Holidays are an especially festive time to add scent to your home. Stores are full of wonderful smells of the season. Everywhere you sniff there's another intoxicating blend of potpourri. You'll find pumpkin and spice for Thanksgiving and evergreen, cinnamon and ginger for Christmas. Once you have gathered the fragrances you want, either by buying or making your own, it's time to find something to put them in.
As beautiful as potpourri is these days, why hide it? Think clear. Break out all those glass vases from under the sink and get busy. Arrange colorful leaves from the backyard inside the large vases where they'll show and hold them in place by filling the center with your favorite autumn potpourri. Find a piece of brightly colored ribbon and tie a bow around the top of the vase. Fill the smaller vases with potpourri and decorate with dried twigs or sprigs of berries instead of flowers. Forget about the twigs and nestle a tea light candle on top of the potpourri mixture. Be careful and make certain the flame won't catch any material on fire.
Adding heat to the mixture increases the scent. Fill a clear drinking glass with potpourri and place it inside a larger crystal cylinder or rectangular container. These are inexpensive and readily available. Arrange a small strand of clear miniature Christmas lights into the space between the two containers. Make certain the lights are UL approved and leave the plug on the outside of the jar with enough cord to reach an outlet. If the container is large enough you can include inexpensive glass ornaments or wrap a strand of shiny garland throughout the lights. The interior glass will disappear when lit suspending the potpourri amid the lights and ornaments. Use several of these to transform your home into a holiday wonderland filled with lovely ambient light and fragrance.
Another beautiful idea incorporating light starts with a twelve-inch square glass block purchased from your local home improvement center. Look for one that has a hollow center with openings on the sides. String miniature Christmas lights inside, like you did on the last project, leaving the plug outside as well as enough cord to reach an outlet. Keeping the block flat fill with a small amount of potpourri. Too much and the potpourri will spill out of the openings. Now take wired Christmas ribbon about three inches wide and tie it around the glass block. Think of it as the finishing touch when gift-wrapping. Cover the top with a huge bow. Beautiful bows can be purchased if you don't trust your bow making skills. Plug in this stunning glass gift package and fill the room with welcoming light and aroma. This present is a twinkling star under the Christmas tree. Make extras to give to family and friends.
Bring the fragrance of the holidays into your home with these clearly simple potpourri holders.