Customers had long been asking for a European-style potpourri for their porcelain and other decorative bowls...and that was the inspiration for tossing the first batch of Bitter Orange potpourri in the back room of the little Agraria shop in 1970.

Bowls and other vessels filled with Agraria potpourri are still considered a “must have” in well-appointed homes, so keep it stocked all year long.

First tossed in sheets in the back room of the Agraria shop on Nob Hill in 1970, it's best described by the New York Times as "uplifting, mysterious and androgynous in its appeal." With roses from Bulgaria, lavender from France, rosemary from Spain and rose hips from Chile, we still hand-pack each box and decorate the top with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and dried zinnias or hydrangeas, depending on the season. Over 40 years later, people still refer to it as "Park Avenue Potpourri."

The same wonderful essential oils that are infused in each blend are also available to refresh your potpourri at a future date. Use the glass eye dropper to spruce up the fragrance just before a party, or toss the potpourri in a plastic bag with the entire bottle of oil.