How potpourri and dried flowers are prepared
Potpourri is a mix of dried botanicals chosen for shape and colour more than for their own scent. Petals, leaves, pods, bark, slices of wood and seed heads are sun- or kiln-dried, often bleached and dyed, then tossed with fragrance oil and a fixative so the scent lasts. The mix is weighed into bags, boxes or bowls and sealed.
Dried flowers and grasses are sold in bunches or arrangements. Some are simply air-dried; others are preserved with glycerine-based solutions so they stay soft, and many are dyed. Shedding, brittle heads and colour fade are the main quality issues.
Every lot is natural plant material that has spent time outdoors and in godowns. That brings moisture, mould and insects, and it brings plant-health rules at the destination that a décor buyer may not expect. Know the botanical name of every ingredient in the mix before you order.
What we check on potpourri and dried flowers
| Check | How it is checked | What fails |
|---|---|---|
| Dryness | Pieces snapped and pressed; moisture meter where your plan asks; bags checked for condensation | Soft, damp or leathery pieces; droplets inside sealed bags |
| Mould | Mix spread on a white tray and checked with a torch; smelled | Fuzzy growth, dark spots, musty smell |
| Insects | Tray checked for live insects, larvae, webbing and fine frass; pods and cones opened | Any live insect or fresh frass |
| Foreign matter | Tray sorted for stones, soil, glass, wire, thorns, plastic and seeds not on the list | Anything not in the approved recipe, any sharp piece |
| Fines and broken pieces | A weighed portion sieved; fines weighed | Dust and crumbs above the agreed share |
| Dye bleed | A damp white paper pressed onto dyed pieces | Colour transfers to the paper |
| Fragrance and oil load | Smelled against the master; bag and box checked for oil pooling or stains | Weak or wrong fragrance, oil pooled in the bag, stained packaging |
| Recipe and colour | Mix compared with the approved sample for components and shade | Components missing or swapped, colour off the sample |
| Fill weight and bunches | Net weight; stems counted and measured in bunches | Short weight, short stems, too few heads, heavy shedding |
Common potpourri and dried flower defects and how they are classed
| Defect | Typical cause | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Live insects or larvae in the lot | Untreated or re-infested material, poor storage | Critical |
| Visible mould | Packed before fully dry, or damp storage | Critical |
| Sharp foreign matter (glass, wire, thorns) | Poor sorting | Critical |
| Material not on the declared species list | Supplier substitution | Major (can block import) |
| Oil pooled in bags or staining boxes | Too much fragrance oil, not left to absorb | Major |
| Dye bleeding | Dye not fixed or rinsed | Major |
| Fines above the limit | Brittle material, rough handling | Minor or major by amount |
Your defect list decides the final class.
Plant health and other rules
- Plant health. Dried plant material can need to meet the destination's biosecurity rules. Australia, for example, inspects dried and preserved cut flowers and foliage on arrival to check that they are free of pests and disease and are not fresh, and import conditions are set species by species in BICON. Other markets set their own conditions. See importing into Australia.
- Papers. Where your importer needs a fumigation or phytosanitary certificate, we check that it names the goods, quantity and marks of your lot and that its dates fit the packing and loading.
- Safety. In the EU, potpourri must be safe under the GPSR. Brightly coloured pieces that look like sweets or dried fruit can attract children, so many buyers ask for a "not for consumption" warning and avoid food-like shapes.
- Fragrance labels. If you sell potpourri with a refresher oil or the mix is classified, CLP hazard labels or an allergen statement may apply. Your compliance adviser decides; we check the label against the approved artwork.
Packing, transit and your purchase order
Sealed bags trap moisture as well as fragrance. The inspector checks that material was dry before sealing, that bags have no condensation, that bunches of dried flowers are boxed so heads do not crush, and that cartons are stored off the floor in a dry room. In humid months, ask for desiccant and a short time between packing and loading.
- Recipe with the botanical name of each component and its share.
- Dye, bleach and fragrance oil used, with the SDS for the oil.
- Fines limit, fill weight and colour sample.
- Moisture limit and drying method.
- Fumigation or phytosanitary papers your importer requires.
- Warnings and label text per market.