16 Simmer Pot Recipes for All Seasons – Homemade Simmering Potpourri

Simmer Pot FAQ’s

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

Answer: You can add them to a simmering stovetop or slow cooker potpourri. 

Question: What can I boil to make my house smell good? 

Answer: You can boil just about any foods that have a pleasant aroma to make your house smell good. Apples, berries, orange peels, lemon peels, lime peels, vanilla, cloves, cinnamon sticks, mint leaves and more. A simmer pot is a great way to do this.

Question: What is a Simmer Pot?

Answer: Essentially, you could describe a simmer pot as a pot full of water and potpourri simmering away on the stove all day. 

What are the benefits of a simmer pot?

Answer: Simmer pots are a natural way to scent your home and add humidity – which is much needed in winter – to the air all at once.

Question: How long does simmering potpourri last?

Answer: That depends on the freshness of your ingredients. I would say you could get 3-4 days from one pot of homemade potpourri, if you keep adding fresh water to top up the pot. 

How to Create a Simmer Pot

Simmering potpourri is a lovely way to make your house smell amazing during the holiday season, or any time of year! And it’s literally the easiest thing to make. The hardest part is making sure to keep the sauce pan topped up with water all day…but that isn’t an issue if you decide to make the slow cooker version!

Stovetop Simmer Pot Method

Fill a small saucepan or cast iron pot with water. Then add your simmering ingredients, using your own recipe or one of the recipes below, and simmer on low for a couple of hours. Add water as needed. 

What You’ll Need:

• Small Saucepan or Cast Iron Pot
• simmering ingredients (see recipes below)

Crockpot Potpourri or Slower Cooker Simmering Potpourri Method

Fill the slow cooker most of the way with water, and add your ingredients. Turn it on low and let it simmer all day. Check and add water as needed. 

What You’ll Need

• Crockpot or Little Dipper Crockpot
• simmering ingredients (see recipes below)

How to Create a Simmer Pot Video Tutorial

Check out the video tutorial where I break all the steps down for you on our Youtube channel. 

Simple Simmer Pot Recipes for Each Season

Each of the ingredients for these homemade simmering blend smells really good and home-y on their own. But the combination of delicious things is what really makes these simmering potpourri recipes smell so delicious. 

Note: Simmer pots recipes are more like guidelines or ideas. You can remix them to your liking or to whatever you have on hand in the pantry!

Fall Simmer Pot Recipes

Apple Cinnamon

• apple slices
• cinnamon sticks
• cloves 

Pumpkin Spice

• apple cider
• pumpkin spice seasoning
• cinnamon sticks
• ground nutmeg
• vanilla extract
• whole cloves

Winter Simmer Pot Recipes

Coffee 

• coffee beans
• cinnamon sticks
• cardamom, anise, or allspice (optional)

Winter Bonfire

• cedar sprigs
• pear slices
• mesquite wood chips

Warm Winter Citrus

• cedar sprigs
• bay leaves
• rosemary sprigs
• clementine slices or peels

Christmas Simmer Pot Recipes

Classic Christmas

• orange slices
• apple slices
• fresh or frozen cranberries
• cinnamon sticks
• whole cloves
• vanilla extract (optional)

Canadian Christmas

• cedar sprigs
• spruce sprigs
• eucalyptus sprigs

Spring Simmer Pot Recipes

Lemon Rosemary (aka William Sonoma)

• rosemary sprigs
• lemon slices
• vanilla extract

Lime Rosemary

• rosemary sprigs
• lime slices
• vanilla extract

Lime Mint & Thyme

• lime slices
• mint leaves
• sprigs of thyme
• fresh ginger (optional)

Summer Simmer Pot Recipes

Orange Creamsicle

• orange slices or peels
• vanilla extract

Strawberry Lemonade

• lemon slices
• strawberry slices
• coconut extract

Mojito

• lime slices
• mint leaves

Grapefruit Lavender

• grapefruit slices
• lavender sprigs
• almond extract

Cucumber Lime Mint

• cucumber slices
• lime slices
• mint leaves
• ginger pieces (optional)

Strawberry Basil

• strawberry slices
• basil leaves
• lime juice

Homemade Simmering Potpourri Gifts

You can give simmering potpourri as gifts for Christmas, Thanksgiving or even birthdays. 

Simply dry the fruit slices in the oven or dehydrator, then pair them up with sprigs of greenery, whole cloves, bottles extracts according to the recipe ideas above.

You could then package them in:

• mason jars with a Kraft paper label or gift tag tied with jute
• clear cellophane gift bags tied with ribbons
• a small stovetop pot 

Simmering Potpourri Use and Safety Tips

• Always be sure there is enough water in the pot to keep the potpourri from burning! Check a stovetop simmer pot every couple of hours to be sure the water level hasn’t gotten low. A slow cooker simmer pot will need less “babysitting”, so use this method if you get distracted easily or think you’ll forget to check. 
• Be sure to keep your simmer pot on low – whether you use an electric pot, a stovetop pot, or a crockpot. 
• Your simmering potpourri blend will last longer if you drain out old water and add fresh filtered water each day. You will likely get 3-4 days out of one mixture this way. 
• You can leave a crockpot simmer pot on all day, if you wish. A stovetop pot should only be left on for a couple of hours. Unless you are very careful. 
• Never leave a simmer pot simmering while you’re sleeping or if you go out. 

Important tip: If you make the stovetop version, check the simmering potpourri often to keep the water level up. If all of the water evaporates and is not replaced, the potpourri will burn.

Get the Simmer Pot Recipes as a Free Printable

Just tap the button below to get instant access to the free downloadable PDF of all 16 simmer pot recipes, plus how to create a great simmer pot!