How to Make Orange and Cloves Pomanders , a simple Christmas craft for kids.
Welcome to a lovely, slow Christmas craft that fills your home with the warm scent of citrus and cloves.
Whether you remember pomanders from childhood or you are trying them for the first time, making orange and clove pomanders at home is simple, gentle, and perfect for little hands.
A pomander is simply an orange or another citrus fruit studded with whole cloves.
Traditionally, pomanders were made to perfume the home, and today they are a much loved handmade Christmas decoration that can be displayed throughout the festive season.
This simple craft suits young children and works well as a family tradition, with children aged 5 and almost 3 managing with little or no help.
Children needed adult help only to secure the ribbons, which makes this a calm activity to enjoy together around the table.
This guide follows the ourlittlehouseinthecountry.com for the basic method, while keeping the steps short, clear, and easy for families to follow.
Choose firm, heavy navel oranges with unblemished skin, and whole cloves with intact heads, so each clove sits neatly in the peel.
Space cloves evenly, and take care not to crowd one area, so the peel stays smooth and the pattern looks balanced.
What you need:
Gather just a handful of simple supplies before you begin, and choose fruit that feels firm and heavy with unblemished skin.
- Oranges or clementines
- Whole cloves with intact heads
- Ribbon for tying and hanging
- Sparkly pins, optional, for decoration
Clementines are easier for younger children to handle and hold, so they are a lovely choice when little hands are helping.
What you do:
Work slowly, one small step at a time, and let children choose a pattern that feels comfortable for their fingers.
- Tie a ribbon around the fruit and pin it at the top where the ribbon crosses, so it does not slip while children work.
- If a younger child finds pushing cloves hard, an adult can first make small holes with a toothpick or cocktail stick.
- Push whole cloves into the peel along each ribbon edge, leaving a little space between cloves so the peel does not crack.
- Cover the skin between the ribbons with cloves if you prefer a fuller look, or keep to the ribbon edges for a gentler project.
- Alternate cloves with sparkly pins for extra color and sparkle, with adult help for pins and sharp points.
- Display the finished pomanders in a bowl or basket, or hang them from twigs or the Christmas tree.
Cloves can be a little sore on little fingers, so working only along the ribbon edge is often easier for younger children.
Keep a close watch on toddlers and pets during the activity, and discard any fruit that stays soft or turns moldy.
If a pomander begins to dry, it will feel lighter and firmer over time, and it can stay on display while it dries.
Jump to:
- How to Make Orange and Cloves Pomanders , a simple Christmas craft for kids.
- What you need:
- What you do:
- Ways to Use Pomanders and Dried Orange Slices at Christmas
- Decorate Your Home
- Add a Handmade Touch
- New for Christmas 2026
- Create Your Christmas Companion Binder
- Before You Go…
- More Christmas Inspiration from Our Little House in the Country
- FAQs
- How do you make an orange and clove pomander step by step?
- Can you use clementines instead of oranges, and is this craft suitable for kids?
- How long do orange pomanders take to dry, and how do you keep them from molding?
- How do you display and store dried pomanders after Christmas?
Ways to Use Pomanders and Dried Orange Slices at Christmas
Once orange slices are completely dry, they can be used in many ways around the home.
Their warm color, natural texture, and gentle citrus scent suit simple, traditional Christmas decorating.
They add warmth to nearly any festive style, from rustic to traditional, and bring a small piece of nature indoors.
Pomanders dry gradually in a cool, dry place, and when kept cool and dry they can last for many weeks throughout the Christmas season.
For another citrus decoration, try homemade candied orange slices alongside your pomanders for a pretty, scented display.
Display pomanders with evergreen sprigs, cinnamon sticks, and pinecones for a natural look that suits a bowl, a basket, or a mantel.
A pomander also makes a lovely gift, especially when tied with ribbon and placed in a basket with other natural decorations.
Decorate Your Home
Use dried orange slices in these simple home decorating ideas.
- Tuck slices into Christmas wreaths
- Thread slices into natural garlands
- Hang slices as Christmas tree ornaments
- Arrange slices along a mantel display
- Add slices to bowls of festive potpourri
A few slices can change the feel of a room without adding clutter, and their golden color looks lovely against evergreen foliage.
Try a single slice on a napkin, a small group in a bowl, or a longer garland across a mantel for different effects.
Add a Handmade Touch
Handmade touches make gifts and table settings feel personal and thoughtful.
- Use slices as natural gift tags
- Tie slices around napkins for Christmas dinner
- Add slices to festive table settings
- Decorate Christmas candles and lanterns with slices
- Include slices in handmade gifts
Combine slices with cinnamon sticks, pinecones, evergreen foliage, velvet ribbon, or natural twine for a simple country Christmas look, and pair them with scented cinnamon ornaments for Christmas for a matching display.
These small touches work well for a slow, simple Christmas, where natural materials take center stage.
A pomander or a dried slice tied to a gift adds scent and color, and shows that the gift was made with care.
New for Christmas 2026
No two pomanders ever look exactly alike, and that is part of their charm.
Some families create neat geometric patterns, while others simply fill the fruit with cloves while chatting around the table.
Years later, these small handmade decorations are often the memories people treasure most, because they hold the scent and warmth of time spent together.
Making them together around the table can become a treasured handmade tradition, started or continued year after year.
Let each person follow their own pattern, and enjoy the slow pace of a craft that never goes out of style.
For a longer lasting pomander, an optional curing mix with cinnamon, nutmeg, and orris root can add scent while the fruit dries, and drying is judged by firmness and light weight rather than by a fixed date.
Keep drying pomanders in a cool, dry place with good air around them, and check them gently as they shrink and harden.
Try spirals, lines, or simple shapes, and leave a little space for the orange peel to show through for a pretty contrast.
Children can work at their own pace, and adults can help with the first holes or the final ribbon while children add the cloves.
Source: free Christmas printables
Source: Christmas Crafts Companion,
Create Your Christmas Companion Binder
The article suggests collecting its printed Christmas companions in a homemade binder to reuse each year.
A binder keeps seasonal ideas together, so you can find a favorite craft, list, or guide quickly next Christmas.
- A4 display book
- A4 ring binder
- Plastic document wallets
- Adjustable hole punch
- Fine liner pens
- Divider tabs
Slip printed pages into wallets, label each section with a divider tab, and keep the binder somewhere easy to reach during the festive season.
A simple binder also makes it easy to add new ideas each year without losing the pages you already love.
Add a page for pomander patterns, a page for dried orange slice ideas, and a page for notes about what worked well each year.
Before You Go…
Before you go, here are five related seasonal guides to explore for a cozy, calm Christmas at home.
- Creating a cozy Christmas home
- Getting the kitchen ready for Christmas
- Planning Christmas with less stress
- Offering warm hospitality to guests
- Marking New Year’s Eve at home with gentle rituals
A cozy Christmas home starts with small, natural touches, soft light, and places where family can gather and rest.
Getting the kitchen ready for Christmas is easier when supplies are gathered early, surfaces are clear, and simple plans are in place for busy days.
Planning Christmas with less stress means keeping lists short, choosing a few favorite traditions, and leaving room for rest.
Warm hospitality to guests can be as simple as a welcoming table, a scented room, and time to sit together without hurry.
Marking New Year’s Eve at home with gentle rituals gives the season a quiet close, with space to look back and look ahead.
Choose one guide at a time, and let each idea fit your home, your family, and your pace.
These guides share a calm, homely approach, with simple steps, natural materials, and time for family together.
More Christmas Inspiration from Our Little House in the Country
This section brings together twenty related Christmas articles for more festive baking, crafts, and family ideas.
You will find festive baking ideas, cozy activities for adults, families, and teens, easy gingerbread houses, and thoughtful and gaming stocking fillers.
There are also screen free Christmas evenings, orange and clove pomanders, a slow and simple Christmas, and the quiet pause before winter.
Other ideas include dried orange slices and popcorn garlands, no cost gift ideas, traditions to start with teens, and family New Year’s Eve activities.
Festive drinks, snowman art projects, ways to winter well, natural homemade decorations, a slow cooker ham fillet, and Christmas movies to watch with teens round out the collection.
Browse slowly, save the ideas that suit your family, and return to them whenever you want a little more Christmas inspiration.
Each article offers a different way to slow down, make something by hand, or enjoy time with the people you love.
Keep the collection close through the season, and let it spark one small, joyful project at a time.
Source: Kids’ Crafts and Activities
FAQs
How do you make an orange and clove pomander step by step?
Wrap ribbon around a firm orange and cross it at the top, securing it with a pin if it slips. Pre-pierce small holes with a cocktail stick, then push whole cloves into the skin along both edges of the ribbon. For a fuller look, continue adding cloves in neat rows or patterns to cover more of the fruit between the ribbon sections.
Can you use clementines instead of oranges, and is this craft suitable for kids?
Yes, clementines work well and are often easier for younger children to hold because they are smaller than oranges. Cloves can be sore on little fingers, so an adult should pre-pierce the holes, help secure the ribbon, and supervise any pins. A simple line of cloves along the ribbon is the easiest pattern for beginners and kids.
How long do orange pomanders take to dry, and how do you keep them from molding?
Drying time varies with fruit size, humidity, and clove coverage, so judge readiness by a firm, light, hard, and shrunken feel rather than a fixed number of days. Dry them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place out of direct sun, turning them every few days. Start with firm, unblemished fruit and discard any pomander that stays soft, leaks, smells sour, or develops fuzzy mold.
How do you display and store dried pomanders after Christmas?
Display pomanders in a bowl or basket, or hang fully dried, lightweight ones by their ribbon on a Christmas tree or twigs. Grouping several together gives a stronger scent. Between seasons, store them in a dry box or paper wrapping away from heat and humidity. The fruit can keep its shape for months, although the scent will soften over time.
