The Simple Touch of Pomander Balls to Bring in the Scents of Christmas

I love the smells of Christmas goodies baking in the kitchen! It makes things so warm and cozy with the aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, anise and cloves wafting through the air. But with the busyness of the season there might not be enough time to bake as much as we like. Adding pomander balls around the home is a way to bring in the same scents without turning on the oven!

Pomander balls go all the way back to the 15th century when they served as natural air fresheners for closets and drawers. Here are the items needed and steps below to create your own pomander balls.

• Any citrus favorite...oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruit
• Toothpicks
• Whole cloves
• Ground cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, anise, lavender or rosemary
• Resealable plastic bag
• Ribbon for hanging

1. Use a toothpick to punch holes in your fruit. Fill the entire space or create a design to make things festive.

2. Push the whole cloves in the holes you just created.

3. Once the fruit is studded with the cloves, place ground spices and pomander ball in the resealable plastic bag and shake until fruit is coated. You can even add powdered orris root to encourage quick and even drying.

4. Remove fruit from the bag and tie on ribbon to hang in hallways, on the tree or in closets. You can also place the pomander balls in bowls to create scented displays.

These wonderful creations also make great gifts! Not only will your loved ones cherish a gift handmade by you, but you'll also be filling their home with scents to enjoy the whole season and beyond.