A pomander is simply a nice smelling ball of flowers, herbs or in this case fruit, that can be hung, carried, or displayed as a centerpiece.

Here’s what your children need to make their own Orange Pomander balls at home:

Oranges, as many as you’d like to hang or display
Whole Cloves
A tack or pin (to pierce the orange skin for the cloves)

To set up this fine motor activity, place the whole cloves in a dish. Explain to your child that you’re going to push the cloves into the orange peel randomly or in a design. Then you’ll hang them to dry, or place them on a plate as a table centerpiece!

To make easy designs, try putting a rubber band around the orange. Then make lines of cloves along the band and pull it off when you’re finished.

If your child doesn’t quite have the hand strength to push the cloves into the skin of the orange, pierce the skin first with a tack or pin.

Finally, to avoid the pomander molding, hang it in a cool closet or dark place until dried out. Alternatively, try shaking the pomanders in powdered orrisroot to avoid mold.

Enjoy the scent of dried orange pomanders for up to a year! Your child will be proud knowing they helped beautify your home.

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