Making Pomander Balls are easy and a wonderful holiday craft idea that will fill your home with the fragrance of fresh citrus and cloves. This is a great activity to do the night before Christmas and garnish your dining room table on Christmas Day with a display of decorative and fragrant Pomander Balls.
What you’ll need:
- Fresh Citrus such as Oranges, Lemons, Tangerines, or Limes
- Wooden Skewers (a thin knitting needle will also work)
- Whole Cloves
- Optional: use sewing pens to place holiday ribbon around the pomander balls. This is helpful if you want to hang the oranges on your tree or if you want to let them dry out a little.
Instructions:
Using your wooden skewer, start to lightly puncture the surface of the orange. This is the creative part, there are no rules, simple create a pattern that you like! Maybe you want to create a swirling pattern or lines that circle the entire orange. Just have a little fun with your designs. If you would like to use ribbon in your design you might consider leaving a little space for the width of the ribbon so you can add the ribbon later.
After you have created your pattern, gently press in the whole cloves into the punctures. This will bring your design to life. Now you are ready to display your Pomander Balls on your tree or on your dining room table to enjoy during your Christmas celebration.
Pro Tips:
1. When you use the wooden skewer to puncture the orange, face it away from you. Sometimes the oranges can be extra juicy and if it gets in your eyes it will burn.
2. Hanging the pomander once you are done adding the cloves will help the oranges to dry out and avoid molding. This will also extend the fragrance of the Pomander so you can enjoy it longer.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What does Pomander mean? The term Pomander originated from the French word “Pomme d’Amber” meaning Apple of Amber. A ball or orb made of perfumes, spices or herbs.
2. How long do Pomander Balls last? Typically they last between three to four days. If the Pomander Balls are hanging, they will last longer because they will start to dry out.
