Malka Pomanders

Pomanders are an essential item in our Christmas range. They combine the traditional fragrances of frankincense, myrrh and sandalwood. Studded with cloves and rolled in crushed spices and resins, pomanders are fragrant ornaments for the Christmas tree, attractively spicy table decorations, and can be used after Christmas to store linen or to perfume rooms.

Medieval pomander

Handy Hints - Pomanders were traditionally made by studding a fresh orange, lemon or apple with cloves, and then tying them with ribbons or placing them in muslin bags. To finish, pomanders could also be rolled in spices.
16th Century Tudor Pomander (Windsor Castle, The Round Tower Collection)

Hung in wardrobes and cupboards as insect repellents, pomanders were also carried to prevent disease and to repel the odors of unsanitary cities.

 A parcel-gilt silver pomander, made in Italy in the 16th century; features a niello inscription

"Justinian" - a  blogger who found the medieval pomander pictured above with a metal detector - informs us so eloquently:

'A pomander, from French pomme d'ambre, i.e. apple of amber, is a ball made of perfumes, such as ambergris (whence the name), musk, or civet. The pomander was worn or carried in a vase, also known by the same name, as a protection against infection in times of pestilence or merely as a useful article to modify bad smells. The globular cases which contained the pomanders were hung from a neck-chain or belt, or attached to the girdle, and were usually perforated.
The term “pomander” can be for the actual scented material itself or for the container that contains the scented material'