Holiday Simmer Pot (Stovetop Potpourri)

This holiday simmer pot fills your home with the best seasonal scents – no candles needed! It’s the easiest way to create a warm, inviting atmosphere for your holiday gatherings.

Holiday Simmer Pot Recipe

I love making my home smell amazing during the holidays, especially when I’m hosting a party. This simmer pot does the trick every time. It’s filled with cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, and all those classic holiday smells that instantly set the mood for a festive gathering.

The best part is how easy it is to throw together. Just a few simple ingredients – water, fruit, spices, and a splash of vanilla – and you’ve got a simmering pot of holiday goodness. It’s the kind of aroma that fills the room and makes people feel right at home.

I’ve used this simmer pot at every holiday get-together for years, and it’s always a hit. People comment on how good the house smells, and it’s so simple to make. Plus, I love knowing it’s one less thing to worry about when I’m busy entertaining.

Why I Love This Stovetop Potpourri

• It’s an easy way to bring holiday scents into my home without lighting a single candle.
• I can use the ingredients I always have on hand – no special shopping required.
• It makes the house smell great all day without any effort, letting me focus on the fun stuff.
• It doesn’t need to be a holiday to make it. Enjoy it year-round!

Ingredients

Creating a holiday simmer pot is my favorite way to fill my home with the natural scents of the season. Here’s what I use in my holiday stovetop potpourri:

• Water: The base of my simmer pot, providing the necessary steam to carry the aromas throughout the house.
• Orange slices: I love adding fresh orange slices for a burst of citrus that brightens the entire fragrance. Fresh or dried slices work.
• Apple slices: Apple slices add a subtle sweetness to the wafting aroma.
• Cinnamon sticks: Cinnamon sticks are a must for that classic, warm, spicy scent that screams holidays. Ground cinnamon also does the job.
• Star anise: I toss in star anise pods for a hint of licorice-like aroma.
• Whole Cloves: Cloves add a rich, spicy note. Use ground if you don’t have any whole.
• Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla extract gives a sweet, creamy undertone.
• Rosemary sprigs: I add a few sprigs of fresh rosemary for a touch of herbal freshness.

How To Make A Holiday Simmer Pot (Stovetop Potpourri)

Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Step One: Gather your ingredients
  Grab all your ingredients and get them ready to go.
• Step Two: Combine the ingredients
  Toss all your ingredients into a pot. Turn the stove to a low to medium heat – nothing too high, just enough to get it simmering.
• Step Three: Let it simmer
  Let the mixture simmer on low for up to 2 hours. Keep an eye on it, and you’ll soon notice the room filling up with all the amazing smells.
• Step Four: Add water as needed
  If the water starts running low, just add a little more. This way, you can keep the simmer pot going for even longer and enjoy those holiday scents all day.

Recipe Tips

Here’s a few fun tweaks to make your simmer pot even better:

• Switch up the base: If you want to mix it up, try using apple juice or apple cider instead of water for a little extra aroma.
• Go green: If you have any fresh evergreen clippings lying around, throw them in for a fresh, woodsy touch.
• Make it pop: Fresh cranberries add a visual holiday touch to the pot.
• Spice it up: Allspice or juniper berries are great additions if you’re looking for a little more depth in the aroma.
• Visual Appeal: If you want your simmer pot to be visually appealing, use whole spices and fruits. If that’s not a concern, use ground spices to get the same aroma, it just doesn’t look as pretty.

Change Up Your Simmer Pot Scent

I love mixing and matching different ingredients to create a simmer pot that fits the specific season or holiday, you’re definitely not limited to the winter season. It’s easy enough to do – I just pick the ingredients I’m in the mood for, leave out anything I don’t have, or add a little extra of something if I want a specific scent to stand out.

• Citrus fruits – fresh or dried slices of oranges, limes, lemons, or grapefruit
• Spices – ground, fresh, or dried cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger, cardamom, star anise, pumpkin pie or apple pie spice
• Herbs – dried or fresh rosemary, thyme, basil, mint, bay leaves
• Apple slices or peels – dried or fresh
• Pine or Evergreen clippings
• Dried lavender
• Pear slices or peels – dried or fresh
• Cranberries – fresh or frozen
• Vanilla extract
• Essential oils

How To Store

Here’s the deal on how long your simmer pot lasts and how to keep it going:

• This simmer pot will last 2-3 days if you leave it covered and out on the stove, no refrigeration needed.
• If you want to stretch it a little longer, let the liquid cool and pop the pot in the fridge between uses. I’ve found it can last up to 7 days this way.
• Just be sure to refresh the ingredients and add more water as needed when you’re reheating it. That’ll keep the scents going strong.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What can I do if my simmer pot smells too strong? If the fragrance is too much, simply add more water to dilute it. You can also remove some of the ingredients to tone it down a bit.
• Can I make a simmer pot in a slow cooker or crock pot? Yep, a slow cooker works just fine. Just follow the same steps but use your crock pot. Start on high heat to get it steaming, then switch it to low when it gets going. Keep an eye on it, and make sure you add water as needed to keep the pot going.
• Can I reuse the ingredients in my simmer pot? While you can reuse the ingredients once or twice, they’ll lose their scent after a while. If you’re trying to stretch out the simmer pot’s life, just add more of the same spices, herbs, or fruit slices to keep the aroma strong.
• How do I gift simmer pot ingredients? A simmer pot kit makes a great gift. Just grab a jar or small bag and fill it with all the dry ingredients like cinnamon sticks, cloves, and dried fruit slices. You can even add a cute label with instructions and a note like “Add water and simmer for a festive aroma.
• What essential oils can I use for a Christmas scent in my simmer pot? For a holiday vibe, I love using vanilla, cardamom, or a Christmas blend of oils. But everyone’s got different scent preferences, so if you’re into it, you could also try oils like chamomile, bergamot, or spruce for an outdoorsy scent.
• Can you drink a simmer pot? This recipe is more about filling your home with fragrance than for sipping, but if you’re using all food-based ingredients, you could technically drink it. If you do want to drink it, I’d recommend using apple juice or cider as the base, then adding spices and fruits that would make a good flavor, kind of like a homemade simmering cider. Just be sure to drink it during the first use to get the best taste.

More Crafty Ideas for the Holidays

Here are a few more crafty holiday ideas just for fun!

• How to Make Mulled-Cider Sachets
• How to Make a Cranberry Ice Luminaria
• How to Make a Wine Cork Christmas Tree

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