Apple and Orange Pomander

I first heard of apple pomander while reading the book Little house on the Prairie! It was given as a Christmas gift to Ma Ingalls, and I wanted to know what it was.

Well, it turns out they are apples, or you can use oranges studded with cloves! These are super easy, cute and cheap to make! They make great decorations as a centre piece, to hang on Christmas trees or homemade wreaths.

Not only are they aesthetically pleasing to look at, but they also have a lovely scent, and anyone can get involved in making these even young children with a little help!

So, lets learn a bit more about what an apple/orange pomander is and how to make these!

What is an apple/orange pomander?

Pomanders were used to offset bad smells and get rid of bacteria in the air. They believed that these would help ward of disease. They would sometimes wear pomanders as well for the same purpose offset bad smells and to ward of sickness. Pomanders made beautiful gifts and kept the room fresh.

How to make an apple pomander

It’s very easy to make apple or orange pomanders. All you need is apples or oranges, a small bag of cloves and potentially a pointy skewer to help you stick the cloves in. If you want to make designs, you might want a peeler with a u-shaped blade as well.

1. Grab a fresh and crisp apple/orange.
2. If you are wanting to do a design, use a peeler that has a u-shaped blade on it. Gently peel the top layer of fruit in the design of your choice.

1. Pierce the rind or skin with the skewers in whatever design you want to do. The best results is to completely cover your apple but you can definitely make cute designs as well.

1. Then place the cloves stem first into the holes you made until all the wholes are filled.

1. Place your pomanders away from direct sunlight and allow to dry in a well-ventilated area. I leave mine in basket on the table and that has worked well for me. You can tie string around it and hang it to dry as well!

Why add cloves to apples or oranges?

Cloves added to apples or oranges help to draw out the moisture from the fruit. The cloves become firmly attached as the liquid evaporates. Cloves are highly antibacterial and can help reduce fungal growth as well as the fruit dries. They act like little wicks, creating a lovely scent in the room for a few days.

How long do Apple/Orange pomanders last?

If your pomander is made properly it can last for up to a year! I can attest to that. My apples that where fully covered in cloves completely dehydrated and where preserved. They did not rot just shrunk considerably. After the year I decided to make some new ones which I’m showing here.

How to make pomanders last longer?

To make your apple or orange pomanders last longer consider fully covering your fruit in cloves so it dehydrates evenly. The clove also helps to reduce bacterial and fungal growth.

Make sure your pomanders are not in direct sunlight!

You also want to make sure they get good circulation and aren’t sitting on a hard surface. I have them on a basket which helps with circulation.

Another way to make sure they have good circulation while they are initially drying is to tie a ribbon around them and hang dry them.

What do you use pomanders for?

You can now use your pomanders as a lovely decoration for your home. They look lovely as centrepieces on the table. You can string them up and use them as beautiful Christmas decorations or stick them onto a wreath. They can also be placed in a small room or closet to add a nice smell to the area. You can also use these to make lovely festive garlands. Get creative and enjoy these beautiful, natural and cheap decorations.