Pomanders were popular in the medieval period and early modern Europe as objects of personal hygiene and self-care. This pomander, with its bulbous lower part, borrows its shape and name from an apple (pomme in French). When the tapered finial is unscrewed, the body opens, revealing eight compartments that fold down. Each is labeled with the name of a substance or plant appreciated for its scent, including rose, cedar, orange, and clove. When worn around the neck or suspended from a girdle hung around the waist, the pomander could be lifted to the nose and sniffed whenever the surrounding air smelled unpleasant. Many of the spices and other elements it contained were believed to have medicinal properties, bringing together the kitchen garden and apothecary in miniature form, to be carried when venturing out into the world.

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