From Booklist
One of the most humorous oxymorons of all times must be the derivation of the word potpourri, originally meaning "rotten pot." Yet nothing could smell sweeter and less odoriferous than herbalist Williams' 35 fragrant mixes and 19 giftables. In a meandering layout and text that suggests romance and Victoriana, she explains to readers all the right stuff in the three main categories of potpourri ingredients--bulk botanicals, natural fixatives, and oils--and demonstrates, usually in words, various drying techniques. Then the recipes appear, all titled to evoke different moods and usefulness and all including preparation time and details of the assembly process. From those 35 flow the crafts--stuffed, filled, strung, rolled, and hung with appropriate combinations of plants and oils. Directions for each come with step-by-step color photographs (which could have been snapped with a better close-up angle). Barbara Jacobs
