Potpourri traces back to medieval and Renaissance Europe, where dried and sometimes salted flower petals and herbs were kept in jars to freshen homes at a time when hygiene and plumbing were nowhere near modern standards — the French name literally means “rotten pot.”

A Practical Solution Before Modern Hygiene

Long before effective ventilation, drainage and regular bathing were the norm, households leaned on preserved fragrant petals, herbs and spices to mask unwanted smells and bring a pleasant scent into the home. Early versions were sometimes made by layering petals with salt in a sealed pot, allowing them to partially ferment and release scent slowly — a messier, muskier process than the simple dried petal mixes we associate with the word today.

How It Became What We Know Now

Over time, the easier dried version — petals, spices and dried citrus mixed with essential oils — became far more common and is what most people picture as potpourri today, valued more for gentle, decorative fragrance than any real hygiene function. It sits within the much longer tradition of scenting the home, which our home fragrance guide covers in full, part of the complete guide to perfume.