orange pomanders – Southern Tablelands Arts

Making an orange pomander

A lovely super scented decoration to make for Christmas, made with orange and clove. They are fun and easy to make with our quick instructions and they make cool pressies for friends and family!

History of the pomander – The word pomander comes from the French term, pomme d’ambre, which means ‘apple of amber.’ A pomander in the Middle ages was essentially a small ball of perfume carried in a hinged metal case or aromatic spheres prepared with fruits and spices. They served a variety of purposes through history, including protection against illnesses, representing a religious keepsake, & to smell better. They were worn around the neck or placed in the home.

Tools and materials

To make an orange pomander you need

Orange (one or more)

Cloves
Natural sting or ribbon
Wooden skewer or tooth pick
Scissors
citrus peeler/grater tool

Step One

Gather your materials & tools. You can start by tieing your string around your orange or you can tie your string on at the end. Criss cross the string twice around your orange, & leave some string at the top to hang your pomander.

Step Two

If you have a citrus peeler/grater tool, you can artistically cut away a line of zest from the skin in the pattern shown or any pattern you like.

Step Three

If you dont have a citrus peeler you can get a similar detail by punching holes with your wooden skewer.

Step Four

Once you have punched your holes you can start adding your cloves by pressing them into the holes or groove. Press them close together.

Step Five

Once you’ve finished your pattern & added your cloves, tie your string and hang your pomander on your Christmas tree, door or anywhere you like!

Tread Lightly

A little about the nature of the materials- This activity uses biodegradable materials which are better for the environment, an orange, cloves and jute twine which is a shiny vegetable fibre extracted from the bark of the white jute plant.

We recommend having a look at your local op shop for recycled materials that are cheap and better for our world. Reduce, Reuse and recycle

Please share your work using #STAkids.

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