Stovetop Potpourri: 8 Simple DIY Simmering Potpourri Pot Recipes

A stovetop potpourri is basically a simmering pot made of spices, dried fruit peels, and/or extracts. Enjoy my favorites but be creative too!

Stovetop Potpourri

My thermostat is having trouble keeping the house warm lately. In other words, the cold weather is here to stay. So on frigid days, it seems like the furnace just runs and runs.

That’s when I often decide to get out the simmering pot to warm things up. In short, the idea is quite simple. It is a basic stovetop potpourri made up of spices, dried fruit peels, and/or extracts. There are really an infinite amount of combinations and it is so fun to experiment. So below I’ll share with you several of my favorite recipes.

Benefits of Stovetop Potpourri

Simmering pots have many benefits, but my favorite is as a replacement for air fresheners. This simple DIY project will fill your entire home with the most wonderful aroma so easily. It seems to last throughout the day, even after you have stopped using the simmering pot.

Additionally, stovetop potpourri is a wonderful way to add moisture to the air. I often leave mine on for an hour or two, replacing the water as needed. All of that extra moisture in the air helps the heat to stay longer and carries the aroma throughout my house. The only downside to a simmering pot is having to clean the pot afterward! That’s why I have a “dedicated” pot for this very reason. It’s very well-loved but not very pretty to look at.

Note

Be sure to keep your simmer pot on the back burner and replenish it with water frequently. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten about mine only to go into the kitchen and realize that I needed to add water ASAP!

Below you will find a list of suggested spices, herbs, fruit peels, and extracts that can be used in simmering pots. However, this list is not exhaustive by any means. To clarify, it’s just a few suggestions to help get your creative juices flowing. Finally, I will share with you several of my favorite simmering pot recipes after these suggestions.

Stovetop Potpourri Suggestions

Spices

• Cloves
• Juniper Berries
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Anise (whole)
• Ginger
• Allspice

(Find all of these spices here.)

Herbs

• Lavender petals
• Rose petals
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Basil
• Sage
• Mint
• Bay leaves

(Find all of these herbs here.)

Fruit Peels

• Grapefruit
• Orange
• Lemon
• Lime
• Apple

Extracts

• Orange
• Vanilla
• Lemon
• Almond

How to Make a Simmering Potpourri Pot

Making stovetop potpourri is quite simple! This is the recipe I follow, but there really is no wrong way to do it.

1. Firstly, choose a medium-sized pot and fill ¾ full of water.
2. Next, add herbs/spices/extracts/fruit peels.
3. Now bring water to a boil.
4. Lower the heat and simmer.
5. Lastly, replenish the water as needed.

Note: Keep in mind that cleaning the pot afterward can be a chore! Some scrubbing may be involved, so don’t use your favorite pot!

Other Stovetop Potpourri Recipes

You can find most of the dried ingredients for these simmering pots here.

Vanilla Mint Simmering Pot

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup dried mint leaves (peppermint, spearmint, etc.)

Orange Spice Simmering Pot

• peels of 2 oranges
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves (ground also works, but whole cloves are easier to clean out of a pan)
• 1 cinnamon stick

Floral Simmering Pot

• ½ cup lavender petals
• ½ cup dried rose petals
• 1 sprig rosemary

Holiday Spice Stovetop Potpourri

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cinnamon stick
• ½ cup whole star anise

Fresh Fruit Simmering Pot

• the peel of 1 lemon
• peel from 1 orange
• peel from 1 lime
• 1 teaspoon orange extract

Winter Woods Simmering Pot

• ½ cup juniper berries
• 1 sprig thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
• 1 sprig rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary)

Ginger Citrus Stovetop Potpourri

• ¼ cup grated ginger (or 1 tablespoon ground ginger)
• peel from 2 oranges
• peel from 1 lemon
• 1 bay leaf

Apple Pie Simmering Pot

• peel from 2 apples
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Find most of the dried ingredients for these recipes here!

Video Tutorial for All 8 Recipes

Please feel free to share with me your favorite combinations in the comments below!

Have a favorite stovetop potpourri? Let us know! I’d love to hear from you.

*******