Want your home to smell like fall without artificial room sprays? This easy simmer pot recipe uses simple pantry ingredients for a natural air freshener with the cozy aromas of fall, and it makes a thoughtful, homemade holiday gift. I’ll show you the best combination for a warm, inviting scent.
Why You Should Make a Fall Simmer Pot
Over the years, I’ve tested countless simmer pot recipes, but this fall stovetop potpourri version is the one I return to every season. It’s simple, made with pantry ingredients like fresh citrus, cinnamon sticks, and cloves, and naturally makes your house smell like fall. No artificial sprays needed, and it adds much-needed moisture to the air in the dry winter months. Much needed in our Colorado home!
After tweaking the mix, I’ve found the perfect balance of fragrant ingredients for a rich, lasting aroma. It’s become a favorite tradition in our home, and I’m excited to share how easy it is to make your space smell like fall, too. These make great hostess gifts, neighbor gifts, teacher gifts, and more.
Fall Simmer Pot Ingredients
The following ingredients are suggestions: use the fresh ingredients, or old produce you have on hand, to add aromatherapy the natural way!
- Apple: Use an apple that is past its prime for eating; the natural sugars will fill your home with the smell of an apple orchard. But also feel free to use other winter fruits like pear slices and pomegranates.
- Juices: Got some on-the-edge apple cider, cranberry, or orange juice? Add that to your liquid.
- Citrus fruits: Grab a whole orange (mine was looking a little sad), clementines, lemon, grapefruit, or even a lime would work! By the way, you can also use the only the peels if preferred.
- Cranberries: Frozen or fresh cranberries will work great here!
- Ginger: Consider using a few nubs of fresh ginger; while at it, you might want to make my Chai tea concentrate!
- Cinnamon sticks: While you can use ground cinnamon, cinnamon sticks will give you the longest, best scent.
- Whole Spices: Consider using whole cloves, allspice, whole nutmeg, star anise, cardamom pods, and even warm spices like peppercorns. You may also use ¼ teaspoon of the above spices, including ground nutmeg.
- Fresh Herbs: Think of winter herbs like rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, sage, basil, mint, and even lavender or other dried flowers. Be creative, too, and use pine needles, great for a Christmas simmer pot.
- Got a used vanilla bean? Use it!
- Essential Oil: Amp up the aroma, ditch the scented candles, and put in a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
- Fresh water
If you have an old dried-out vanilla bean pod or one you used for a recipe, toss it in there! Bottom line: simmering herbs, spices, and fruit for aroma makes your home smell plain ol’ great!
How to make a Simmer Pot for Fall
Step 1 – Prep
Slice or snip any ingredients that need opening, then place everything into a pot. It can be a small, medium pot, or large pot.
Step 2 – Simmer
Add water (or even old apple juice or orange juice) until the pot is filled. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer on the stove top or in a mini-crockpot, topping off with more liquid as it evaporates. Never leave it unattended.
That’s it! Change it up as you like, let me know what you put into your fall simmering spices! Save this recipe for my Christmas simmering spices!
Make Up Some Cute Bags to Gift this Fall Simmer Pot Recipe
Make up some cute holiday gift bags of these simmering spices for neighbor or hostess gifts! Simply place the larger items at the bottom of a cellophane bag with a gusset, then put the remaining items on top. Tie it all up and attach my free printable gift tag from the kitchen of….gift tag for a personalized touch.
I recommend using unsliced fruits, but you knew that. 😜 You can also gift using dried orange slices, dried apples, or lemons!
I found these cute little berry baskets on Amazon, but you could also use a jar, mason jars, or even wrap in parchment paper. Take it up a notch and gift one of these pretty simmering pots with it!
Don’t forget to check out all of my gift ideas from the kitchen!
Simmer Pot Recipe FAQs
A fall simmer pot will last all day—check the water level throughout the day and add 1 or 2 cups of water as needed. You can usually get a couple of hours of goodness. If you don’t let it dry out, you can even cool it down and reuse it the next day.
You can reuse your simmer pot 2-3 times, depending on the ingredients and how long you simmered it. After each use, let it cool, refrigerate, and reheat when you’re ready. Lemon peels and spices hold up well, but the scent will fade each time.
Nah! You’ll want to leave the lid off so all those warm fall scents can fill your home. Simmering uncovered allows the steam (and the fragrance) to escape, creating that cozy atmosphere.
In my experience, sweeter apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala give off the best aroma in a simmer pot. They release a nice subtle sweetness that pairs perfectly with the spices. But honestly, any apple you have on hand will do!
Check out these other fabulous Fall Recipes!
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Ingredients
- 1 apple sliced in half or multiple slices
- 1 lemon sliced in half or multiple slices
- 1 orange optional, but try and use one citrus
- 1 – 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1-2 teaspoons whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice optional
- ½- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice optional
- 1 vanilla bean optional (can sub. 1 teaspoon [vanilla bean paste] or vanilla extract if desired)
- 1-2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1-2 sprigs fresh thyme Use your favorites, if you have sage use it too!
- 1-2 bay leaves fresh or dried
- water to fill the pot
Instructions
- Simply slice, snip, fill and toss in your desired ingredients into a small pot. Fill pot with water (or expired apple juice or orange juice) and bring to a simmer on the stovetop (or in a mini crockpot). Replenish water as it evaporates. Do not leave unattended.1 apple, 1 lemon, 1 orange, 1 – 2 cinnamon sticks, 1-2 teaspoons whole cloves, 1 teaspoon whole allspice, ½- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 1 vanilla bean, 1-2 sprigs fresh rosemary, 1-2 sprigs fresh thyme, 1-2 bay leaves, water to fill the pot
Assemble for Gifting
- In a cellophane bag, place the larger fruit items first (whole, not sliced) followed by the spices, fresh herbs. Also try dried onions, dried lemons, etc.
- Wrap with pretty ribbon or twine and tag giving instructions on how to simmer.
Notes
Nutrition
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