This post was originally published in 2011 and has been recently updated with additional photos and steps. I'm re-sharing it today because it makes a great project to make with the kids during the Thanksgiving weekend!
Learn how to make orange clove pomander balls, a classic holiday tradition. They're easier than you think and will make your home smell amazing for the holidays!
Pomander balls are very simply those oranges decorated with cloves you probably made for your mom back when you were in the Brownies.
They are so easy to make, a fun holiday craft project to include the children in, and will fill your home with the scents of the season.
And make super festive Christmas decorations!
How To Make Orange Pomander Balls
Supplies Needed
- Whole Cloves
- Oranges (or other Citrus Fruit)
- Wooden Skewer or Toothpicks
- Paper Towels
Instructions:
All you need is a can of cloves (found in the spice aisle of the grocery store),
some oranges and a wooden skewer or toothpicks.
The paper towels are just to catch any juice that may leak out of the oranges when you're poking holes in them. This project can get your hands a little sticky.
Plan out a design for the oranges. Stripes, stars, circles, and swirled patterns are popular choices and easy to accomplish. Alternately, you can go with just covering the entire orange with cloves for a super simple design.
To make your pomanders, just simply poke holes in the orange with the skewer and then push in a clove.
It is really that easy!
Cloves are sharp and pointy by nature, so you wouldn't have to use a skewer to make a hole, it just saves you a little time to poke a hole first. And is also easier on your fingertips, since you'll be inserting a LOT of cloves into each orange.
Please note - if you are making these with children, make sure you supervise their use of the skewers or toothpicks.
The smell of the clove mixed with the juice of the orange is heavenly.
The cloves also help preserve the orange as it dries and acts as an anti-microbial. But it really is all about the scent!
Christmas pomander balls only take about five minutes each to make and the cost of three oranges and a can of cloves is around $5.00.
Those Brownies know something about making easy and classic crafts.
Additional Fruit Options For Pomanders
Oranges aren't the only fruit that can be made into pomanders, so if orange isn't your favorite scent try one of these:
- Lemons
- Grapefruit
- Limes
- Tangerines
- Kumquats
- Clementines
Basically, any citrus fruit will work.
A note about Clementines though, I made them for hostess gifts a few years ago (you can see the post here - Cloved Clementines Hostess Gift). They were aromatic and looked so cute stuffed into mason jars as a fun packaging idea, but they did not last a long time. I think the reason is the fruit was not firm enough. Clementines tend to have looser skins than oranges and limes.
How To Use Pomander Balls
- Give As A Hostess Gift - wrap in a cellophane bag with instructions printed out (or a history of the pomander).
- Hang On The Christmas Tree - all the better if you have a live tree, so you can get the pine scent mixed in with the orange and clove scents!
- Use As A Centerpiece - making a grouping of pomanders in the center of the holiday table for a festive look.
- Dress Up Holiday Decoration And Garland - tuck them into just about any place you have holiday greenery whether real or faux pine boughs.
- Use As A Sachet - hang one in your closet for the fresh aroma.
Drying Pomander Balls
If you want your pomander balls to last long after Christmas, you will want to dry them. They can actually last for years!
You can use a dehydrator set at a low heat (100° or so) until they have hardened.
Since I do not have a dehydrator and prefer to do it the old-fashioned way, I hang my pomanders and air dry them for roughly 6 weeks. Hanging your pomander balls will help them dry quicker than leaving them in a bowl. This will also help them avoid mold while drying.
I normally make two sets of pomanders, one I use for holiday decor and the other I make for drying for year-round sachets.
Check out the web story version of this article HERE.
Looking for more winter and Christmas ideas? Some of my favorite holiday ideas:
DIY Simmering Potpourri Gift Idea with Printable Gift Tag
magie
Great idea..I have some cloves and some oranges..so now I know what I am going to do with them 🙂
Red Rose Alley
I love the smell of orange and clove, and the pine needles look so pretty next to them. I used to go to my sister's house, and she would always have the smell of orange and clove in her kitchen. Made me feel so welcome.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley
andrea
Amazing. This is something I see every Christmas yet have never done. I guess I'm always nervous a dog will eat them or something. I do love the orange with the brown as a tropical Christmas color scheme. [email protected]
Blessed Serendipity
Mmmm I love that smell of the cloves and oranges. I may have to do some of those before Christmas. Thanks so much for your visit today.
blessings,
Danielle
LizlovesVintage
Me too!!! I can smell them all the way here, in NY. Great project.
Have a great Sunday.
xxx Liz
Geneva
I have oranges set aside to make mine today... Yours are simply beautiful, and I love the way you've displayed them. Very Nice Post!
Kelly
I've put the whole cloves in the peels and boiled them for the smell, but I've never done this. It's much prettier! Definitely going to try it! 🙂
Kelly
Karena
Isabella and I will do this over the weekend I remember as a little girl always having cloved oranges, The scent amazing!!
Please Come and enter in My 12 Days of Holiday Giveaways. There are so many exciting & special Gifts! Tis the Season!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing
These are so popular this year and I adore the look. I have to go see if I have some oranges...I love this idea!
Aurelia (A Pretty Life)
beautiful idea, look pretty, I never did, but it's never too late....
I never did, but never too late.I'm going to try.
http://aprettylife13.blogspot.com/
Anonymous
I'm very excited to try this. thanks.
Debbiedoos
Mmm...so pretty, festive and smells great from here Pam!
[email protected]
They had oranges way back then?! Ha! Well, I guess so, you did say it was only 10 years ago.
Only thing I remember from Brownies was someone taught me the wrong words to The Ants Go Marching 1 by 1. During our program everyone got quiet and I sang out to KISS HIS BEHIND on they go marching 9 by 9. I'm still scarred by that.
I've never made these but I plan too now...I remember the wonderful smell. Do you remember the Brownie promise? Post the sketch for your Lord's Supper.
Lisa Natcharian
What a great traditional craft! If you have a minute, come on over and link it up at the Everyday Vintage party at Helene's Legacy. Your style is the perfect fit 🙂
http://heleneslegacy.blogspot.com/2013/11/everyday-vintage-link-party_22.html
Thanks,
Lisa
Irishnana
The cloves may be pointy - but the skewer saves your fingers! Also, makes it easier to do w/ little ones -- I poke w/ the skewer & they put the clove in so much more easily. OR they poke w/ both skewer and clove! If making a design, it's easier to lightly draw a design (simple or ornate) w/ pencil and use it as a guide (for yourself or for child).
Babs Richman
I love to make orange pomanders for Christmas. I remember making them in elementary school. And, you're right. It's easier to make simple designs, and use a skewer to make the holes. I make them almost every year. Love the fragrance. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.
Heather - New House New Home
We used to make these every year. Thanks for reminding me that this is just a great project for the holidays.
Pamela Groppe
I was just thinking of making orange cleaner, you know, with vinegar and orange peels. Anyways I wonder if adding the cloves to it would work too. I guess I shall have to experiment and see.
Dee Sewell
Beautiful illustrations and can almost smell their aroma. Will be hanging them around my home this Christmas, thanks for the reminder 🙂
Cheri
Thanks for the idea. My husband decided he wanted to make one of these this year. I was out looking for directions and noticed I had pinned your post to my Christmas board - good timing.