Having trouble sleeping? These selected herbs have calming properties that help lots of people fall asleep. After making this sachet, put it under your pillow or carry it with you during stressful times.

MATERIALS

Fresh herbs from your garden: lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, rose petals

Twine

Paperclips

6 pieces fabric 8" (20 cm) square

DIG IN!

1. Mid to late summer is the best time to harvest your herbs for drying. Collect them in the morning and shake off any water, soil, or bug hitchhikers. (Fig. 1)

Fig. 1: Harvest your herbs.

2. Tie small bundles of fresh herbs together with the twine and unbend a paperclip to hang them upside down to dry. Keep them away from direct light and check on them in about a week. If the leaves fall away easily from the stems, they are dry and ready to go! (Fig. 2)

Fig. 2: Dry your herbs upside down.

3. Once dry, place the herbs, fabric, and twine in your workspace. Take a few leaves and flowers from each type of herb and place in the middle of the fabric. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3: Prepare your workspace.

4. Gather up the four corners of the fabric and tie tightly with the twine. Add a sprig of the lavender to the twine for a lovely decorative touch. Your sachet is ready for you to use or give as a gift! (Fig. 4)

Fig. 4: Tie the sachet closed.

DIG DEEPER!

KEEP YOUR SACHET SMELLING SWEET

When your sachet loses some of its aroma, gently roll it between your hands to crush the leaves and petals to release more scent.

Essential oils are extracts from certain plants that have distinct smells and may have medicinal, cleaning, or culinary qualities. It is the essential oils of the herbs used in this activity that cause them to continue giving off their scent for a long time. You can purchase essential oils at natural food stores and add a drop or two to your sachets once their scent has dissipated.

Way back in the day, people used sachets to deodorize rooms and themselves. Sachets would be placed either in a closet or room, or hung around the neck like a necklace.