Dried flower sachets

Hang them upside down in small bunches somewhere dark, warm, and airy for two to three weeks. Darkness is the key to keeping colour, since sunlight bleaches petals fast. I tie loose bunches with string and hang them in a cupboard or spare room. For speed, a few minutes in a low oven or a food dehydrator works, though air drying holds colour best.

Lavender is the standout, holding both colour and a strong scent for months. Roses keep their look but lose most of their smell, so I add a few drops of rose oil to the sachet to bring it back. Chamomile and lemon verbena also dry well. For pure fragrance, lavender does the heavy lifting and the rest is mostly for looks.

Two to four months of natural scent, then it fades. I revive a tired sachet by squeezing it to crush the dried buds, which releases fresh oil, and when that stops working I open it and add a few drops of matching essential oil. Stored in a drawer rather than open air, the scent lasts noticeably longer.

They make lovely gifts, and the simplicity is the charm. A handful of dried lavender in a square of pretty cotton, tied with ribbon, costs almost nothing and feels far more personal than something shop-bought. I make a batch from a single bunch of flowers and they look far more expensive than they are.