New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 609 Greenwich St., 6th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10014-3610. E-mail living@ nytimes.com.
2005 MSLO LLC
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