A POTPOURRI is a mixture of dried, aromatic herbs and flowers, often placed in open bowls to scent the air or in decorative jars with lids. SACHETS share the same ingredients as potpourris, but sachet herbs are ground or crushed and placed in cloth bags, often embellished with ribbon or lace and placed in drawers or closets.

To make these unique gifts, you'll need a good dictionary of the Language of Flowers. Susan Loy's Flowers, the Angels' Alphabet: the Language and Poetry of Flowers provides the most comprehensive flower dictionary available with more than 1,400 flowers and their meaning in the Victorian Language of Flowers.

This 224-page, hard-cover book with dust jacket includes 28 color illustrations by Susan Loy. Autographed copies are available for the same retail price of $31.95, at www.cslpress.com or by calling 1-800-263-6125 (M-F, 8 am to 5 pm EST). The book is available at amazon.com and at book stores nationwide.

Flowers, the Angels' Alphabet: the Language and Poetry of Flowers was recently chosen as one of the "top ten books of the year" by Independent Publishers and as winner of Benjamin Franklin awards in two categories - gardening and reference.

To order a copy of Flowers, the Angels' Alphabet: the Language and Poetry of Flowers, click here.

Use the dictionary to choose which flowers to feature in the potpourris and sachets. There are more than 1,400 flowers in Susan Loy's dictionary as well as 1,500 meanings and their associated flowers.

For Fragrance -
allspice: compassion,
angelica root: inspiration,
basil: good wishes,
bay laurel: honor,
cabbage rose (Rosa centifolia): ambassador of love,
damask rose for thy smile I aspire to,
frankincense: the incense of a faithful heart,
jasmine: amiability,
lavender: acknowledgement,
lemon balm: balm or sympathy,
lemon peel: zest,
lemon-scented geranium: serenity,
lemon verbena for forgiveness,
lilac for first emotions of love, humility, or joy of worth,
hyssop for purification,
lily of the valley for return of happiness,
marjoram for blushes,
mint for virtue,
moss rose for love or superior merit,
musk rose for charming or charms of home,
myrrh for gladness,
peppermint for warmth of sentiment,
pine needles for faith, philosophy, or time,
rose (R. gallica) for love,
rosemary for remembrance,
sage for esteem,
rose-scented geranium for preference,
sweet flag root for fitness,
thyme for courage,
violet for faithfulness or faith

For Color - Any colorful flowers that dry well can be added to a potpourri for color...
add whole flowers or petals of calendula for sacred affections,
chamomile for energy in adversity,
delphinium for levity,
globe amaranth for immortality or unchangeable,
goldenrod for encouragement,
larkspur for levity,
marigold for sacred affections,
nasturtium for heroism or patriotism,
pansy for thoughts,
statice forsympathy,
yarrow for cure or health, or
zinnia for thoughts of absent friends

You can purchase dried herbs and flowers or dry your own. To dry, harvest flowers just after the buds have opened and in the morning after the dew has evaporated. Select the best buds to dry whole, then with the others, pull off the petals and strip the leaves from the stem, discarding any that are brown. Place the petals and buds on screens or newspapers to dry in an dark, warm place. Drying times vary; check daily and gently stir the petals and leaves. When thoroughly dry, store in airtight glass or ceramic containers in a dark place until ready to use.

POTPOURRI RECIPES

Mix ingredients with a wooden spoon in glass or ceramic bowls; store in covered glass or ceramic jars in a cool, dark place; stir about once a week for 4 to 6 weeks. When ready to use put mixture in decorative glass, porcelain, or ceramic containers with a lids or pretty baskets or bowls. Include a card explaining the meaning in the Language of Flowers.

1. A Basic Recipe without Fixative: Start with two cups of the main scent and sentiment you want to convey, add 1/2 cup of four other herbs and flowers, for example, 2 cups rose petals for love, 1/2 cup lily of the valley for return of happiness, 1/2 cup lavender for acknowledgement, 1/2 cup lemon balm for balm, and 1/2 cup peppermint or spearmint for warmth of sentiment.

2. A Basic Recipe with Fixative and Essential Oil: 4 to 8 cups herbs and flowers, 2 tablespoons of orris root (the most commonly used plant-derived fixative), and 1 to 2 teaspoons essential oil; for example, 2 cups rose petals and buds for love, 1/2 cup lemon peel for zest, 1/2 cup lemon-scented geranium leaves for serenity, 1/2 cup mint for virtue, 1/2 cup sage for esteem, 1/2 cup thyme for courage, 1/2 cup yarrow for health, 1/2 cup zinnia for thoughts of absent friends, 2 tablespoons orris root, and 1 teaspoon rose oil or attar of roses.

3. A Recipe for Good Wishes: 1 cup basil for good wishes, 1 cup chamomile for energy in adversity, 1 cup delphinium or larkspur for levity, 1 cup lavender for acknowledgement, 1 cup lemon-scented geranium for serenity, 1 cup lemon peel for zest, 1 cup mint for virtue, 1 cup rose for love, 1 cup thyme for courage, 1 cup yarrow for health, 3 tablespoons orris root, 1 teaspoon rose oil or attar of roses, and 1/2 teaspoon lavender oil.

4. Recipe for Compassion: 1 cup allspice for compassion, 1 cup lemon balm for balm or sympathy, 1 cup lily of the valley for return of happiness, 1 cup rose petals for love, 1 cup spearmint for warmth of sentiment, statice for sympathy, 1 cup thyme for courage, 2 tablespoons orris root, and 1 teaspoon lily of the valley oil.

5. Recipe for Love: 2 cups rose buds and petals for love, 1 cup cabbage rose petals for ambassador of love, 1 cup lilac for first emotions of love, 1 cup rose-scented geranium for preference, 1 cup spearmint for warmth of sentiment, 1 cup violet for faithfulness, 2 tablespoons orris root, and 1 teaspoon rose oil or attar of roses.

6. Recipe for a Christmas Potpourri: 1/2 cup angelica for inspiration, 1/2 cup bay laurel for honor, 1/2 cup holly berries and leaves for foresight, 1/2 cup lemon for zest, 1/2 cup mint for virtue, 1/2 cup peppermint for warmth of sentiment, 1/2 cup fir or pine needles for faith, or time, 1/2 cup rosemary for remembrance, 1/2 cup thyme for courage, and 1/2 cup sage for esteem, 2 tablespoons orris root, and 1 teaspoon oil of pine.

SACHETS share the same ingredients as potpourris, but the herbs are crushed and placed in cloth bags and placed in drawers or closets. Sachet bags are typically small and square but can be larger or heart-shaped for Valentine's Day. Choose any tightly woven fabric, but silk is the ideal for sachets. Embellish with ribbon, lace, sequins, or beads. Include a card explaining the meaning in the Language of Flowers.

SACHET RECIPES

Christmas Sachet: 1/4 cup bay laurel for honor, 1/4 cup lemon for zest, 1/2 cup mint for virtue, 1/2 cup peppermint for warmth of sentiment, 1/4 cup pine needles for faith, 1/4 cup rosemary for remembrance, 1/4 cup thyme for courage, and 1/4 cup sage for esteem, 1 tablespoons orris root, and 1 teaspoon .pine needle oil and ground cinnamon and cloves.

Sachet of Good Wishes: 1/2 cup basil for good wishes, 1 cup chamomile for energy in adversity, 1 cup lavender for acknowledgement, 1/2 cup lemon-scented geranium for serenity, 1/2 cup lemon peel for zest, 1/2 cup mint for virtue, 1 cup rose petals for love, 1/2 cup thyme for courage, 1/2 cup yarrow for health, 2 tablespoons orris root, and a few drops of rose oil or attar of roses and lavender oil.

Traditional Lavender Sachet: 2 cups lavender for acknowledgement, 1 cup rose petals for love, 1 cup lemon balm for balm, 1/2 cup thyme for courage, and 2 tablespoons orris root; a few drops of lavender oil are optional.