Fragrant winter decoration: spiced oranges with cloves

When the fog hangs outside and the fairy lights glow inside, spiced oranges create a cozy atmosphere. This natural decoration looks beautiful, smells wonderful and is very easy to make with children. The combination of fresh peel and spicy cloves brings a fragrance into the home that is reminiscent of fairytale days and candlelight. At the same time, small works of art are created that look wonderful on windowsills, in flower arrangements or as table decorations. This craft idea is easy to make - ideal for a cozy Advent afternoon with the family.

What you need for 2 to 3 scented oranges

- 2 to 3 untreated oranges (organic quality)
- 1 packet of cloves (dried, whole)
- Optional: cinnamon sticks, star anise, string or fabric ribbon for decoration
- A toothpick or shashlik skewer (for pre-piercing)

This is how it works:

1. wash the oranges
Rinse the oranges with hot water and dry them well. The cloves will stick better this way.

2. think up a pattern
Think of a simple pattern: circles, stars, lines, hearts or even letters. If you like, you can make light markings with a felt-tip pen.

3. pre-pierce holes
Use a toothpick or wooden skewer to pierce small holes in the orange peel - where the cloves are to sit later. This makes it easier to insert them.

4. insert the cloves
Carefully insert the cloves into the prepared holes. For smaller children, it is advisable to prepare the holes and only insert the carnations.

5. decorating and placing
Arrange the finished spiced oranges on a plate with cinnamon sticks, fir branches or dried orange slices. If you like, you can tie a string or fabric ribbon around them - this looks particularly pretty.

Tip: The oranges will keep for around two to three weeks at room temperature. They dry out slowly in dry air and retain their fragrance. For a longer shelf life, you can also dry the oranges on the radiator or in the oven at a low temperature (around 50 degrees Celsius).

Have fun crafting and enjoy!