A Handmade Christmas: Orange & Clove Pomanders
Ashley Evans
A simple tradition that turns an ordinary winter day into something softly magical.
Some crafts don’t feel like crafts at all—they feel like moments. Oranges studded with cloves fall right into that category. They’re the kind of thing your hands just know how to do, even if you’ve never done it before. They remind you of houses where the windows fog in December, of old wooden tables dusted with citrus peel, and of a season that asks you to slow down, breathe in deeply, and make beauty with your hands.
These little spiced ornaments have lived a long life in old kitchens and holiday markets. Every version is slightly different because every pair of hands presses in the cloves with its own rhythm—patient, present, unhurried.
Today, you get to make your own.
What You’ll Need
Fresh oranges (firm, bright, the kind that feel heavy with juice)
Whole cloves
A small skewer, toothpick, or anything sharp to pre-poke holes
Twine or ribbon (optional)
Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice (optional for dusting)
How to Make Them
Think of this as less of a project and more of an experience.
Hold the orange for a moment before you begin.
Feel its weight, the coolness of the skin, that soft citrus scent that escapes even before the first clove gets pressed in. These small pauses are part of the charm.Use a toothpick or skewer to poke small holes in any pattern you like.
Straight lines. Spirals. Snowflake patterns. Or something messy and organic that looks like a winter walk feels—natural and unplanned.Press a clove into each hole.
This part is quietly satisfying—the clove slips in with a soft crunch, and instantly the air around you changes. Warmer. Spicier. More like a memory than a scent.Optional: roll or dust the orange in warm spices.
A little cinnamon or nutmeg gives it that old-world, apothecary feel—like something you’d find in a beautifully cluttered market stall.Let the pomander dry.
Place it on a dish or hang it with twine. Over days, it firms up and darkens slightly, becoming more fragrant as it cures. It’s like watching a tiny piece of art come into its final shape.
Where to Use Them
Set them in bowls as natural winter décor
Hang them on cabinet knobs or doorknobs
Nestle them into greenery on a holiday table
Give them as small handmade gifts
Line a few on a windowsill so the sun warms the scent each morning
A Little Story to Share When You Gift One
“This orange started as something simple, but as the days went by and the cloves settled in, it became a little piece of the season—warm, fragrant, and made slowly by hand. I hope it brings that same quiet comfort into your home. May it remind you to slow down, breathe in, and enjoy the smallest beauties this winter.”