How to Create an Orange Pomander Tree

I’ve always been so intrigued by the clove-studded oranges I’d see featured in magazines and scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram during the Christmas season.

The decorative oranges looked so festive and elegant among Christmas decor, greenery and seasonal tablescapes. Not only do these oranges adorned with cloves look beautiful, but I can imagine they give off a wonderful aroma.

These charming orange beauties are called pomanders, from the French word “pomme d’ambre”, which means apple of amber. The orange pomanders rose to popularity in the Middle Ages as a way for people to mask off foul odors in their homes.

The clove studded oranges were also used to make homes smell fresh and fragrant when guests came to visit.

The fragrance was lovely and inviting, therefore pomanders would frequently be used at Christmas time for gatherings and events. Both functional and decorative, the pomanders became a staple item to set out during the Christmas season.

This year, I challenged myself to create a pomander tower for the holidays. It turned out amazing and smelled oh so heavenly. It took some time, but overall, it was pretty simple to construct.

If you want to create an over-the-top stunning orange pomander tree this Christmas, below are the items you will need:

• Whole Cloves – https://amzn.to/3KTN7Ig
• Foam Cone 4×13.5 inches – https://amzn.to/3KAz1eR
• Clementines (I used 35 to cover a 4×13.5 inch cone)
• Toothpicks
• Fresh Evergreen branches
• Cake stand or platter

*Step 1: Create Pomanders: Before you can build your tower, you need to create a collection of orange pomanders. Before I did this, I looked at pomanders on Pinterest to figure out which patterns I wanted to create. Classic designs typically include stripes, plaid, spirals, or full coverage.

Tip: for straight lines, you use a rubber band as a guide. The cloves have sharp ends, so you may merely push them into the orange, or you can use a toothpick to poke holes beforehand. Both methods work.

I chose three different patterns, crisscross with two rows, crisscross with four rows, and a simple polka dot type pattern. You can use varying patterns or go for a uniformed look. You are the designer here. Do what speaks to you and have fun with it.

*Step 2: Construct: Now that you have your collection of pomanders ready, the fun can begin! Starting from the bottom, poke the toothpicks into the Styrofoam cone and add the pomanders one by one.

Strive to keep the clementines closer together to minimize space in between. The key is to disguise the cone beneath. Don’t stress if any foam shows through at this stage because it will be covered up in the next step with greenery.

Because I made three different pomander designs, I rotated the pattern to keep things looking interesting. You are the artist here. Whatever you think looks good, go with that and have a blast doing it.

Step 3: Embellish: Now that you created an orange masterpiece, it’s time to make your tower even more magical by adding the fresh Evergreen branches. Carefully trim branches with scissors and place the greenery in between the pomanders to fill in gaps.

Keep adding the greenery until you cannot see the cone beneath. You may keep branches longer or trim them shorter. You decide what look you want to create.

Subtle, with shorter branches or more dramatic with longer stems popping out. Whatever you do, it will be nothing short of amazing!

*Step 4: Final Placement: Once your pomander tower is completed, place it on a cake stand, platter or tray of your choice. Because a tower of this size, with 35 clementines, can be quite heavy, you may decide to place it on the platter as you construct and embellish. I did this because I felt it was getting heavy as I was building the tower. This depends on the size and weight of your tower. Use your best judgement here.

*Step 5: Admire and Display: You created a stunning showpiece! Stand back and admire your work. Proudly display your pomander tower in a place where it can be seen and applauded. Also, put it somewhere where guests can breathe it in and enjoy the fresh citrus aroma. Be sure to take photographs of this beautiful clove-studded splendor.

*Helpful Information:

• Creating this tower took me about three hours, but it involved using a larger cone, 35 clementines and creating multiple pomander patterns. Smaller towers will yield less time.
• Refrigerate your clove-studded orange pomander tower when not displayed to prevent mold and extend its life span. Cold temperatures, 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal to store citrus. I stored mine in the garage at night.

If you are interested in creating other types of topiaries, then check out my other blog posts, How to Create a Beautiful Truffle Tree for Valentine’s Day, How to Create a Fresh Fruit Topiary – Five Steps or How to Make an Awesome Croquembouche.

Happy Holidays!