Pomanders

Here’s a easy little craft item that is both *gothy* and *herbal*. Pomanders have a long and glorious history. They were once carried by the populace because physicians considered them protection against disease. The well-to-do carried intricately designed hollow metal balls filled with scented herbs (these expensive notions were favorite gifts to give on New Year’s) , and ordinary people made apples or oranges studded with cloves (like the ones described here). Later, the Victorians used them for scenting gloves and handerchiefs.

Start with a thin-skinned, evenly-shaped orange. I like navel oranges for making pomanders, because the skin is very easy to make holes in. Use a darning needle, meat skewer, or even a pen, to make holes in the orange skin, with only about 1/8″ between the holes. Also leave a criss-cross pattern devoid of holes–this will be where you tie a ribbon around the pomander once it’s dried out (see picture below). Take whole cloves, complete with heads, and push one into each hole. If you’ve placed your holes correctly, you shouldn’t see orange skin between the clove heads. You’ll need a lot of cloves to stud the entire orange, so it’s best if you buy them in bulk at the framer’s market.

Once you are done studding the orange with cloves, mix some orris root powder (found at most herb shops; this is what is used to preserve potpourri), cinnamon, and nutmeg together, and roll the orange in the mixture. Put the orange in a paper bag or wrap in wax paper and put into a dark place until dry. If you live in a humid climate like I do, you might want to put in a pack of dessicant (silica gel). Once the orange had dried out, tie a suitably gothy ribbon or cord around it. Makes a great gift, and can be used to scent drawers or cabinets.

Another great gift idea is an herb pillow. All you need is a small piece of cloth–remnant tables are a good place to find nice scraps of velvet, lace, or brocade. An important thing to remember is that you want to be able to smell the herbs inside the pillow, so the material you use should not be too thick. If you choose a thick material like brocade, consider using it for only one side of the pillow, and use a sheer material for the other side. A nice handkerchief can also be used; or rather, two can be sewn together easily to make a pillow. A mixture of herbs supposed to have a soporific effect is rose petals, mint, and a sprinkling of cloves. These little pillows (known as “Peace Pillows”) can be tucked inside the pillow case to help you sleep.