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In making sachets, small muslin bags with a drawstring at the opening are excellent for this purpose, and may be purchased at craft and culinary shops. If you choose to make your own bags choose lightweight fabrics, preferably 100% cotton, cotton blends, silk, chintz, calicos and chantilly lace. Bags may be made into decorative shapes, mini pillows or baggy dolls. Large packets do well for trunks, drawers or closed strorage areas. Small packets are better for travel bags, suitcases and purses. Sachet mixtures usually need more fixatives because the dry ingredients do not retain their essences very long. Colorful botanicals may be added to enhance a decorative sachet. Essential oils are often neccessary to perk up fragrances..
Recipes:
Oriental sachets
rose petals 1 part
Khus-Khus 1 part
Patchouly 1/2 part
mace 1/4 part
2. Orris root 1 part
sandalwood 1 part
Cassia 1/2 part
Rose petals 1/2 part
Cloves 1/4 part
Millefleures Sachet
Orris root 4oz.
Gum benzoin 4oz
Lavender flowers 4oz
Rose petals 4oz
Tonka beans 2oz
Mace 1oz
Sandalwood 1 oz
Cloves 1/2oz
Allspice 1/2oz
Cinnamon 1/2oz
All ingredients for this sachet should be coarsely ground.
Rose Sachets
1. Rose petals 2lbs.
Sandalwood, coarsely ground 1lb.
Oil of Rose or Rose geranium 1/4oz
2. Rose petals 10oz
Orris root 8oz
Lavender flowers 2oz
Oil of bitter almond 5 drops
The first three ingredients should be coarsely ground. All should be mixed together thoroughly..
FIXATIVES FOR SACHES AND POTPOURRI
Fixatives are those botanicals that should be added to sachets, potpourris and perfumes to help retain their fragrances. As most fragrance evaporates in time, fixatives are necessary to slow this process, as well as to add their own aroma to the overall scent. The following botanicals are highly regarded for their fixative qualities in the field of aromatics..
Balsam of peru
Balsam of tolu
Gum benzoin
Burgandy pitch
Calamus root
Clary sage herb
Khus-Khus (vetivert) root
Opopanax gum
Orris root
Patchouly leaves
Storax resin
Sumbul root
Tonka beans
Oil of bitter almond may serve as a fixative in place of animal products.. For those wanting a musk-like scent in their mixtures, Sumbul root can be used..The fragrance of most aromatic botanicals dissapates with age, but there are a few that actually increase their scent if kept in a confined space such as drawers, closets or trunks.. Several of the most pleasant of these are Khus-Khus (Vetivert), Orris root, Calamus roots, and Master-of-the-woods and Costmary herbs. They are good additions to sachet and potpourri mixtures..
