Shelli and Holiday Potpourri
 

From Shelli's blog, she has a quick & simple gift idea. She packaged an orange, some real cinnamon sticks and some cloves. She made a cute tag w/directions to slice the orange and put all in 4cups H2O and simmer,. Really cute and cheap but my question is do you think it would really scent your house? I need some quick gifts for work and was thinking about this. Anyone try this?

http://www.soshelli.com/
Scroll down to the Baskets and Blooms post.

It is great to make it smell as if you've been baking something yummy!

Great! I may have my last minute gifts taken care of!

Yes, it definitely works! I live in China where good-smelling potpourri/scented oils are practically non-existent, and I often simmer cassia bark (Chinese cinnamon) and cloves in water on my stove. It really only takes a little, about two or three sticks and ten or so cloves in a saucepan of water, and ooh baby! Sometimes I add orange peel for some extra zing. Makes your place smell so homey and cozy!

okay my question is, can't you substitute water with wine and have mulled wine instead?? hahahaha....

no really..

hahahaha....

Last year I forgot to buy the "Scent of Christmas" bags to cook on my stove so I put on a pot of water and added whole cloves, a couple of cinnamon sticks, a little vanilla and let it simmer and the house smelled yummy. So, yes I think it would work.

BTW when I put the pot on to simmer, I also set my timer for an hour to remind me to check the water. Each time I check, I reset the timer so I don't forget. I also turn on the light over the stove so if I need to leave the house I don't forget to turn off the pot. I do the same thing if I light candles.

I remember my mom used to do this when I was a kid. We were always bummed because we thought she was baking...she never baked so I don't know why we always thought something was baking...not very bright, I guess...:rolleyes: I do remember it smelled delicious!