Imagine stepping into your home and being greeted by the magical aroma of a simmer pot, also known as stovetop potpourri. With just a handful of fruits, herbs, and spices, you can transform your space into a cozy, fragrant haven. Toss in apples, citrus, cinnamon sticks, cloves, rosemary, or vanilla, and let the gentle steam work its magic. The real fun? Experimenting with your favorite fresh or dried ingredients to create unique scent combinations that capture the spirit of any season.

You don’t need a stove to enjoy a simmer pot. You can use a slow cooker or even a candle warmer lamp with a heat-safe bowl to gently release the fragrance. The scent might be a bit softer than with a stovetop, but these could be better options for you. 

Most simmer pot blends will make your home smell nice for several hours. As the water evaporates, just add more so the ingredients don’t dry out. The scent will fade over time, but you can often reuse the same ingredients. Store the cooled mixture in the fridge between uses, add fresh water when you want to use it again, and compost or throw away the ingredients once they lose their scent.

Today, I’m sharing 20 simmer pot recipes for every season, from cozy fall and Christmas blends to fresh spring and summer scents. You’ll also find tips for making, packaging, and gifting dried simmer pot blends.

Cozy Fall Simmer Pots

Apple Orchard: This one smells like you’ve been baking all afternoon.
3 dried apple slices
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
2 star anise
1 vanilla bean

Spiced Pear: This blend is a bit softer and less common than the usual apple-cinnamon. It also looks especially nice when made with dried pear slices for gifts.
3 dried pear slices
2 cinnamon sticks
3 star anise
½ teaspoon whole allspice
1 vanilla bean

Fall Harvest: This blend captures the classic scent of fall.
3 dried apple slices
3 dried orange slices
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
2 star anise

Cozy Chai: This warm and spicy blend is perfect for a rainy afternoon.
2 cinnamon sticks
4 cardamom pods
4 whole cloves
2 star anise
3 slices dried ginger
1 vanilla bean

Thanksgiving Simmer Pots

Thanksgiving Kitchen: Start this blend before guests arrive to make your whole house smell warm and welcoming.
3 dried orange slices
3 dried apple slices 
½ cup fresh/dried cranberries
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
2 sprigs rosemary

Cranberry Harvest: The bright cranberries make this blend look especially nice while it simmers.
½ cup fresh/dried cranberries
3 dried orange slices
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
1 small rosemary sprig

Apple Pie: Enjoy the scent of apple pie without baking one.
3 dried apple slices
3 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
½ teaspoon whole allspice
1 whole nutmeg
1 vanilla bean

Orange Spice: This blend uses simple ingredients but creates a wonderful scent.
½ orange, sliced
3 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
3 whole star anise
1 vanilla bean

Christmas Simmer Pots

Christmas Morning: This is the classic Christmas simmer pot. The mix of red cranberries, oranges, greenery, and whole spices also makes it a beautiful choice for a holiday gift.
3 dried orange slices
½ cup fresh/dried cranberries
3 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
2 star anise
2 rosemary sprigs

Christmas Tree Farm: This blend is perfect if you enjoy fresh, woodsy holiday scents. Rosemary adds an evergreen note without making it too spicy.
2 small rosemary sprigs
3 orange slices
2 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon juniper berries
2 star anise

Gingerbread House: This blend is warm, sweet, and spicy.
3 slices fresh ginger
3 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon whole cloves
½ teaspoon whole allspice
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1 vanilla bean

Cranberry Orange Christmas: This blend is fresh and festive, but not as heavy on spices. It’s also great for holiday gift bags.
½ cup cranberries
½ orange, sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
2 star anise
1 dried rosemary sprig

Christmas Bakery: This blend is perfect if you want your home to smell like Christmas cookies baking. While vanilla beans cost more than extract, they look lovely in a gift jar.
2 cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla bean
½ teaspoon whole allspice
1 whole nutmeg
2 dried orange slices

Merry Citrus: This blend is brighter and fresher than the more heavily spiced Christmas options.
3 dried orange slices
2 dried lemon slices
2 cinnamon sticks
2 rosemary sprigs
1 star anise

Cozy Winter Simmer Pots

Winter Woods: This blend is fresh, woodsy, and cozy.
3 dried lemon slices
2 rosemary sprigs
1 teaspoon juniper berries
2 cinnamon sticks
2 bay leaves

Snow Day: This gentle winter blend is perfect for a relaxing afternoon at home.
3 dried orange slices
2 cinnamon sticks
1 vanilla bean
1 TBS dried mint leaves

Lemon Rosemary Fresh Start: After weeks of strong holiday scents, this blend feels especially fresh. It’s a great choice for the days between Christmas and New Year’s when you want to refresh your home.
3 dried lemon slices
3 rosemary sprigs
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon whole peppercorns

Lavender Lemon: This blend is light and herbal, offering a change from the usual cinnamon-heavy winter scents. Start with a small amount of lavender and add more if you like.
3 lemon slices
1 tablespoon dried lavender
2 rosemary sprigs
1 vanilla bean

Simmer Pots That Work Beyond the Holidays

Garden Fresh: Inspired by herbs and botanicals from my garden, this blend is fresh and botanical, offering a different scent from the bakery-style blends on this list. 
3 dried lemon slices
1 tablespoon dried lavender
1 TBS dried mint leaves
1 dried rosemary sprig
1 dried sage sprig

Citrus Garden: Try this blend when you want a hint of spring. The bright citrus keeps it fresh, and vanilla helps soften the herbal notes.
3 dried lemon slices
2 dried orange slices
3 dried lime slices
1 rosemary sprig
1 TBS dried mint leaves
1 vanilla bean

Both fresh and dried ingredients work well in simmer pots. Fresh fruit and herbs are great for using up extras from your kitchen or garden. Dried ingredients are handy for making blends ahead of time and are a great gift choice because they store well, stay neat, and look nice when packaged.

Homemade simmer pot blends are a joy to give and receive. They’re thoughtful gifts that can brighten any holiday, celebration, or regular day. Picture giving a jar filled with colorful dried fruit, whole spices, and fragrant herbs to a favorite teacher, a friendly neighbor, or a friend who enjoys cozy moments. There are many ways to package your blends: use decorative glass jars, clear stand-up pouches, or paper bakery bags with windows, and tie them with ribbon, twine, or sprigs of greenery. Add a handwritten tag for a personal touch. For the final detail, include simple instructions so your recipient can easily enjoy their aromatic gift.

Laurie

Hello, my name is Laurie. My family and I live near the Oregon coast. When we aren’t at work, in school, or on the volleyball court, we enjoy traveling, cheering for our favorite sports teams, playing outdoors, and checking off items on our bucket list. We are lucky in that both sets of our parents, as well as our siblings and their families, live within an hour of us. We get together often to help one another out, celebrate milestones, and go on adventures together.

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