I know it isn’t time for Christmas shopping just yet, but this time I’ve decided to grow at least some of my presents, and as I’m a gardener, I like to be prepared. I’ve got a number of things that I’m planning. The first is a series of gift hampers which I can send to my family in Scotland, and so I’ve made jams (apricot, gooseberry and elderflower and a lovely lemon curd), a really tangy green tomato chutney, and some dried fruit roll ups.
I’ve also been thinking of some clever gifts for women that I can make at home: I’ve made a rosemary soap using herbs from the garden, and I’ve also dried a bunch of chamomile flowers and made a small bottle of elderflower cordial as well, which means my sister gets a real girly treat as well. Normally I send her some perfume distilled from the gorgeous roses that I fill my garden with every year. Here’s a recipe for rose petal perfume:
6 cups of rose petals
Glycerin
Vodka
Essential oil of rose
* Bring a large pan of water to the boil and add 6 cups of rose petals. Leave to gently simmer for 2 hours.
* Remove the pan and strain the liquid by pouring it though a funnel slowly onto cheesecloth over a large bowl. Twist the cheesecloth and wring out the liquid from the boiled petals.
* Leave the rose water to cool.
* Measure out 2 cups of the rosewater in a bowl
* Add 3 tablespoons of vodka
* Add 10 drops of Rose Essential oil
* Add 4 drops of Glycerin
* Stir the perfume and let it sit for a few minutes to let it gain its scent. Add more rose oil if needed.
* When your ideal level of rose scent is achieved pour into a perfume bottle.
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