Come May, there’s nothing quite like that classic lilac scent wafting through our backyards and local parks. It’s one of those smells you just wish you could bottle up and keep forever, right? Well, good news: you actually can! By drying lilac blossoms, you can preserve that spring magic long after the flowers have faded from the bushes.
Bring that Spring Scent Indoors
Lilacs are a huge favorite for gardeners everywhere. Most of us love to cut a fresh bouquet for a vase, but drying the blooms is a fantastic way to extend the experience. Just a quick heads-up, though: dried lilacs are strictly for decoration and fragrance. They are definitely not edible and are actually mildly toxic. Even though they smell like heaven, they taste pretty awful—that extreme bitterness is nature’s way of telling you to keep them out of the kitchen!
One of the best ways to use your dried blossoms is in a homemade potpourri. If you mix them with other fragrant favorites like roses or lavender, you get a really beautiful, balanced scent. Use it to freshen up a room or toss a small sachet into your linen closet or dresser drawers. And here’s a pro tip: don’t stop at the flowers! Lilac bark and leaves also have a lovely aromatic quality and can be dried right along with the blooms.
The Best Way to Dry Lilac Blossoms
To make sure your lilacs stay fragrant and don’t get moldy, you’ll want to dry them thoroughly. The best time to harvest is on a dry, sunny morning. Gently pluck the individual tiny florets from the main clusters and spread them out in a single layer on some paper towels or a clean cotton cloth. The drying process usually takes a few days. You’ll want to find a spot that’s warm and dark—a sunny windowsill will actually bleach the color out of the petals, and a damp basement is too chilly for a good dry.
Once they’re nice and crispy, you can store them in small linen bags tied shut with a bit of twine. I wouldn’t recommend sewing the bags shut; that way, you can easily swap out the contents when the scent eventually starts to fade. If you aren’t using the flowers right away, keep them in a sealed glass jar in a dark cupboard. Beyond potpourri, these dried gems are great for making lilac bath bombs or DIY scented oils. If you’re looking to create a custom scent blend, lilac plays beautifully with:
- Jasmine
- Myrtle
- Violet
- Rose
- Lavender
- Sandalwood
- Cedar