6 replies to this topic

[juliakd3]

I would like to make some simmering potpourri to sell at an upcoming craft show.

Is it safe to add fragrance oil or essential oil to the dried spices/potpourri before packaging? Will it simmer fine or is there something I should know before attempting this?

Thanks,
Juliakd3

[Ela]

You might want to use a candle safe fragrance oil, to avoid flammability issues. Some essential oils can be quite flammable - especially citrus essential oils like sweet orange ...

- Ela

[Ela]

Personally, I think I would also provide a small glass bottle of fragrance oil along with the potpourri, and provide usage directions (and maybe a plastic pipette for measuring), as opposed to putting the oil on the potpourri in advance.

I would prefer the fragrance oil in the bottle so that:

1) the scent is fresher when the customer uses it, as it has been bottled and not exposed to air, and

2) the fragrance oil is also less likely to corrode plastic, like the plastic that the potpourri is packaged in. Some fragrances really like to corrode and alter (warp/discolour) plastic, and I'd want to make sure my packaging didn't look odd a few months down the road, and

3) I think it looks like you are providing more value to the customer when they get the bottle of oil AND the potpourri, as opposed to just a bag of potpourri. Adding a measuring pipette in there, too, will also add to the perception of greater value and help to make sure the customer doesn't use too much oil at a time.

- Ela

[docMT]

how would you package the potpourri, bottle of fragrance and pipette so that it looks appealing to the customer?

[Ela]

how would you package the potpourri, bottle of fragrance and pipette so that it looks appealing to the customer?

I'm sure there are a million ways to do it. One way I'm thinking of is a beautiful organza bag. The bottle of fragrance can sit in the bag with the potpourri, or in another, smaller organza bag attached to the first one. The pipette can go through the bow on the organza bag.

- E

[docMT]

I love that idea! Thank you!!

[Ela]

Sure! If you are going to keep it on a shelf for awhile prior to selling it, you'll want to put the potpourri in maybe a cellophane bag, and then put that in the organza bag. I just love the way organza bags dress things up so nicely! :->

- E