Fall Potpourri Simmer Pot Recipes

From the crisp air to the changing colors, we love everything about fall here at the Group!

We also love the smells that come with it, and not just pumpkin spice! But we don’t love the artificial scents and corresponding chemicals that come from candles and air fresheners. Instead, we prefer a good stovetop potpourri blend to make our homes smell amazing and feel like fall, no matter what the weather is like outside.

What Is a Potpourri Simmer Pot?

A potpourri simmer pot, sometimes also called stovetop potpourri or simmering potpourri, is a great all-natural alternative to burning a candle. Stovetop potpourri infuses your home with wonderful fragrances for hours. 

How to Make Stovetop Potpourri

To make one, you simply combine seasonal aromatics - like fresh rosemary, cinnamon sticks, or allspice - with water in a medium-sized saucepan on the stove and allow them to simmer. Often stovetop potpourri will also include sliced fruit. You’ll bring everything to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and simmer.

Note: Never leave the pot unattended. Check back periodically - every 30 minutes or so is fine - to ensure there’s enough water, and add more as needed.

What to Use in Stovetop Potpourri

There’s no limit to the aromatic ingredients you can use to make simmering potpourri. Use your favorite combinations of herbs, spices and fruit to create a signature house blend. Here are just a few of the ingredients we love:

  • Fresh Herbs

    • Rosemary

    • Lavender

    • Thyme

    • Bay Leaf

    • Sage

  • Natural Materials

    • Cedar

    • Eucalyptus

    • Pine Cones

    • Rosehips

    • Pine Needles

  • Spices

    • Cinnamon Sticks

    • Pumpkin Pie Spice

    • Nutmeg

    • Vanilla Beans

    • Cloves

    • Allspice

    • Fresh Ginger

  • Fruit

    • Sliced Oranges

    • Orange Peels

    • Cranberries

    • Sliced Apples

    • Sliced Pears

    • Sliced Lemon

    • Lemon Peels

    • Pomegranate

Not sure where to start? Here are a few of our favorite combinations:

  1. Fall Blend: orange, cinnamon, cloves and rosemary

  2. Woodsy Citrus Blend: lemon, orange, ginger, rosehips, vanilla

  3. Pumpkin Spice Blend: cinnamon, orange, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla bean

  4. Orchard Blend: rosemary, apple, orange and cinnamon

  5. Vanilla Spice Blend: vanilla bean or vanilla extract, bay leaf, rosemary and orange

  6. Comfort Blend: orange, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, rosemary

  7. Apple Cider Blend: apple, orange, cinnamon, cranberry, allspice, nutmeg

Get even more eco-friendly with your simmer pot:

  • If you have leftover apple cider, fruit juice, or wine, use those in place of the water. They’ll add an extra dimension to the scent and help avoid food waste.

  • Reuse your ingredients. Drain out the solids and store the leftovers in a jar or another airtight container in the refrigerator. Most ingredients will keep until you make another simmer pot the next day.

Happy fall!

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