How to Make Leaf-Print Potpourri for Autumn: A Simple Botanical Craft

As the air turns cooler and the colours outside deepen, I find myself drawn to projects that use what’s already around us: leaves, herbs, and natural textures. This leaf-print potpourri is one of my favourite autumn crafts because it blends everything I love: scent, texture, and botanical beauty.

It’s an easy way to capture the season indoors. The result looks beautiful displayed in a bowl, tucked into a linen sachet, or gifted as a natural home fragrance. And if you already enjoy making simmer pots or Epsom salt potpourri, this is a lovely companion project that adds a more artistic, decorative element.

How to Make Leaf-Print Potpourri for Autumn: A Simple Botanical Craft

What Is Leaf-Print Potpourri?

Traditional potpourri combines dried petals, herbs, and spices. Leaf-print potpourri takes it a step further — you press or print real leaves onto paper, muslin, or clay pieces to capture their natural patterns before blending them with scented botanicals.

The effect is soft, rustic, and deeply autumnal. It’s part art project, part natural fragrance — a tactile reminder of the changing season.

Why You’ll Love This Project

• Uses natural, sustainable materials

• Doubles as both décor and scent

• Quick to make — perfect for a weekend craft session

• Beautiful gift idea for autumn and Christmas

• Completely customisable in colour and fragrance

Materials For Your Potpourri Blend: Air-dried clay, dried orange slices, Anise, dried lavender, cloves etc

(Tip: if you enjoy slow, sensory DIYs, see also my post on how to make natural home fragrance blends for more inspiration.)

Materials You’ll Need

For Leaf Printing

• Fresh leaves (ferns, sage, eucalyptus, or rose leaves work best)

• Plain cotton muslin, watercolour paper, or air-dry clay discs

• Small hammer or spoon (for pressing pigments)

• Absorbent surface, such as cardboard or thick fabric

• Optional: natural dye or ink pad for added colour

For the Potpourri Blend

• Dried botanicals (orange slices, rose petals, cinnamon bark, cloves, or lavender)

• A few dried printed leaves or clay pieces

• 5–10 drops of essential oil (e.g. sweet orange, cedarwood, or patchouli)

• Large bowl or jar for mixing

• Linen sachets or decorative bowls for display

Step-by-Step: How to Make Leaf-Print Potpourri

Step 1 – Collect and Prepare the Leaves

Pick leaves with strong veins and interesting shapes. Wipe away any dirt and allow them to dry on a towel. For printing, slightly damp leaves transfer pigment more effectively than completely dry ones.

Step 2 – Create the Prints

Place a leaf vein-side down onto your chosen surface (paper, muslin, or clay). Cover it with a piece of scrap fabric and gently tap with a hammer or the back of a spoon until the shape and pigment transfer. If you’re using air-dry clay, press the leaf firmly into the surface, then remove it to reveal the embossed pattern. Leave to dry completely.

(Optional: for more vivid colour, lightly brush natural pigment or ink across the leaf before pressing.)

Leaf Printing On Cotton Muslin

Step 3 – Dry the Botanicals

Arrange your dried petals, fruit, and spices on a mesh tray or baking sheet. Dry in the oven on low heat (about 60 °C) for 1–2 hours, or leave to air dry for several days. Everything must be fully dry to prevent mould.

Botanical Ingredients For Potpourri Blends

Step 4 – Blend and Scent

Once everything is dry, combine your leaf-print pieces with the botanicals in a large bowl. Add your chosen essential oils and stir gently to distribute the fragrance. Seal the mixture in an airtight jar for 24 hours to allow the scent to develop.

Step 5 – Display or Gift

Transfer to an open bowl, glass jar, or linen sachet. Add a small label or hand-tied tag for a natural finish. The scent will last several weeks; refresh with a few drops of essential oil when needed.

Styling Tips

• Pair neutral vessels with your Soft Vintage Botanical colour palette — cream, sage, and muted brown.

• Display near natural light but away from direct heat to preserve colour.

• Create a small collection of bowls with different scents for a layered effect.

• For gifting, fill mini sachets, tie with linen ribbon, and add a sprig of dried herbs.

(If you enjoy decorative storage, see my post on DIY concrete bowls for natural home fragrance — they pair beautifully with this project.)

Troubleshooting & Care

• Leaves not printing clearly? Try fresh leaves with strong veins and ensure the surface underneath is slightly soft.

• Mould forming? Some moisture remained — dry all botanicals thoroughly before mixing.

• Scent fading? Add a few extra drops of essential oil every few weeks.

• Overly strong fragrance? Air the potpourri in an open bowl for a day before sealing it again.

Closing Thoughts

Leaf-print potpourri is a gentle way to bring nature indoors. It captures the shape and scent of the season — slow, thoughtful, and completely unique to what’s growing around you.

I often make a small batch after a walk, using whatever leaves I’ve collected that day. Each one turns out a little different, which makes it all the more personal.

If you’d like to try more nature-inspired home fragrance ideas, explore my post on Epsom Salt Potpourri Blends or Autumn Simmer Pots.

FAQ

1. How long does leaf-print potpourri last?

   Around two to three months if kept dry and refreshed with oil.

2. Can I use herbs from my garden?

   Yes — rosemary, thyme, and lavender dry beautifully and complement the scent.

3. What leaves work best for printing?

   Those with firm veins —fern, geranium, sage, and rose—give clear, natural patterns.

4. Can I use the same technique on fabric?

   Absolutely. Hammer printing onto muslin or linen works well for reusable sachets.

5. Can I mix the printed pieces with traditional potpourri?

   Yes. They add texture and an organic artistic touch to classic blends.