pourri

Pourri is a French term that appears in English mainly in the compound potpourri, a fragrant mixture used to scent interiors. In French, pourri means rotten or spoiled, and pot-pourri literally translates as rotten pot. The expression reflects an early practice of placing a vessel of decaying plant matter with aromatics; over time, the recipe evolved to use dried petals and oils to produce a lasting fragrance.

In practice, potpourri consists of dried flower petals, bark, fragrant spices, and aromatics such as rose, lavender, citrus peel, cinnamon, cloves, and orris root. The materials may be treated with essential oils or fixatives to help retain scent. Potpourri is commonly placed in shallow bowls, decorative containers, or sachets and kept in a cool, dry, well‑ventilated area away from direct sunlight for best color and fragrance. Fragrance fades over months and is periodically refreshed by adding new materials or re‑scenting oils.

In modern usage, potpourri is primarily a home fragrance product, but the term is also used metaphorically to describe a miscellaneous mixture of items or topics. The spelling pourri is less common in English and generally appears in French usage or as a nonstandard variant.