Make your own orange pomanders at home with a handful of simple ingredients. Fresh oranges, cloves, cinnamon, and optional orris root are all you need for this classic holiday craft, and they'll last for years! They can be used to decorate a tree, as a natural air freshener, and make a beautiful winter table centerpiece.
A medieval specialty, pomanders are a great gift. Put together a holiday package of a pomander, a winter-scented epsom salt mix, calendula salve, and vegan lip balm for a low-waste gift anyone would love.
Ingredients
Of the four ingredient, orris root will likely be the most difficult to find. Mountain Rose Herbs (not sponsored) carries it and you can find it at other natural skincare and herb shops. The oranges should be firm, not soft or bruised, for the best result.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Oranges: Cara Cara, navel, and Valencia oranges will all work equally well here. I don't recommend clementines, mandarins, or any type of orange with a very thin skin, because the smell won't last as long. The stronger the scent is when you buy the orange, the nicer they'll smell after adding cloves.
- Cloves: each orange needs about half a cup of cloves, so you'll need a lot of you plan on making several pomanders. I buy them at the bulk food store for this recipe.
- Cinnamon: this should be ground cinnamon and can be either type (both smell good, and cassia is much less expensive, worth keeping in mind as you're not eating it here).
- Orris Root: if you don't have access to orris root you can use extra cinnamon instead. It acts as a more effective preservative than cinnamon alone and adds another scent element, with a distinctive sweet smell. Orris was traditionally used in medieval pomanders and acts as a type of glue to help the cinnamon stick to the oranges.
How to Make Pomanders
Step 1: Use a toothpick to make a small hole in the orange. Protect your thumb with a thimble if needed.
Step 2: Keep pricking with the toothpick each time before pushing a clove into the hole made.
Step 3: Repeat this process until the entire orange is covered in cloves.
Step 4: Add the cinnamon and orris root to a bowl and mix to combine.
Step 5: Place the clove-studded orange into the spices.
Step 6: Use a spoon to gently roll the orange in the spices until fully coated.
Step 7: Place the spiced oranges into a paper bag to dry.
Step 8: Once dried, decorate the pomanders if desired and set them out to scent your home.
How to Preserve and Dry
Drying: keep the spices oranges in a dry spot in a paper bag for at least a week before taking out and decorating with them. They should be fully dried after 3-4 weeks and can be stored indefinitely once completely dry.
Preservation: the pomanders will keep for several years once fully dried. Keep them in a cool, dry place, ideally stored in a paper bag to prevent any moisture buildup if humid, and bring them out each year to decorate the house.
FAQ
How long do orange pomanders last?
If you don't dry them, they'll only keep for a few days. Coated in spices and dried properly, though, they'll last for years!
Do pomander balls smell?
As the pomanders dry, they'll give off a nice orange-spice scent combination.
Can spices other than cinnamon be used?
You can add a little extra nutmeg or ground ginger to add an extra scent element, but the cinnamon shouldn't be replaced with a different spice.
How do you tie a ribbon around a pomander?
The more the orange is covered with cloves, the more easily it will cure, but you can leave a space for a thin ribbon to be tied in between the cloves. Coat in the spices and dry for a week before adding the ribbon.
More Holiday Recipes
Wholehearted Eats is all about low-waste, homemade whenever possible gifts and self-care during the holiday period! You can make your own presents for friends and family. Try some of these ideas and recipes:
- Homemade Herbal Oil, best with dry herbs
- 3-Ingredient Rosewater Toner
- Herbal Latte Mixes
- Fresh Gingerbread Cookies
If you make these Orange Pomanders or any other eco-friendly DIYs on Wholehearted Eats, please take a moment to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It’s such a help to others who want to try the recipe. For more WHE, follow along on Instagram or subscribe for new posts via email.
Spiced Orange Pomanders
Equipment
- Toothpick
- Mixing bowl
- Paper bag
- Ribbon (optional)
Ingredients
- 6 navel oranges
- 3 cups cloves
- ¾ cup cinnamon
- ¾ cup orris root
Instructions
- Use a toothpick to poke small holes in the skin of an orange. Each time you prick the orange, press a clove into the hole (otherwise you won't be able to see where the holes are). Repeat until the whole orange is covered in cloves.6 navel oranges, 3 cups cloves
- Add the cinnamon and orris root to a bowl and mix to combine.¾ cup cinnamon, ¾ cup orris root
- Place the clove-studded orange into the spices and use a spoon to roll the orange around to coat it fully. Repeat until all of the oranges have been used.
- Place the oranges into a paper bag to dry for a week before removing and adding ribbons if desired. Decorate with the pomanders as needed.
- After 3-4 weeks, the pomanders should be fully dried and can be stored in a paper bag in a cool, dry place for several years.
Do these have to be in individual paper bags while drying in the linen cupboard?
I always place them into a single large paper bag all together, as shown here. You could use small individual paper bags if you prefer.
My orange split when I was almost done with the cloves!!!!
Hi Barbara, sorry your orange split! This can happen if you don't make the hole big enough with the toothpick before pressing the clove in.
Thanks for the guide, Sophie. I made these years ago and am very happy to get cracking again!
These are on my holiday to do list this year, can't wait to try them. I wasn't sure where to find orris root but my local health food shop has it!
oh perfect! I hope you enjoy them. Orris root is one of those funny things you never look but in surprising places 🙂
ah I'll look there. I couldn't find it at my grocery store. doesnit add fragrance? is it essential?
Hi there, if you don't have access to orris root you can use extra cinnamon instead. It acts as a more effective preservative than cinnamon alone and adds another scent element, with a distinctive sweet smell. Orris was traditionally used in medieval pomanders and acts as a type of glue to help the cinnamon stick to the oranges but you can still make the pomanders without it.
thank you!
So pretty!! I’ve always wondered how to make these!