The scents of baking spices, citrus, fresh herbs, and other ingredients always take me back to the holidays of my childhood, when the whole house smelled like Mom’s delicious cooking for days on end. It was an integral part of the magic of the season, and I can still feel it whenever I smell those scents.
Reproducing those scents in my home immediately makes it feel more like Christmas, and it’s really easy to do in the form of a simmering potpourri. Today I’ve got 3 simple simmering potpourri recipes to share that will fill your home with delightful scents associated with the holiday season.
Still have a few names to cross off your gift list? Keep scrolling for simple instructions for giving these potpourri mixtures as gifts!
3 Simmering Potpourri Recipes That Will Make Your Home Smell Like The Holidays
Note: These recipes are a great way to use up less-than-fresh and sad-looking produce. Those dry, shriveled citrus fruits may not taste very good, but work just fine for potpourri!
1. Scents Of The Season (Orange / Cranberry / Baking Spices)
This potpourri features the “Greatest Hits” of holiday scents: sunny citrus, tart cranberries, and warm baking spices. If you’re looking to generate maximum Christmas cheer, simmering this on your stovetop will get the job done in record time.
Ingredients:
1 mandarin orange, sliced
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
1/2 cup fresh cranberries
1 tsp whole cloves
2. Smells Like Williams Sonoma (Lemon / Rosemary / Vanilla)
If you’re looking for a less traditional holiday scent that still fits the season, try this one on for size. The recipe was inspired by the signature scent Williams Sonoma uses in its stores, and has a fresh, comforting scent that will make any space feel more cozy and inviting.
Ingredients:
1 lemon, sliced
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 tsp vanilla
3. Apple Ginger Crisp (Apple / Ginger / Baking Spices)
Is there any scent more enticing than the warm apples and baking spices? Yes—it’s warm apples, baking spices, and fresh ginger. Simmer this concoction on your stovetop to fill your home with the scents of delicious apple-filled desserts, minus the temptation of actual desserts.
Ingredients:
1 apple, sliced into wedges
2 whole star anise (or a big pinch of anise seed)
3 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
3 slices fresh ginger, each about the size of a quarter
How To Use Simmering Potpourri
Add all the ingredients to a small pot, then add water until it reaches about 1″ below the rim. Bring the water to a boil on your stove, then drop the heat down to low and simmer it as long as you want, adding more water as necessary to prevent the pot from drying out.
More Ideas You'll Love
Or, after bringing the potpourri to a boil, you can pour it into a crockpot and keep it warm that way. Follow the recipes as written for a small dip-sized crockpot, or double or triple the recipes for a standard-sized crockpot.
BONUS: How To Give Simmering Potpourri As A Gift
Add the ingredients to a small jar and add some cute ribbon or string. Attach a card with instructions on how to prepare the ingredients (like “slice the orange,” etc.) and how to simmer the potpourri mixture on their stove.
What scents do you associate with the holidays?
Simmering Christmas Potpourri Recipe
Equipment
- Medium Sauce Pan
Ingredients
- 1 Orange sliced
- 2 Cinnamon sticks broken in half
- 1/2 cup Fresh cranberries
- 1 teaspoon Cloves whole or ground
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small pot, then add water until it reaches about one inch below the rim.
- Set the pot on your stove and bring the water to a simmer, then drop the heat down to low. Simmer the potpourri mixture as long as you want, adding water as necessary to keep it from drying out.
