There’s something about a little linen bag filled with dried flowers that feels both old-fashioned and completely timeless. Sachets have been around forever, and honestly? They deserve a comeback.
They’re one of those projects that look like you put in a lot more effort than you actually did. A handful of dried lavender, a small muslin bag, and suddenly your dresser drawers smell like a French flower farm. I’m not exaggerating when I say this is one of the simplest things you can make, and one of the most satisfying.
The best part is you don’t need a garden to make any of these. Dried lavender buds are easy to order online, roses can be dried from a grocery store bunch, and most of the other ingredients are pantry staples or a quick Amazon order away. If you do have a garden (hi, fellow cutting garden people), even better! Your dried flowers have a beautiful purpose now.
In this tutorial, I’m sharing 4 sachets you can make at home: a classic lavender drawer sachet, a rose petal sachet, a stinky shoe sachet, and a cedar closet sachet. Each one has its own ingredient list and simple steps, so you can jump to whichever one catches your eye first.
Let’s make something that smells amazing.
Welcome! I’m Jennifer, and I’ve always believed nature is the most beautiful art supply. For years, I’ve been preserving New England’s blooms and foliage through pressing, drying, and crafting. Let me show you how to capture a little bit of the season and bring it indoors—simply and beautifully.
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Make Your Bags Look Handmade (In the Best Way)
All of these sachets use the same 4×6-inch muslin drawstring bags. I ordered mine on Amazon, and they work perfectly. The size holds about 1 cup of mixture, which is just right for a drawer, closet, or shoe.
Before I filled any of the bags, I stamped the fronts with a floral stamp set and a purple ink pad. It takes about two minutes and makes them look like something you’d pay $12 for at a boutique. One tip I learned the hard way: use a damp paper towel to wipe off the excess ink on the edges of the stamp. Let the ink dry completely before filling.
Stamping The Sachet Bags
Insert a small piece of cardboard into the muslin bag to prevent the ink from seeping through to the back of the sachet bag.
Press your stamp into the ink pad, then wipe any excess ink off the edges before you stamp the bag; otherwise, you’ll get the outline of the stamp instead of just the design. Ask me how I know.
A fun tip from my friend Amy at amysadlerdesigns.com: try flipping the process around entirely, lay your stamp face-up and press the ink pad down onto it instead. It gives you more even coverage and way more control.
I stamped a few different patterns across the bags, but my favorite ended up being three lavender stems arranged in a loose cross; it just looks so intentional. The stamp set also came with a “handmade with love” script stamp that I am completely obsessed with. Fair warning: you’re going to be seeing that one again on future projects.
How to Make Sachets at Home: 4 Simple Recipes Using Dried Flowers & Herbs
Materials Used For The Sachets
This is the master list of the supplies you would need if you are making all 4 types of sachets.
Sachet 1: Classic Lavender Drawer Sachet
What you need:
- 1 cup dried lavender buds
- 1 muslin drawstring bag (4×6 inch)
- Optional: 8–10 drops lavender essential oil
This makes 1 sachet, so adjust measurements depending on how many you want to make.
Steps:
- If your lavender buds aren’t very fragrant, place them in a small bowl and sprinkle with 8–10 drops of lavender essential oil. Stir gently and let sit for 30 minutes or so before using. You want the oil to absorb before it goes in the bag.
- Spoon the lavender buds into your stamped muslin bag.
- Pull the drawstring tight and tuck it into a dresser drawer, linen closet, or anywhere you want a little freshness.
Tip: Lavender sachets last 6–12 months. When the scent starts to fade, give the bag a gentle squeeze to release more fragrance, or refresh with a few more drops of essential oil.
Sachet 2: Lavender & Rose
Makes 2 sachets
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup dried lavender buds
- 1 cup dried rose petals and small rosebuds
- 2 muslin drawstring bags (4×6 inch)
- 8–10 drops rose essential oil
If you want to mix it up, jasmine or geranium essential oil, both pair beautifully with rose and lavender; either one would be a lovely addition to the blend.
Steps:
- Combine the lavender buds and rose petals in a bowl and stir together.
- Sprinkle rose essential oil over the mixture and stir again to distribute.
- Let it sit for 20–30 minutes so the oil absorbs.
- Spoon about 1 cup of the mixture into each stamped muslin bag and pull the drawstrings tight.
For the rose petals, you have options: buy a pre-dried mix of petals and buds online, dry roses from your own garden, or just grab an inexpensive bouquet at Trader Joe’s. No rose garden required.
Simply hang the stems upside down in a warm spot for 1–2 weeks until fully dry, then strip the petals. Easy as that.
Sachet 3: Stinky Shoe Sachet
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup activated charcoal
- ½ cup dried eucalyptus (crumbled or loosely packed)
- ½ cup dried mint
- 10-15 drops of tea tree oil
- 2 muslin drawstring bags (4×6 inch)
Steps:
- Combine the activated charcoal, eucalyptus, and mint in a bowl.
- Sprinkle about 10-15 drops of tea tree oil over the mixture and stir everything together well.
- Spoon about 1 cup of the mixture into each stamped muslin bag and pull the drawstrings tight.
- Tuck one sachet into each shoe when you’re not wearing them.
The activated charcoal does the heavy lifting here! It absorbs moisture and odor naturally. The tea tree oil is a natural anti-fungal. The mint and the eucalyptus just make the whole thing smell like a spa instead of a gym bag!
These stinky shoe sachets perform double duty: throw one into your gym bag or, better yet, your kid’s sports gear bag.
Sachet 4: Closet Refresh
Makes 2 sachets
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup cedar
- ½ cup dried lavender buds
- ½ cup dried eucalyptus
- 2 muslin drawstring bags (4×6 inch)
Steps:
- Combine the cedar chips, lavender, & eucalyptus in a bowl and stir together.
- Spoon about 1 cup of the mixture into each stamped muslin bag and pull the drawstrings tight.
- Hang or tuck into your closet near wool sweaters, coats, or anywhere you want to deter moths and keep things smelling fresh.
Cedar is a natural moth repellent, so this one is as functional as it is pretty. If the cedar scent fades over time, you can add a few drops of cedarwood essential oil to refresh your sachet.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Sachets
They won’t last forever, but they’ll last a long time. Most sachets stay fragrant for 6–12 months. When the scent starts to fade, give the bag a gentle squeeze or massage it between your hands to release more fragrance from the dried ingredients inside.
Essential oil is your best friend for refreshing. A few drops of the corresponding essential oil right through the fabric. Lavender for the floral sachets, tea tree for the shoe sachets, cedarwood for the closet ones, and they smell brand new again.
Make extra mixture and save it. If you’re already measuring everything out, make a double batch and store the extra in a sealed jar. Refilling a sachet takes about thirty seconds!
These make the sweetest handmade gifts. Tuck two or three into a little basket with a candle or a bar of soap, and you have a thoughtful, personal gift that looks like it came from a boutique. Nobody needs to know how simple they were to make.
Now It’s Your Turn!
Sachets are one of those projects that punch way above their weight. A little dried lavender, a stamped muslin bag, ten minutes of your time and your dresser drawers smell incredible for the better part of a year. That’s a pretty good return on investment.
Once you make your first batch, you’ll start seeing opportunities everywhere. The linen closet. The gym bag. The guest room. A housewarming gift. They’re small, but they make a home feel so intentional and cared for, which is kind of the whole point, isn’t it?
I’d love to know which blend you try first. Drop a comment below and let me know!
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Homemade Sachets
Shop the supplies to make your own homemade sachets.
See your projects featured! If you are inspired by this or any of my other DIY projects, I would love to see them and add you to the Reader’s Spotlight gallery. Send a photo to me at jennifer@cottageonbunkerhill.com
xo, Jennifer
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