Simmering Pot Recipes

These simmering pot recipes will fill your house with the scents of the holidays and seasons. Put the ingredients into jars to give as gifts!

A simmering potpourri pot makes your house smell so good! Assemble these simmering pot recipes in jars to give as gifts so your friends and family can enjoy them. Or you can use fresh ingredients if you want to use the recipe immediately. Simmer pots are a great alternative to burning candles and can help add moisture to the air in your home.

How To Make A Simmer Pot

Stovetop Simmer Jars

Stovetop simmer jars make great gifts! You’ll need dried fruit instead of fresh to make these simmering pot recipes for mason jars. Put all of the ingredients into a jar and attach a label with some colorful baker’s twine.

To use one of the mason jars, fill a pot 3/4 of the way with water and bring it to a boil. Turn the heat to low and add the contents of the jar. Simmer the water, adding more as needed to keep the water level over halfway full.

Fresh Potpourri Pots

If you want to make a simmer pot to use immediately, you can use fresh ingredients instead of dried. This is a great way to use up scraps of fruit, rinds, and extra spices! You can make your own scent combinations and swap out one citrus fruit for another.

To use fresh ingredients, fill a pot 3/4 of the way with water and bring it to a boil. Turn the heat to low and add the sliced fruit, spices, and any additional ingredients the simmering pot recipe calls for. Simmer the water, adding more as needed to keep the water level over halfway full.

1. Christmas Simmering Pot

Spread the scent of Christmas throughout your house with a combination of citrus, pine, and spices! Although this recipe is labeled as a Christmas scent, you can use it throughout the holidays and the winter as well.

• 4 dried orange slices (or use a freshly sliced orange)
• 1 tablespoon dried cranberries (or use 1/4 cup fresh cranberries)
• 1 tablespoon cedar shavings
• 2-3 pine sprigs
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon rosemary (or use a fresh rosemary sprig)
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom seeds
• Christmas simmer pot small labels or large labels

2. Thanksgiving Simmering Pot

This warm, spicy Thanksgiving simmering pot recipe is a classic! It makes the whole house smell like the holiday season.

• 4 dried orange slices (or use a freshly sliced orange)
• 2 tablespoons dried cranberries (or use 1/4 cup fresh cranberries)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon whole allspice
• Thanksgiving simmering pot small labels or large labels

3. Autumn Simmer Pot

Make your home smell like the warm, cozy scent of autumn baking without having to turn the oven on!

• 3 dried apple slices (or use half of a freshly sliced apple)
• 3 dried orange slices (or use half of a freshly sliced orange)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 vanilla bean pieces (or use a teaspoon of vanilla extract)
• 1 tablespoon dried crystalized ginger (or use fresh ginger)
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• autumn simmer pot small labels or large labels

4. Winter Simmering Pot

Bring in the smell of the cold, snowy winter with pine and mint! This winter simmering pot is cool and refreshing, with a little warmth from the vanilla and cinnamon.

• 2-3 pine sprigs
• 1 tablespoon cedar chips
• 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves (or use fresh mint)
• 2 vanilla bean pieces (or use a teaspoon of vanilla extract)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• winter simmer pot small labels or large labels

5. Spring Potpourri Pot

This spring stovetop potpourri smells like a breath of fresh air! It’s tangy and spicy with some vanilla for a little sweetness.

• 6 dried lemon slices (or use a fresh, sliced lemon)
• 6 dried grapefruit pieces (or use 2 fresh grapefruit slices)
• 2 vanilla bean pieces (or use a teaspoon of vanilla extract)
• 1 tablespoon peppercorn
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (or use a sprig of fresh thyme)
• spring simmer pot small labels or large labels

6. Summer Simmering Pot

You don’t have to wait for summer to use this summer simmering pot and make your house smell like a tropical vacation.

• 2 tablespoons coconut flakes seasoned with coconut extract
• 5 dried lime slices (or use one freshly sliced lime)
• 2 vanilla bean pieces (or use a teaspoon of vanilla extract)
• 2 bamboo sticks soaked in almond extract
• 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves (or fresh mint leaves)
• summer simmer pot small labels or large labels

7. Coffee Shop Stovetop Potpourri

Do you love the smell of brewing coffee? Make this simmering coffee shop potpourri pot.

• 1/4 cup coffee beans
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 vanilla bean pieces (or use a teaspoon of vanilla extract)
• 2 bamboo sticks soaked in almond extract (or use 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract)
• coffee shop simmer pot small labels or large labels

8. Kitchen Simmering Pot

If you wondering how to make your house smell like Williams Sonoma, this simmering pot recipe is their signature scent!

• 6 lemon slices (or use a freshly sliced lemon)
• 1 tablespoon peppercorn
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or use a sprig or fresh rosemary)
• 2 vanilla bean pieces (or use a teaspoon of vanilla extract)
• kitchen simmer pot small labels or large labels

9. Relaxing Simmer Pot

Sit back and relax with the smell of lavender and chamomile! This one is perfect for relaxing evenings at home.

• 2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers
• 3 dried lavender sprigs
• 2 vanilla bean pieces (or use a teaspoon of vanilla extract)
• 1 chamomile tea bag
• relaxing simmer pot small labels or large labels

10. Refreshing Simmering Pot

This refreshing simmering pot has a spicy and fresh scent! You can use this combination year-round.

• 8 dried lime slices (or use two freshly sliced limes)
• 1 tablespoon dried crystalized ginger (or use fresh ginger)
• 1 tablespoon peppercorn
• 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves (or use fresh mint)
• refreshing simmer pot small labels or large labels

11. Stress Relief Simmer Pot

You can enjoy this bright, freshly scented stress relief simmer pot anytime you want your house to smell like a spa!

• 6 orange slices (or use a freshly sliced orange)
• 3 eucalyptus sprigs
• 1 tablespoon dried mint leaves (or use fresh mint)
• stress relief simmer pot small labels or large labels

Crockpot Potpourri

You can use a crockpot instead of a pot on the stovetop. Put the water and ingredients into a slow cooker, add the cover, and turn it on high. Once the water is hot, you’ll see condensation on the cover. Remove the cover and turn it to low. Refill the water as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions