Scents and Sensibility

Once upon a time, potpourri was a popular way to freshen up a space. Now, for some, it feels a bit like the lava lamp of fragrance: an outdated fad from a bygone decade.

So, why was potpourri so popular in the 1980’s, and what happened to it? Did the trend dry up… or just evolve?

We explore the transformation of potpourri, from the fermented mush of the Victorian era to the perfumed and colorful bag of pine cones of the eighties, and talk to a few of the people still making potpourri today.

Love Outside/In? You’ll love the Outside/In newsletter! Sign-up here.

Featuring: Yvette Weaver, Carly Still, Laure Moutet, Autumn Anderson, Paulus, and Ednita Tingle.

Photo captions, from top left to bottom right: 1) Roses plucked for Taylor Quimby’s DIY moist potpourri 2) Taylor’s moist potpourri after a couple initial days of salt fermentation 3) Taylor’s finished jar of moist potpourri 4) Curly pods from India, an important ingredient in mass market potpourri 5) Various potpourri ingredients as catalogued by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 6) Indian worker slicing botanicals for potpourri, courtesy Laure Moutet 7) Indian worker bleaching botanicals for potpourri, courtesy Laure Moutet 8) Worker bleaching lotus flowers, courtesy Laure Moutet 9) Laure Moutet posing with botanicals being dried by the sun after being bleached and dyed, courtesy Laure Moutet 10) Indian potpourri bleaching and dying operation, courtesy Laure Moutet 11) Autumn Anderson’s moss and mushroom potpourri 12) Autumn Anderson’s driftwood potpourri

Links

An 1895 recipe from Sweet from Sweet Scented Flowers and Fragrant Leaves for 50-year moist potpourri (the recipe begins on page 42).

From Death Scents: more fascinating info on the history of medieval trends that predate potpourri and the rise of “rotten pot” potpourri.

Fragrant Potpourri Preserves the Floral Scents of Summer: A 1975 NYT article that bridges the gap between moist and dried potpourri recipes.

A 1988 Glade Potpourri Spray commercial: Catchy tune!


Credits

Hosted by Justine Paradis

Reported and produced by Taylor Quimby

Edited by Justine Paradis

Mixed by Taylor Quimby

Additional Editing: Felix Poon and Jessica Hunt

Executive Producer: Rebecca Lavoie

Special thanks to Rosalyn LaPier, Mark Nesbit, and to NHPR’s voices from the ‘80s: Nick Capodice, Josh Rogers, Emily Quirk, Patricia McLaughlin, Rick Ganley, and Rebecca Lavoie.

Our theme music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Ben Nestor.

If you’ve got a question for our Outside/In[box] hotline, give us a call! We’re always looking for rabbit holes to dive down into. Leave us a voicemail at: 1-844-GO-OTTER (844-466-8837). Don’t forget to leave a number so we can call you back.