30 Amazing Simmer Pot Recipes for Every Season (2024)

Keep your home smelling amazing all year round using these 30 simmer pot recipes! These simmering potpourri ideas are a fabulous way to freshen up your home!

30 Amazing Simmer Pot Recipes for Every Season (1)
30 Amazing Simmer Pot Recipes for Every Season (2)

Making your home smell amazing is just as important as decorating it and simmer pots are one of the mostfrugal ways to do it!

In terms of quality, you won’t be trading anything compared to store-bought potpourri, scented candles, and other types of air fresheners.

Those are usually full of artificial perfume and other chemicals so making a simmer pot is the better option for your health as well, not just your budget!

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What Are Simmer Pots Or Stove-Top Potpourri?

Simmer pots are regular pots filled with water and various ingredients thatneed to bubble gently on the stove-top to release amazing scents into your home and freshen up the air.

What can I boil to make my house smell good?

Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes are very popular ingredients in simmering potpourri recipes but so are herbs such as rosemary and lavender, as well as spices.

Safe to say, you can easily customize a simmer pot to your liking and you can even prepare the combination of dry ingredients in advance and store them in jars or bags until they’re ready to use or even give them as gifts and party favors!

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Tips & Tricks For Using Simmer Pots

An slow-cooker or Crock-Pot can be very convenient especially if you are already cooking on the stove-top and there is no space available for your simmer pot.

Keep in mind that regardless if you use the stove top or a small Crock-Pot you will still need to regularly check the simmering potpourri and add more water if necessary.

Once they cool down and you drain the excess water you can refrigerate your simmer pot ingredients and reuse them several times. Simply add a few more fresh spices every time you heat them up to keep the scents strong enough to fill your home.

SHOP SLOW COOKER OR SIMMER POTS HERE:

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How can I make my house smell good with orange peels?

Stove-top potpourri is quite frugal, and even more if you think ahead and store the peels from oranges, lemons, apples, and pears instead of discarding them.

You can keep them in the freezer and use them as needed. Also, keep an eye out for outdated spices on sale at your local grocery stores. You might not be able to eat them but they will be perfect for your simmer pots!

What can I boil to freshen the air?

There are so many possible combinations of stove-top potpourri you can create and just as many types of scents from fruity to spicy or herbal.

To get you started on your homemade simmer pot adventures, here are some of my favorite stove top potpourri recipes that will hopefully convince you to make your own.

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30 Recipes for Simmering Potpourri

For pictures and descriptions of each recipe, please scroll down.

  1. Orange Juniper Rosemary Pot Simmerfrom rhubarbarians.com
  2. Apple Pear Cinnamon Potpourrifrom julieblanner.com
  3. Lemon Lavender Herb Simmer Potfrom getgreenbewell.com
  4. Rose Eucalyptus Simmering Potpourrifrom getgreenbewell.com
  5. How To Make Lilac Potpourrifrom experimentalhomesteader.com
  6. DIY Orange Cinnamon Simmering Potpourrifrom bitzngiggles.com
  7. Autumn-Scented Stove Top Air Freshenerfrom daisiesandpie.co.uk
  8. Fall Simmering Potpourrifrom thefreshcooky.com
  9. Apple Cinnamon Potpourri Crock Pot Recipefrom getgreenbewell.com
  10. Autumn Slow Cooker Simmer Potfrom thehappierhomemaker.com
  11. Fall Stove-top Potpourri Recipefrom lydioutloud.com
  12. DIY Fall Stove-top Potpourrifrom bybrittanygoldwyn.com
  13. Scents Of Fall Simmer Pot Recipefrom satoridesignforliving.com
  14. Fall Simmering Potpourri Recipesfrom cleanandscentsible.com
  15. Make An Intoxicating Fall Stove Top Potpourrifrom makelifelovely.com
  16. Simmering Christmas Potpourrifrom tidymom.net
  17. Christmas Simmering Spicesfrom thefreshcooky.com
  18. Homemade Potpourri For The Holidaysfrom tosimplyinspire.com
  19. Winter Simmer Potfrom thehappierhomemaker.com
  20. DIY Holiday Crock-Pot Potpourrifrom sugarandsoul.co
  21. Christmas Stove-top Potpourrifrom bybrittanygoldwyn.com
  22. Stove Top Potpourri Gift Idea & Free Printablefrom deliacreates.com
  23. Homemade Dry Holiday Potpourrifrom tidbits-cami.com
  24. 3 Holiday Pot Simmer Recipesfrom helloglow.co
  25. Lemon And Rosemary Stove-top Potpourrifrom homecookingmemories.com
  26. Easy Citrus & Rosemary Simmer Potfrom fivemarigolds.com
  27. Lime & Rosemary Fresh Simmer Potfrom gluesticksgumdrops.com
  28. 3 Spring Stove Top Potpourri Recipesfrom gatheringdreams.com
  29. Uplifting Rosemary Citrus Pot Simmerfrom helloglow.co
  30. Citrus Simmering Potfrom thehappierhomemaker.com

Fresh Simmer Pot Recipes

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This simmer pot recipe smells fruity and herbal at the same time. It will give your home a fresh and clean scent everyone will love!

Orange Juniper Rosemary from rhubarbarians.com

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Making your own stove-top potpourri is super easy and this post will teach you everything you need to know and more.

How To Make Potpourri from julieblanner.com

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Lavender is known for its calming and stress-relieving properties so don’t hesitate to use it in your simmer pots when you want to relax.

Lemon Lavender Herb from getgreenbewell.com

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What can you do with a bouquet of roses that are starting to fade? Use the petals in a simmer pot along with other herbs to make your own all-natural air freshener.

Rose Eucalyptusfrom getgreenbewell.com

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The smell of lilac issubtle and very popular in potpourri recipes. Click the link to learn how to dry and preserve lilac flowers without destroying their scent so you can have them on hand for your simmer pots!

How To Make Lilac Potpourri from experimentalhomesteader.com

Fall Simmer Pot Recipes

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Welcome the fall season with one of these fabulous fall simmer pot recipes!

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Make your home smell like fall without breaking a sweat with this easy 3 ingredient simmering potpourri recipe.

DIY Simmering Potpourri from bitzngiggles.com

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Here’s a more complex autumn simmering potpourri recipe that turns fruits and spices into a wonderfully smelling concoction that will fill up your home.

Autumn-Scented Stove Top Air Freshener from daisiesandpie.co.uk

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This simmer pot seems like a professionally-made mix as it contains a richness of ingredients including apple, lemon, & orange slices, but also plenty of spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice. Herbs are not forgotten either as your pot will slowly release mild scents of rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves.

Fall Simmering Potpourrifrom thefreshcooky.com

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You can easily use your Crock-Pot for your simmering potpourri and this recipe has been created with that in mind. The smell of oranges, apples, rosemary, and cinnamon is absolutely delightful!

Apple Cinnamon Potpourri Crock Pot Recipe from getgreenbewell.com

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The delicious scent of fall is enriched in this stove-top recipe for simmering potpourri by the pumpkin pie spice.

Autumn Slow Cooker Simmer Pot from thehappierhomemaker.com

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This fall homemade potpourri recipe has the option of using apple cider instead of water, which is definitely worth trying.

Fall Stove-top Potpourri Recipe from lydioutloud.com

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Here’s a clever idea. Dry your potpourri ingredients first and store them in jars for later use or simply to give them as gifts.

DIY Fall Stove-top Potpourrifrom bybrittanygoldwyn.com

Crabapples make an excellent ingredient for fall simmering potpourri and you can use the ones that are past their prime. It doesn’t matter for simmering anyway.

Scents Of Fall Recipe from satoridesignforliving.com

30 Amazing Simmer Pot Recipes for Every Season (20)

This post containstwo different fall recipes: pumpkin spice and apple pie. I’m sure both smell amazing.

Fall Simmering Potpourri Recipes from cleanandscentsible.com

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If you enjoy stronger scents this recipe contains cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and cloves so your potpourri will have a spicy kick that might trick your family into thinking that you’re baking!

Make An Intoxicating Fall Stove Top Potpourri from makelifelovely.com

Christmas Simmer Pot Recipes

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30 Amazing Simmer Pot Recipes for Every Season (23)

If you’ve ever wondered, “what can I boil to make my house smell like Christmas?” then these recipes are for you!

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Christmas is the perfect time to heat up a simmer pot on the stove. The warm holiday scent will bring the Christmas spirit into your home thanks to the seasonal spices used such as star anise, cloves, and fresh pine along with cranberries, and oranges.

Simmering Christmas Potpourri from tidymom.net

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Keep in mind you can always prepare a potpourri mix as a gift and this post will teach you how to make it perfect for Christmas.

Christmas Simmering Spices from thefreshcooky.com

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Cranberries, oranges, lemons, as well as spices, will release a lovely scent perfect for Christmas eve and family gatherings during the holidays.

Homemade Potpourri For The Holidays from tosimplyinspire.com

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I love the idea of adding fir tree branches to a winter simmer pot, this ingredient is perfect for the cold season!

Winter Simmer Pot from thehappierhomemaker.com

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This Christmas Crock-Pot potpourri looks so good you could eat it, and you probably can. A complex mix of winter fruit, herbs, and spices including mint that will give your simmer pot a refreshing smell perfect if someone in your family has a cold or the flu.

DIY Holiday Crock-Pot Potpourri from sugarandsoul.co

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Pine needles are another excellent ingredient for a Christmas potpourri especially if you live in an area where they are readily available.

Christmas Stove-top Potpourrifrom bybrittanygoldwyn.com

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It looks like stove-top potpourri makes a wonderful gift idea and you can learn how to make your own by visiting the link below. I think you can also use them as Christmas party favors!

Stove Top Potpourri Gift Idea & Free Printable from deliacreates.com

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Dry potpourri can last a long time when stored properly and the guide blow has all the information you need on how to dry the ingredients as well as three different potpourri mixes. When the time comes, just dump the ingredients in a small pot, add water, and simmer!

Homemade Dry Holiday Potpourri from tidbits-cami.com

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Spiced coffee pot simmer, cran-apple spice pot simmer, and citrus juniper pot simmer sound like amazing simmer pot recipes for the cold season. I particularly like the coffee-scented one, it sounds unique and perfect for Christmas morning.

3 Holiday Recipes from helloglow.co

Spring Simmer Pot Recipes

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30 Amazing Simmer Pot Recipes for Every Season (34)

Looking for a fresh scent to spread throughout your house this spring? Check out these recipes!

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The smell of spring can be quite invigorating, especially after a long winter. This easy lemon & rosemary stove-top recipe will make your home smell great and get rid of any unpleasant odors.

Fresh Lemon And Rosemary Stove-top Potpourrifrom homecookingmemories.com

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Sometimes keeping things simple is best and this spring simmer pot made with fresh lemons, oranges, and rosemary proves my point!

Easy Citrus & Rosemary from fivemarigolds.com

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Limes have their unique scent that combined with rosemary will make your home smell amazing during the spring season.

Lime & Rosemary Fresh from gluesticksgumdrops.com

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If you’re running out of inspiration for your spring simmering potpourri, check out this post. It offers three different recipes and you will have a difficult time choosing between them. My favorite is definitely the lime, mint, ginger and thyme simmer pot recipe. What’s yours?

3 Spring Stove Top Potpourri Recipesfrom gatheringdreams.com

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This simmer pot recipe uses dry ingredients (with instructions on how to dehydrate them) but also essential oils to give the mixture a stronger and longer-lasting scent.

Uplifting Rosemary Citrus from helloglow.co

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Oranges and ginger are the perfect simmer pot combination for spring but I think this scent is great for all year round, so this recipe is truly a simmer pot staple assuming that’s a thing!

Citrus Simmering Potfrom thehappierhomemaker.com

So, what do you think? Find any that sound like the scent you’re craving? I know I did! I can’t wait to try some of these in our home this year.

Let me know which one’s your favorite in the comments below! 🙂

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30 Amazing Simmer Pot Recipes for Every Season (2024)

FAQs

How many times can you reuse a simmer pot? ›

Depending on what ingredients you've used in your simmer pot, you can reuse the same one for several days! If you've included fruit in your recipe, then it's best to use that pot for only 1 day.

What items are best for simmer pot? ›

CLASSIC SIMMER POT INGREDIENTS
  • Citrus fruits like orange, lemon, lime.
  • Apples.
  • Cranberries.
  • Cinnamon sticks.
  • Whole cloves.
  • Nutmeg.
  • Rosemary.
  • Pine or other conifers.
Nov 30, 2022

How many days does a simmer pot last? ›

It depends on both the recipe and the type of storage, but generally, four days is the maximum you'd want to re-use the same simmer pot ingredients. If aromatics are drained and stored in a cool, dry location (like a refrigerator), then reinvigorated with fresh water, they can be used for up to four days.

Can you drink the liquid from a simmer pot? ›

However, as long as you use only food-based ingredients, you could drink the liquid from a simmer pot. If you do plan to drink it, we recommend using apple juice or cider as the base and add food-based ingredients that produce a desirable flavor you would want to sip on, similar to a homemade simmering apple cider.

Do simmer pots have health benefits? ›

The ingredients used in simmer pots, like cinnamon, ginger, and citrus fruits, not only emit a comforting fragrance but also bring with them an array of health benefits, such as improved digestion, enhanced immune function, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Can I use 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 use cinnamon powder in a simmer pot? ›

And to give it a nice, rich aroma, you'll need: 2 cinnamon sticks (or 1 tsp ground cinnamon), 2 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Here's how it's done: Slice your orange and apple (keep the peel on both). Add all your ingredients to a small pot and fill with water until it's about ¾ full.

How long do you let a simmer pot simmer? ›

It's so simple + easy to make a holiday simmer pot, or any type of simmer pot for that matter. 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.

Can you leave a simmer pot unattended? ›

At a minimum, you should leave the pot on low heat for three hours, topping the water up every thirty minutes to prevent burning, but you can leave it on for as long as a day so long as you keep a constant eye on it (turning it off overnight to avoid a fire hazard).

What to do with a simmer pot when finished? ›

What do you do with a simmer pot after cooking? It is possible to reuse a simmer pot a second time. To reuse, drain water from the simmer pot ingredients. After the ingredients are drained and have cooled, store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, depending on what ingredients you used.

Are simmer pots bad? ›

While it has limited culinary applications, a simmer pot is a simple, safe, and cost-effective way to diffuse a seasonal bouquet without lighting strong candles or using artificial air fresheners.

How can I make my house smell nice all the time? ›

Tips to make your house smell good:
  1. Display fragrant plants.
  2. Use scented candles and diffusers.
  3. Get rid of any unpleasant smells.
  4. Ventilate your home.
  5. Make potpourri.
  6. Bake or brew something delicious.
  7. Use essential oils.

Can I reuse my simmer pot? ›

It is possible to reuse a simmer pot a second time. To reuse, drain water from the simmer pot ingredients. After the ingredients are drained and have cooled, store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, depending on what ingredients you used.

What do you do with leftover simmer pot? ›

You can store any leftover simmer pot mix in the refrigerator for a few days and reuse it by reheating it on the stovetop.

How do you save a simmer pot? ›

Re-Using Your Simmer Pot

After you've assembled and enjoyed your spring simmer pot, you can save and re-use it 2-3 more times. When not in use, place a lid on the pot (and obviously turn off the stove!) To re-use, just top up with additional water as needed, and enjoy.

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