Nature Project

Early Americans lived in close contact with their environment. They studied and experimented with the native wild plants in nature and grew their own herbs to make perfumes and scents for soaps. Each community had its own herbs that people used for food, as well as for scented pillows, perfumes, and soaps. 

Materials:

Try this activity to make your own herbal scents. Gather the materials listed below. If you cannot find rose petals, basil, or mint, you can use dried rosemary, sage, lavender, or other fragrant herbs.

• cheesecloth
• soft fabric, such as lightweight flannel
• rose petals
• dried mint leaves
• dried sweet basil
• ground cloves
• needle and thread
• other fragrant herbs (optional)

Instructions:

1. Allow the rose petals to dry in the sun. If you do not have rose petals, you can use dried herbs.
2. Mix all of the ingredients well.
3. Cut two pieces of cheesecloth into squares. These pieces will form an inner pouch for the herbs.
4. Repeat step 3 with fabric for the outer covering, making these pieces slightly larger than the cheesecloth squares.
5. Pin three sides of the two pieces of cheesecloth together, and sew them closed.
6. Fill the pouch with herbs, and stitch the fourth side closed.
7. Lay the two squares of outer fabric together, with the right sides facing toward each other.
8. Pin three sides together, and sew them. Turn the right side out.
9. Stuff the cheesecloth pouch into the pillow covering.
10. Fold the edges of the fourth side to the inside of the pouch, and hand stitch the fourth side of the pillow to close it tightly.