How to make dried Orange Clove Pomander balls for Christmas

Learn to make dried orange pomander balls with clove and other spices to celebrate Christmas.

These natural, great-smelling orange pomanders are easy to make and create a wonderful festive spirit.

Herbs and spices used for culinary and medicinal purposes can create a magical atmosphere and scent, especially around Christmas.

If you are the kind of natural person like me that doesn’t like glitters or artificial decorations, turn your attention to pomanders – great smelling that adds a unique vibe to your home.

What are Orange Clove Pomanders?

The word “pomander” comes from the French “pomme d’ambre” = apple of amber or “ball of ambergris”, a perforated bag, decorative metal, or china filled with aromatic dried herbs. They were used to scent the room or cloth or guard against infections. Later on, they were replaced with an orange, apples or other fruits studded with a clove or other aromatic substances used for the same purposes.

Nowadays, decorated orange balls add a lovely fragrance to homes and make beautiful Christmas ornaments displayed on Christmas trees,  gathered in bowls or hanging in the windows, or on Christmas wreaths.

Which spices to use?

Cinnamon sticks

The medicinal properties of cinnamon were known by ancient Egyptians and valued more than gold. While many people know that it is loaded with powerful antioxidants and possesses anti-inflammatory properties, few know that smelling it can boost our memory. This study suggests that smelling it can improve the performance of several types of memory tasks and aid learning ability.

Cloves

I usually use clove when making hot mulled wine or gingerbread. It was, however, used in the past for its antibacterial properties to kill off bacteria.

Star anise

also called star anise seed, Chinese anise, or badian, is a must item for Christmas time.

Apart from its distinctive shape, it has a specific licorice-like flavor.

Star anise is very popular in Asian cuisine and is known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties.

I featured these spices in this Christmas spice soap.

Fruits to use

The most common fruits are oranges, but you can use other citruses such as grapefruits, mandarins, lemon or lime.

Apples, quince, pears or tangerine can be used as well

How to make an orange and clove pomander

First step: Poke holes in the oranges in various patterns

Start with poking holes or lines in the skin of oranges using a toothpick, wooden skewer or knife before pressing spices in it.  I like to use a zester (see in the video) as it allows me to make straight and regular lines. Space the holes about 1/4-inch apart since the clove orange ball will shrink as it dries.

Second step: Insert cloves into holes

Press cloves into the holes. More cloves mean better preservation and more fragrant pomander.

Use your imagination and creativity to decorate the Christmas oranges by studding the cloves around.

Also, select cloves with the heads intact as these are the most fragrant.

Decide on abstract or geometric patterns (stripes, spirals, starts) and firmly press cloves into fruits.

Thirds step: Display your fragrant pomanders

Orange and clove pomanders make wonderful Christmas decorations that last for the whole festive season. If you want them to last longer, you will have to preserve them.

How to use fragrant orange pomanders?

Pomanders can be used for any festive event like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween or parties, weddings, etc.

Hang them in the window or on a Christmas tree.

Tie a red ribbon around the middle of the clove orange ball and hang it.  It makes a beautiful tree ornament or DIY gift that fill the house with a spicy, wintery aroma as the orange dries out.

Use masking tape to mark where you want to tie the ribbon on the fruit. While oranges look great with a criss-cross formation, lemons and limes work well with ribbons tied around the middle of the fruit.

Make a candle holder

Slice off the top of the orange. Take out some of the flesh to the depth of the candle. After you decorate your pomander, place the candle into the hollow you have created. Light up the candle and breathe in deeply.

Table decoration

They make a creative decoration for your table that smells and looks great. I like to combine them with citrus garlands. Pair your orange pomanders with other citrus fruits like lemons or grapefruit. Add pine branches, pine cones, walnuts or dried berries. It looks incredible and makes a beautiful and cozy home with a festive spirit.

In case you decide to add bows to your table, here is a tutorial on how to make bows for a Christmas tree.

Repel flies

Clove and lemon are the best natural ingredients to repel flies. Thus the pomander made of lemon and clove can easily work as a fly repellent.

Create a wreath or garland

Incorporate them into your Christmas wreath or garland.

Use them as air fresheners.

Place oranges with cloves in drawers to keep clothing smelling nice. Fragrant dried pomanders are a perfect addition to your closet or any room. Alternatively, I left them in decorative bowls to freshen a room.

How do you preserve orange pomander balls?

I make these oranges every year as I enjoy making them. All women and kids in our family sit around the table. It is a nice tradition that keeps going from one generation to another. So I rarely dry them for the next year. However, if you want to preserve them for longer than a few days, follow these steps:

Hanging them with wire

One way of preserving and drying pomanders is hanging them with wire which can help prevent mold. They will dry only partially, though, and stay mold-free a little bit longer.

Preserving them with ground spices.

If you want your pomanders to last longer, store them in a paper bag and cover them with a mixture of spices. Shake them every day to make sure they are covered completely. Cloves are natural preservatives, as well as cinnamon. The spices will draw out the juices, and the pomanders will shrink in size. You will know they are dried inside when they make a hollow sound. The process takes about three weeks.

Prepare a powdered mixture in the mortar and pestle.

Use two tablespoons of each – cinnamon powder, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger. Ground them into a smooth powder. You can also add three tablespoons of orris root powder, the dried and ground root of the iris plant, which has to stabilize properties and help preserve the scent.

Use two tablespoons of the mixture for each orange. Place a decorated orange in a paper bag and apply the mixture to cover the orange.

Once your orange pomander has thoroughly dried, you can remove the mixture by gently brushing it off.

How to Dry Orange Pomander Balls

Once the clove orange ball is thoroughly coated, use a dehydrator, oven, or air-drying method to remove moisture from the fruit.

in a dehydrator

use a dehydrator at low to medium heat to remove moisture from the fruits

in the oven.

Make a pomander and place it onto a wire rack. Preheat the oven at 130°C, 275°F.

Put the Cinnamon Sticks, Star Anise, and Whole Nutmeg onto a baking tray with a baking sheet in preheated oven.

Put the wire rack on top of them. Bake them in an oven for about 4-5 hours or until the fruit has darkened and dried out.

air drying

Place the fruit in a paper bag and pop in a warm airing cupboard for 3-4 weeks to dry out.

 I keep my pomanders for a week or two on a sunny windowsill with some paper towels to absorb the moisture.

As the fruit dries, it will shrink and become hardened. You’ll know they’re done drying when they feel hollow on the inside.

How to make orange sliced ornaments

Cut apples, oranges, and grapefruits into ¼ inch rings.

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees and place the slices on the baking paper. Bake them for approximately 2 hours, rotate, and regularly check until the oranges and grapefruits are dried.

This orange peel powder is a great way to preserve orange peel and use in baked goods or skin care.

These fruit slices are very tasty and make for a healthy snack too. If you want to decorate your table with cookies, try these no-bake protein balls with rosehips that will light up your table.

Use your creativity, string, and needle to decorate them with your chosen spices.

Making a garland using dried fruits and spices

You can make a garland using dried orange and grapefruit slices together with other spices like cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, cones, etc.

Just string them together to make a beautiful garland while enjoying the smell of oranges and all the spices. It is time-consuming but a totally rewarding time which we enjoyed and like to keep as a tradition.