Dried flowers are real flowers naturally dehydrated, whereas preserved flowers are made using real flowers that are bleached, dyed and (sometimes) glued to resemble the real bloom.
Here we have listed eight major differences between the two popular forms of flowers in the market.
Difference #1: The shape and form
Dried flowers: Flowers usually shrink in size when dried. A lot of them won't retain their shapes and texture when naturally dried (like roses, lilies, carnations). But some do (e.g. paper daisies, Kangaroo paws, etc).
Preserved flowers: Preserved flowers (such as roses, carnations and chrysanthemum) can retain the perfect shape and forms almost identical to the fresh ones.
Difference #2: The colour
Dried flowers: Natural colours or faded colours in an earthy tone.
Preserved flowers: Artificial colours to mimic natural colours or in completely unnatural shade.
Difference #3: The touch and feel
Dried flowers: Brittle or papery. Prone to breakage or shedding.
Preserved flowers: Soft, bendable and not prone to breakage or shedding. Some (like preserved roses or carnations) have a plastic feel when touched.
Difference #4: The smell
Dried flowers: Some retain its natural aroma (such as eucalyptus or lavender) but most have no fragrance. Some may have very faint mushy smell if not stored properly.
Preserved flowers: Some have no smell but most have a chemical smell and not very pleasant.
Difference #5: The shelf-life
Dried flowers: 6 months to 2 years. The natural colours will gradually fade away or the blooms will start to disintegrate.
Preserved flowers: 1-2 years minimum, but the dyed colour will bleach out.
Difference #6: Production methods
Dried flowers: Fresh flowers are naturally dried on drying racks or by hanging upside down.
Preserved flowers: Fresh flowers are dried, bleached, chemically treated, and dyed and sometimes glued.
Difference #7: Product source
Dried flowers: Some are locally grown/produced. Some are imported from overseas.
Preserved flowers: Most preserved flowers sold in Australia are imported from overseas. Only a few varieties (such as glycerine-preserved eucalyptus) may be produced by local floral farms.
Difference #8: Carbon footprint and sustainability
Dried flowers: Locally grown/produced dried flowers have a smaller carbon footprint than preserved flowers.
Preserved flowers: Have a large carbon footprint, as most preserved flowers sold in Australia are imported from overseas.
Flower preserving is an artificial process.
Preserving flowers involves drying, bleaching, dying and gluing. Chemicals and man-made materials are used in the process. Although those techniques help preserve and vividly recreate the beauty of flowers, they are not ec0-friendly and environmentally-friendly.
As all preserved flowers sold in Australia are imported from overseas, they also have a larger carbon footprint.
How to tell the flowers in the shop are dried flowers or preserved flowers?
Confusingly, many preserved flowers are now sold under the umbrella of dried flowers or everlasting flowers, alongside with naturally dried flowers. Many floral arrangement may use both preserved and dried flowers.
To find out what exactly you are buying, check the colour, texture and smell of the flowers/floral arrangement. If the colour does not look natural, the touch is bit like touching soft plastic, and/or there is a chemical smell, they are most likely preserved flowers. If unsure, you can always ask the shop.
Where to buy naturally dried flowers?
Whenever possible, we encourage you to always buy from the local growers. This is more eco-friendly, sustainable and budget friendly. If high quality dried flowers are hard to find, consider buying fresh blooms and drying them yourself. Local farmers' markets or flower shops are always the best place to start with.
Thanks for reading this article. Please complete an anonymous survey and let us know your view on dried and preserved flowers.
A quick survey: Will you consider buying dried flowers next time?
Yes, dried flowers always!
No, I will still buy preserved flowers.
Maybe, but I will consider both dried and preserved flowers,
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