Orange Clove Pomander Balls

Orange Clove Pomander Balls
I have always loved the look and smell of these wonderful holiday decorating treats! I must admit I've never taken pictures of mine, but maybe I will this year. In the mean time, the picture below was just too pretty not to show. I have to say I've never seen them done so beautifully! I'd always read that you just "poke the cloves in all over the orange". Nothing was ever said about making pretty designs!

So to get us started, how about some inspiration!

Ooooo! Lemons too!

How about a face for that pomander? Fun & cute!

Beautiful!

WOW!

Before we get started with how to make them, how about a bit of history about them? I'm a bit of a history and "origins" freak. I like to know when something happened as well as why. So here's a bit of info for you:

The word "pomander" is derived from the French pomme d'ambre, meaning "apple of amber". This pomme d'ambre is a ball made from perfume materials such as ambergris (whence the name), musk, or civet. These ingredients were placed into a perforated gold or silver vessel that was hung by a chain around the neck or the waist. One particular formula from 1584 included storax, calamite, labdanum and benzoin resin. These ingredients were powdered, combined together and dissolved in rose water, then cooked down to a paste. This was then molded into an apple shape and rolled in powdered & blended-together cinnamon, sweet sanders, and cloves. After this, several grains of ambergris, deer musk, and civet musk were dissolved in a small amount of rose water. The "apple" (pomme) ball was then rolled in this mixture, blending these ingredients with the first, kneading them altogether. Once they were well combined the pomme was re-formed. This "apple" was then carried in a vessel on the body or placed in a bowl in the home, its scent perfuming the air.

Pomanders were used mainly as protection from disease as well as to counter bad odors.

Nostradamus also had his own formula for making pomanders!

Nostradamus' method and formula was just about the same as listed above, but with a few differences. His method for making pomanders was to make "rose tablets" by gathering a pound of rose petals and 7 ounces of ground benzoin. Soak the rose petals in deer musk water overnight. Then remove the rose petals, thoroughly squeezing out the water. 

Next, grind the petals with the powdered benzoin. While grinding, add a quarter of ambergris and another of civet musk. Once ground, you make compress into little tablets and put each one between two rose petals. Then you dry the tablets away from the sun.

The next step is to combine 2 ounces of the purest labdanum, 1 ounce each of Styrax calamites and benzoin, 1/2 ounce of the "rose tablets", 1 ounce of violet powder, and 1/2 dram each of ambergris and musk and grind everything into a powder.

Next, Nostradmus' instructions say to knead it together with the rose-mixture for an hour (or very thoroughly mixed, would be my suggestion) and when finished, you will have "an aromatic ball of the most supreme perfume, and the longest-lasting that can be made anywhere in the world".

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Ok, now that we've got some visual and historical inspiration going here, how about some instructions!

How to Make a Pomander Ball

This recipe is a large one so you can coat quite a few oranges, and save the rest in the freezer for another time, if you want.

Needed Materials

Thin-skinned Oranges (how ever many you plan to make)

6 cups Cloves -whole
2 cups Cinnamon powder
4 cups Orris Root powder
1 1/2 cup Allspice powder
1 cup Ground Nutmeg
1 cup Ground Coriander
2 cups Ground Orris Root (preservative)
Toothpick, Skewer or Large Needle (to poke holes in orange)

Electrical Tape (to keep rows straight, if needed)

Ribbon

Instructions

Mix together all of the spices in a bowl large enough to roll the orange around in it.

Place the electrical tape around the orange in the spaces you want to have only the orange skin showing.

Use the toothpick, skewer or large needle to poke holes into the orange peel in the design you have in mind. Traditionally, the entire orange is covered with the cloves, but designs are beautiful too. And who says you must be traditional? :)

Roll the orange between your hands to warm up the peel to make it easy to poke the cloves into.

Once all of the cloves are in place then roll the clove-covered orange in the spice mix. Coat thoroughly.

Place the orange(s) in a tissue-line box and store in a warm, dry location. Turn the orange(s) at least once a week for 3 - 4 weeks. Once dried they're ready to have their ribbons tied on and placed so their wonderful aroma will scent your home!

To refresh their scent in a few months, just dampen and then roll in the saved spice mix, dust off and set out again to be enjoyed!