A colonial sweet bag is known by many names. ascent bag, scent bag, sweet bag, sachet bag, sachet de senteurs, spiced sachet, potpourri sachet, scented sachet, perfume cushion, smelling cushion, scented cushion, fragrant bag, pomander and dream pillow.
Many names but essentially it’s a small soft bag filled with sweet smelling things. They were a big deal in colonial days and Sage is going to show you how to make them!
How to Make a Colonial Sweet Bag Video Tutorial
Colonial Craft Supplies
VISIT SAGE’S COLONIAL CRAFT SUPPLY SHOPPE FOR ALL SUPPLIES
SEE ALL THE COLONIAL CRAFT VIDEO SERIES HERE
Actual 1700’s Sweet Bag Recipe:
Eight ounces of damask rose leaves, eight ounces of coriander seeds, eight ounces of sweet orriroot, eight ounces of calamus aromaticus, one ounce of mace, one ounce of cinnamon, half an ounce of cloves, four drachms of musk-powder, two drachms of white loaf sugar, three ounces of lavender flowers and some of Rhodium wood. Beat them well together and make them in small silk bags.
From Mrs. Glasses’ book The Art of Cookery, 1784
Step One
Prepare your work space. Try to have all your dried herbs in open bowls so you can smell them easily.
Step Two
Lay the square piece of cotton fabric out. You can use silk if you want but it can be a little slippery and hard to tie ribbon around.
Step Three
Add pinches of your choice of herbs in a pile in the middle of your cloth. Smell it to make sure you like the blend you are creating.
Step Four
Bring the four corners of the cloth together and twist it around the ingredients.
Step Five
Tie the ribbon around the sachet. Make sure to double knot it.
Step Six
Fluff it out on top and cut your ribbon. If the smell isn’t as strong as you’d like, pinch the sachet a little to release a stronger scent.
You Did it!
Now you can put your colonial sweet bag anyplace that could use some sweet smelling air! Gym bag, lockers, bathrooms, drawers, closets!
TIP: Home made sachets make thoughtful homemade gifts for teachers and family.
SEE ALL THE COLONIAL CRAFTING VIDEOS HERE
VISIT OUR AMAZON STORE TO SEE ALL KINDS OF FUN AMERICAN HISTORICAL SHOPPING
This is great!!! I will share this with my daughter. She teachers colonialism to 5th graders. Such a fun, experiential project.
Oh I’m so glad! I hope she likes the series! We have three done so far… next up is butter 🙂
I love these! Great little gifts. And your daughter in her dress is so perfect in her presentation.
Aw, thank you Cindy! She has fun doing it for sure
We used to make these when I was a teen. It was fun! Do you have a recommendation for a combination of scents that I can put in my teenage sons’ shoes? Good lord, we need something sweet!!!! 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
Actually…. You could put baking soda or charcoal in the sachet to absorb odors. Once the overall odors are under control, then you can think about a natural anti bacterial scent like eucalyptus or lavender. 🙂
Oh, I need a few of these to put in my car after a weekend of boondocking!!! Awesome summer project!
Oh yes for sure!!
Beautiful description of a lovely natural gift. Thank you.
I love the video! Sage, you did great! I enjoyed the history behind the sweet bags and learning how to make them. These sachets look easy and fun to make. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for watching!
Fun and cute! I love learning about colonial times and this is a great way to do a craft with a lesson!
I’m so glad you enjoyed! She is doing a whole series on Colonial Crafts and all of them have a history lesson in a totally Sage way. 🙂
Your daughter is a natural on camera, great video, and such a fun project!! I always enjoy seeing what new things you hold in store for us 🙂
Aw Angela, thank you! We enjoy doing them!!! How about you come over and cook your wonderfulness and we’ll make movies together? LOL
Such a fun idea !
Thank you! We think so!
Fun project for all! Great opportunity for those who can to forage for some of the ingredients.
Oh yes, I always think if you can dry your own ingredients it’s ideal but thankfully, we have links to make it super easy to grab everything already dried 🙂
Great easy gift idea. Love it! 😍
and one easy to personalize with favorite scents. 🙂
Oh MY so adorable! I teach 2nd grade and always begin the year with our “Then & Now” unit. I’m SO going to show this video and make the sachets next year. THANK YOU!
OH MY GOSH!!! YES!!! Be sure to schedule out her videos of how to make a quill pen and ink too! The kiddos will absolutely LOVE IT!!! For history and for Harry Potter fans!!! I’ll be so excited to hear how it goes 🙂
These are so cute! I am not very creative, but would love to try making these.
Yes! Do it! It will build your confidence 🙂
I loved these as a kid! Such a great idea for kids this summer!
YEAH! Useful summer projects! Not more ‘dustables’ or plastic stuff to find a place for LOL
These are so cool! Thank you!
I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the idea and the steps make it easy for kids to follow along.
Thank YOU for the feedback! That’s exactly what we were going for 🙂
These are so fun! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for taking the time to read and watch!
These would be fun to make and give as gifts. Homemade gifts are the best. Thx
They really are… and people appreciate the time and energy you put into them 🙂
What a fun and easy sachet to make and I am sure the kids would love to help too!
OH yes! for sure!!
I love sachets. I’ll need to make some at home. Hard to find exactly the scents I like in stores. Your video spokesperson is so sweet!
haha thank you! This was all her idea! Yes, I am actually pretty happy with what we found on Amazon. It’s why we put links for everyone to find easily.
So fun to make!! This would make wonderful gifts!!
Yes! Fun to make and special to give!! Perfect kiddo project!
I love making sachets! I’ve never tried this blend though, and think I’ll give it a try!
They are very therapeutic 🙂 I am a big fan of the fall scents but I’m also a big sucker for lavender too…
This is a great project for the little ones!
Yes it really is! And they make lovely home made gifts 🙂