Fragrant Flower Gifts

OILS

To distil small amounts of essential oils, place fresh flower petals in a large glass jar and cover them with distilled water. Seal the jar with cling-wrap and leave it in a sunny position. When a film of oil appears on the water, lift it off with cotton wool and squeeze it into a small glass bottle.

FLOWER VINEGAR

Steep flowers in warmed white vinegar, seal the container, leave it in the sun and shake the contents daily. Strain through muslin or a fine strainer and bottle.

FLOWER WATER

To make a flower water, put fresh petals in a saucepan and cover with water. Cover the pan and simmer for 30 minutes. Cool and strain through muslin, squeezing all the liquid from the petals into a glass jar.

JASMINE TEA

In the language of flowers, jasmine means “amiability” , and what can be more amiable than sharing a cup of fragrant tea with a good friend?

Cut several sprays of jasmine creeper and hang them in a warm dark place to dry. Carefully remove the dried flowers. If jasmine isn’t available, substitute dried rose petals or lime flowers.

Cut the zest from a lemon in thin strips using a sharp knife or a zester. Dry the zest slowly in a warm oven or in a sunny place.

Measure by weight two parts of long-leaf tea, one part of jasmine and a quarter part of dried lemon zest. Combine the ingredients in a bowl.

Store the jasmine tea in an airtight container and decorate if it is a gift. The tea can be made either in a pot or directly in the cup. Use less than one teaspoon per cup and add a slice of lemon instead of milk.

BATH OIL

This recipe requires some steeping time but the result is a fragrant oil which makes bathing pure delight. The same concoction can be used as a hair conditioner.

Collect equal quantities of lavender, rosemary sprigs and peppermint leaves. Lightly bruise the fresh lavender in a mortar and pestle or by using the handle of a heavy kitchen implement.

Pour 600ml (1 pint) of sunflower oil into a jar and add the herbs and flowers. Seal the jar tightly and place it in a sunny place or above a radiator for several days. Shake the jar every day.

Strain through muslin and squeeze any oil from the herbs and flowers. Replace them with a fresh batch of lavender, rosemary and peppermint and put the jar back in it’s warn place for several days. Repeat the process until the oil has a strong perfume.

Pour the last batch of herbs and oil into a pan and simmer it over a gentle heat for ten minutes. Allow the mixture to cool and then strain the oil into a jar. Seal the jar tightly and store in a cool dark place. Drop a teaspoonful of oil under the running tap of a bath.

Experiment with other floral recipes for bath oils. For a sleep-inducing bath, use chamomile, lime flowers and yarrow. To ease aching muscles, use honey-suckle, hyssop, rosemary and chamomile.

FLOWER CLEANSER

This delicate facial milk cleanser is perfect for that occasion when you want to look and feel your best. It will only keep for a few days but it is a rejuvenating luxury for the skin.

Half fill a saucepan with water and heat until it simmers. Do not let it boil. Take off the heat source. Pour 2 cups of milk into a heatproof bowl and place the bowl into the hot water so that the milk becomes warm.

Add 1 cup of flower petals. You can use any combination of violets, pansies, lavender, carnations, roses, magnolias and primulas. Stir the flowers in the milk until the water in the saucepan has cooled.

Blend the milk and petals until smooth. Pour into a bottle and seal. Store the bottle in a cool place and use it within a few days. After washing the face with a small amount of flower milk, rinse with cold water.

RICH BODY CREAM

Here is a recipe for a rich and fragrant moisturiser. It is simple to make, and is based only on natural ingredients and will help keep your skin supple.

Remove 4 cups of rose petals from fragrant red roses. If the roses have been sprayed, wash them well and dry them on paper towels. Chop the petals roughly and put in a jar. Cover with 4 cups of olive oil, seal and leave the jar in a warm or sunny place for a week.

Strain the contents of the jar through muslin and discard the petals. Heat the oil in a saucepan until it is warm. Melt one cup of beeswax in a double saucepan over a low heat.

Remove both saucepans from the heat. Add the warm oil to the beeswax. Beat until the mixture is quite smooth, adding a few drops of vinegar if necessary to help them blend.

Beat until the mixture has cooled and is thick and smooth. Spoon it into jars and seal. Apply a little of the cream to dry skin and gently massage it in.

These are all from “Flower Craft Gifts and Projects” by Gillian Souter and Catherine Lawrence. 1995. Off the Shelf Publishing. NSW Australia.

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