Despite the fancy name, pomander balls are simply oranges decorated with cloves to make your home smell warm and cozy for the holidays. DIY pomander balls can be hung as ornaments, used in garlands, or arranged as a part of a festive holiday centerpiece.
Get our must-have tips for creating pomanders, including how to use other citrus fruits for filling your home with holiday fragrance. All you need is a few simple grocery store ingredients. Plus, drying the finished pomanders is a great way to create a lasting Christmas decoration
How to Make Pomander Balls
Getting the kids involved in the pomander ball process can be a fun (and only a little messy) Christmas activity. It's as easy as sticking whole cloves into a fresh orange. Follow our easy directions to make your own customized pomander balls. If you're making simple designs, each ball will take only a few minutes to make.
- BRIE GOLDMANPlan DesignPlan out the design of each pomander ball ahead of time with a pen. Try designs like swirls, stripes, stars, or Christmas figures.
BRIE GOLDMAN
Plan Design
Plan out the design of each pomander ball ahead of time with a pen. Try designs like swirls, stripes, stars, or Christmas figures.
- BRIE GOLDMANPoke Holes in OrangeTo avoid hurting your fingertips, we recommend making holes in the rind ahead of time with a toothpick, skewer, or another small piercing tool. Be sure to keep some napkins or paper towels around for the orange juice that's sure to escape.
BRIE GOLDMAN
Poke Holes in Orange
To avoid hurting your fingertips, we recommend making holes in the rind ahead of time with a toothpick, skewer, or another small piercing tool. Be sure to keep some napkins or paper towels around for the orange juice that's sure to escape.
- BRIE GOLDMANAdd ClovesOnce you've finished prepping your oranges, simply add the cloves to the orange rind, following your pattern. Kids are sure to have fun planning and creating their designs, and you'll enjoy the delicious scent their pomanders create when they're finished.
BRIE GOLDMAN
Add Cloves
Once you've finished prepping your oranges, simply add the cloves to the orange rind, following your pattern. Kids are sure to have fun planning and creating their designs, and you'll enjoy the delicious scent their pomanders create when they're finished.
BRIE GOLDMAN
How to Decorate with Pomander Balls
Once you've made your pomander balls, display them somewhere you'll be able to enjoy the holiday scent. Place them in your Christmas table setting, dress up a festive garland on a staircase or mantel display, or include them in a holiday arrangement. To create a gorgeous arrangement, we recommend filling a container with floral foam and using florist wire to secure evergreen sprigs, pinecones, and pomanders to the foam. Fill in any holes or gaps with extra greenery until the foam is covered.
If you plan on hanging your pomander balls as Christmas ornaments, tie decorative ribbons around the oranges before you plot your design. This way, you won't be attempting to arrange a ribbon around the cloves.
STEVEN MCDONALD
Other Fruit Options
Perhaps orange isn't your favorite smell—but don't let that deter you from making pomander balls altogether. Other citrus fruits make great pomander balls as well! Add cloves to grapefruits, lemons, or other citrus fruits for a slightly different scent and an added pop of color. You can also mix orange pomanders with cut citrus fruit for a unique blend of scents.
BRIE GOLDMAN
How to Dry Pomander Balls
Once each of your citrus fruits has cloves in perfect order and design, hang them up to dry. The scent of any pomander ball comes through once the fruit has dried for a bit. To help the balls dry quickly and to avoid mold, hang them up to dry using a needle and string through the fruit or a festive ribbon around it. Be sure to make your pomander balls right at the beginning of the Christmas season—you want to make sure they have enough time to dry and become aromatic before the season is over.
Pomander balls are beautiful, smell great, and provide the perfect addition to your Christmas decorations. Plus, getting the entire family involved is a great way to build more memories and add to your family's Christmas traditions.