How To Make Stovetop Potpourri: 3 Simmer Pot Recipes (2024)

How To Make Stovetop Potpourri: 3 Simmer Pot Recipes (1)

One thing I love about stovetop potpourri is that I can easily recreatescents from fond childhood memories. A simmering pot of baking spices and fresh citrus, for instance, will make your home smell like Christmas in no time flat. They’re the sort of scents that transport me to holidays gone by when our whole house smelled like Mom’s delicious cooking, and it’s like getting an instant dose of holiday spirit!

But simmering potpourri doesn’t have to be something you only do during the holidays. In this post, I’m sharing a few recipes for homemade stovetop potpourri (or simmer pots, as some people call them) that will fill your home with mood-boosting fragrances.

The first is full ofholiday scents that are perfect for the winter season (it makes a great gift idea for the holidays for that reason!), the second is like a fresh spring breeze, and the third potpourri will have your house smelling just like fall.Stovetop potpourri is one of my favorite ways to make the house smell great, and it adds moisture to dry winter air, too, so it’s a real win-win!

Still have a few names to cross off your gift list? Keep scrolling for simple instructions for giving these potpourri mixtures as gifts!

3 Stove Top Potpourri Recipes That Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing

Note: These recipes are a great way to use up less-than-fresh and sad-looking produce. Those dry, shriveled citrus fruits may not taste very good, but work just fine for potpourri!

How To Make Stovetop Potpourri: 3 Simmer Pot Recipes (2)

1. Scents Of The Holiday Season (Orange, Cranberry, & Baking Spices)

This potpourri features the “Greatest Hits” of holiday aromas: sunny citrus, tart cranberries, and warm baking spices. If you’re looking to generate maximum Christmas cheer, simmering this stove top potpourri will get the job done in record time.

Ingredients:

  • 1 mandarin orange, sliced
  • 2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
  • 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
  • 1 tsp whole cloves

Optional additions: Add other whole spices like whole nutmeg or whole allspice, or try lemon peels, dried orange peels, or even some fresh pine needles. Bulk spices can be surprisingly inexpensive, as well as the bagged spices and herbs you can typically find near the bottled spices. If you don’t mind cellophane and paper packaging, you can get bay leaves, rosemary, and more for a lot less money that way!

How To Make Stovetop Potpourri: 3 Simmer Pot Recipes (3)

2. Smells Like Williams Sonoma (Lemon, Rosemary, & Vanilla)

If you’re looking for a less traditional holiday scent that still fits the season, try this one on for size. This Williams Sonoma stove top potpourri recipe was inspired by the signature scent used in its stores, and has a fresh, comforting scent that will make any space feel more cozy and inviting.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lemon, sliced
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
How To Make Stovetop Potpourri: 3 Simmer Pot Recipes (4)

3. Perfect Fall Potpourri(Apple, Ginger & Baking Spices)

Is there any scent more enticing than fresh apples and baking spices? Yes — it’s apples, baking spices, and fresh ginger. Simmer this concoction on your stovetop to fill your home with the scents of delicious apple-filled desserts, minus the temptation of actual desserts.

Ingredients:

  • 1 apple, sliced into wedges
  • 2 whole star anise (or a big pinch of anise seed)
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
  • 3 slices fresh ginger, about the size of quarters
How To Make Stovetop Potpourri: 3 Simmer Pot Recipes (5)

How To Use Simmering Potpourri

Add the ingredients to a small pot, then add enough water to fill it to about 1 inch shy of the top the rim. Bring it to a boil on your stove top, then reduce to low heat and simmer. You can keep it simmering as long as you like — just be sure to keep an eye on the pot and add water as needed so it doesn’t dry out. (Boiling the water in an electric kettle first will quickly get it back to a simmer!)

You can also bring the potpourri to a boil on your stove, then transfer it to your slow cooker to keep it warm. The recipes will work great as written for a smalldip-sized crockpot, but you can easily double or triple them for a standard-sized crockpot.

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You may be able to use the same batch of stovetop potpourri two days in a row if you cover it tightly and keep it in the fridge overnight. But all of these recipes use inexpensive and simple ingredients, so it’s not a big commitment to make a fresh batch!

If you like the idea of being able to see as well as smell your stove top potpourri simmering away, you might like an attractiveglass simmer pot. Some simmer pots even come with a little hot plate you can use to heat them, leaving your stove free for cooking Christmas dinner!

How To Make Stovetop Potpourri: 3 Simmer Pot Recipes (7)

How To Store Potpourri

Dry stovetop potpourri can last up to a few months if stored in a tightly sealed container away from heat and light. Glass tends to keep it smelling fresh longer. If you plan to make Christmas potpourri ahead of time, dry any fruits or flowers in your oven on the lowest setting, or use a food dehydrator.

If your simmering potpourri starts to lose its scent, you can either make a new batch, add some fresh ingredients to it, or add a few drops of essential oils. Once it starts to steam on the stove it will put out plenty of scent. (You can leave your dry potpourri out in a basket or bowl if you prefer, but it will lose its aroma quite a bit faster!)

How To Make Stovetop Potpourri: 3 Simmer Pot Recipes (8)

BONUS: Give Simmering Potpourri Ingredients As A Gift!

Easy stovetop potpourri makes a great gift idea! Homemade gifts are always appreciated, and you can make several jars of potpourri at the same time to give as hostess gifts, teacher’s gifts, or to give to your neighbors. Just add a pretty ribbon and a handwritten gift tag — a small sprig of pine tied to the ribbon would be a nice touch, too!

Don’t forget to attach a card with instructions for preparing any ingredients that aren’t ready to simmer as is (ex. “slice the orange”) and simmering the potpourri mixture on the stove or in a slow cooker.

For an extra special gift, put a large batch of homemade Christmas stove top potpourri in a cellophane bag and put the bag in a beautiful glass simmer pot or small crockpot. This would be an especially great gift for a new homeowner!

Have you tried a stovetop potpourri for holiday ambience?

Christmas Simmering Potpourri Recipe

Jill Nystul

This simmering potpourri makes it easy to fill your home with the scents of the holiday season, and is guaranteed to improve levels of Christmas spirit!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Yield 1 stovetop potpourri

Equipment

  • Small pot

Ingredients

  • 1 orange sliced
  • 2 cinnamon sticks broken in half
  • 1/2 cup whole cranberries
  • 1 teaspoon cloves whole or ground
  • 4 cups water

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients to a small pot, then add water until it reaches about one inch below the rim.

    How To Make Stovetop Potpourri: 3 Simmer Pot Recipes (10)

  • Set the pot on your stove and bring the water to a simmer, then drop the heat down to low. Simmer the potpourri mixture as long as you want, adding water as necessary to keep it from drying out.

    How To Make Stovetop Potpourri: 3 Simmer Pot Recipes (11)

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How To Make Stovetop Potpourri: 3 Simmer Pot Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I put in my simmer pot to make my house smell good? ›

Bring a saucepan of water to a boil, then add ingredients like apples, oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, cranberries, nutmeg, vanilla, and more, and keep the water at a simmer to fill your home with a beautiful autumnal aroma.

How to make potpourri on the stove? ›

Directions. Add all orange, apple, cranberries, rosemary, cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla bean or vanilla extract, and water to a large pot. Bring to a simmer over low heat for as many hours as desired, keeping an eye on the pot to check water level, adding water as needed throughout the day.

How do you simmer pots to get rid of odors? ›

A simmer pot is simply a pot, usually a Dutch oven, filled with water and aromatics (like herbs and spices) for the express purpose of making a space smell good. Rather than relying on scented candles, people are turning to natural stovetop potpourri concoctions or simmer pot recipes.

How do you make homemade potpourri? ›

Instructions for DIY Potpourri
  1. In a large bowl, combine your dried flowers, herbs, and spices in your desired proportions. ...
  2. Add essential oil drops according to your scent level preference.
  3. Sprinkle Orris root powder over the mixture in a ratio of one tablespoon of fixative to two cups of dried material.
Oct 19, 2023

How long does it take a simmer pot to smell? ›

Simply fill a large pot ¾ full with water over medium-high heat. Add the ingredients to the pot and bring everything to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and let everything simmer for 2-3 hours. Throughout the simmer, add additional water as needed to keep the sweet-scented smell filling the room.

How do you make potpourri step by step? ›

Basic Method to make Potpourri

Combine the flowers and leaves in a large bowl. Add the spice blend. Mix to ensure even distribution of the spices. Place the potpourri in a large, lidded jar or bowl and place in the dark to cure for six around weeks, stirring or shaking daily.

How do you make potpourri smell stronger? ›

How do you make potpourri smell stronger? Two trusty ways to make your potpourri smell stronger are to add more essential oil to the mixture every so often or to agitate it. Shake the container or stir the potpourri to release more scent.

How long does homemade stovetop potpourri last? ›

Dried potpourri will last 10 to 14 days in an airtight jar. Once you begin simmering your potpourri, the mixture will remain fresh and fragrant for several day.

Are simmer pots bad for you? ›

"The simmer pot is a non-toxic way to make your home smell like the holidays. Instead of burning a scented candle, which oftentimes have added chemicals, you can simmer the pot on the stove for a more natural aroma," Beck says. "It's better for you and makes your home smell wonderful."

Can you boil vanilla extract to make house smell good? ›

Fill the pan with water, then add some cinnamon sticks and whole cloves. Sprinkle in a little ground cinnamon if you want. Now here's the secret: Add a teaspoon or more of vanilla extract. Simmer on the stovetop, being careful not to let the water boil away.

How do you make moist potpourri? ›

Wet potpourri method
  1. Allow your flowers and leaves to wilt overnight, but do not dry them further. ...
  2. Press the layered mixture down with a weighted saucer to remove air pockets, seal tightly, and leave to cure.
Sep 20, 2014

How to make your house smell good with orange peels and cinnamon? ›

All you need is orange peel and cinnamon for a delicious scent. Some other great add-ins are cranberries, apple peels or rosemary. In a large pot filled ¾ the way with water, add the orange peels, cinnamon sticks and cranberries, and any other add-ins.. Bring to a boil then simmer for 20-30 minutes.

How to make mint potpourri? ›

Potpourri: Take advantage of mint's fresh, clean scent by making DIY potpourri! Dry mint leaves in your oven at the lowest temperature. Once dried, chop slightly and put into a piece of cheesecloth tied with a ribbon for a mild air freshener.

Can you put essential oils in a simmer pot? ›

A teaspoon of vanilla extract also makes a simmer pot smell divine; or, add a few drops of your favorite therapeutic essential oils to create a custom scent. To start your simmer pot, fill a small pot halfway with water and stir in your spices, herbs, peels, or fruits.

Can you put anything in a simmer pot? ›

You can put a number of things in a simmering pot to make them smell amazing — herbs, flowers, spices, and fruit are popular choices. Typically, anything fragrant or in a scent you like can work well in a simmer pot.

Can you boil lemon juice to make your house smell good? ›

Natural Home Fragrance

If you have any unwanted odors in your home, lemon can help you mask them until you figure out the source. To do so, simmer a half dozen lemon slices and a handful of cloves in a pan of water. The mixture will leave the air lemony fresh.

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