Make your house smell like the cozy aromas of Christmas with this simple, minimal effort, simmering Christmas potpourri.
When I think of Christmas, there are a few things that come to my mind. But a lot of what comes to my mind are scents. A few scents that just make me think of Christmas are pine, oranges, cranberry, Rosemarry, cinnamon and the list goes on and on.
Instead of only being able to smell pine when you get your tree or cranberry at one dinner out of the whole year, why not make your home smell like that whenever you want?
I love the impact that smells have. Smells bring back memories of all kinds for people. But also, smells bring a cozy, warm, and inviting feeling to your home. A simmering potpourri could be a great way to make guests feel welcome for a dinner party. Or a simmering potpourri could be a great way for your children to relax and wind down to comforting smells.
This simmering Christmas potpourri is nothing short of being able to do both those things. The smells of Christmas don’t need to be limited to one day or a few weeks. Prepare your home with this simple simmering potpourri.
If you love potpourris yourself, or want another scent to try out, check out this simmer pot that makes your house smell like Fall. Perfect for hosting Thanksgiving or just cozy Fall days! We also have 3 spring simmer pot recipes in case you are missing the warmer weather and want to be reminded of those sweet smells.
Why You Will Love This Simmering Christmas Potpourri
This simmering potpourri that smells like Christmas is so easy to make. The ingredients needed for this recipe are easy to find and the recipe is straight forward. This recipe is also very hands off which is a wonderful bonus.
You will also love this DIY because it is great for hosting. To have this simmering on low in the background of good conversation or to make your home feel warm and inviting will easily elevate your hosting game. Be prepared to hand out the recipe!
This simmering Christmas potpourri also makes a great gift for the season. In fact, we have a post on how to turn a simmer pot into a gift. Check out this DIY last minute Christmas gift idea.
FAQs of Simmering Christmas Potpourris
What is the point of a Christmas simmer pot?
A Christmas simmer pot is a great way to make your home smell seasonal and warm. A simmer pot is better for you than an aerosol and can actually be faster than a candle at filling a whole room with scents.
How long do you leave a simmer pot on?
A simmer pot can actually last up to four days! If you use fresh food in your simmer pot the best amount of time is 24 hours. Although a simmer pot that uses peels and spices can last up to 4 days. All you will have to do is refill the water here and there. This means it can be reused!
Are you simmer pots healthier than candles?
This does depend on the kind of candle, but simmering pots use natural ingredients so there are no possibilities of toxic chemicals. They also don’t have an open flame on top of them, so you don’t need to worry about that.
Why doesn’t my simmer pot smell?
The aromas of a simmer pot can be affected when the water level in the pot gets to be too low. You also want to make sure it is simmering and not boiling. With these two things, you are ensured a lovely smelling home!
Tips to Make the Best Simmering Christmas Potpourri
- Set a timer – Setting a timer for an hour and then going back to check on it after that hour to make sure the water level is good is a great idea!
- Fresh and local is best – If you are wanting to use pine in your recipe, try going to a local tree shop and ask for scraps of the trees left over.
- Low heat – To ensure optimal smell, it is best to keep the heat low and like the name, on a simmer.
Tools You May Need
Medium to large pot (depends on how long you want your simmer pot going for. I used my Dutch Oven)
Cutting board
Sharp knife
Ingredients
Apple Slices
Orange Slices
Rosemary
Cinnamon Sticks
Cranberries
Nutmeg
Water
How to Make a Christmas Simmer Pot Step-by-Step
To start, grab a medium stovetop pot, a cutting board, and a sharp knife.
Now, taking the orange and the apple, slice them so the slices are circular and not wedges. Like you would if you were making dried citrus. Place the sliced fruit into the medium pot.
To the pot along with the fruit, add the rosemary, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and cranberries.
On top of all the ingredients, cover completely with water. The amount of water will depend on the size of your pot.
Turn the burner on high and bring the pot to a boil. Once boiled, turn the burner down low so it simmers.
Allow the pot to simmer all day, checking occasionally to make sure it has enough water. Enjoy the cozy smells of Christmas!
*Feel free to add more of certain ingredients if you want those smells more prominent. Make this recipe your own!
Christmas Simmer Pot
This homemade Christmas simmer pot will make your home smell like all the best smells that come along with the holiday. Filled with cranberries, fresh oranges, rosemary, cinnamon sticks, and Allspice...what could be better?! Some how it smells better than it looks. Elevate your mundane days or even your hosting days, with this simple and easy DIY Christmas Simmer pot.
Ingredients
- 1 Apple, sliced into circles
- 1 Orange, sliced into circles
- 3 Cinnamon Sticks
- 1, 12-ounce bag cranberries
- 1/4 teaspoon Allspice
- 2 Rosemary Sprigs
- Water, until covered
Instructions
- To start, prepare your ingredients by slicing your apple and orange so they come out as circular pieces. Place the cut fruit into the pot of choice.
- Next, to the pot with the fruit, add the 3 cinnamon sticks, 2 sprigs rosemary, 12-ounce bag of cranberries, and 1/4 teaspoon allspice.
- On top of it all, pour water. You can just cover the ingredients with water, or so you don't have to check as often if there is enough water left, you can do about double or triple the amount needed to just cover the ingredients.
- Place on the stovetop and bring everything to a boil.
- Once boiled, turn the burner down too low to a simmer.
- Allow to simmer for an hour or up to 1 day.
Notes
Because this recipe uses fresh fruit and not just peels, it is best to not reuse this simmer pot over the course of a few days. Exchange the fresh fruit for peels if you want to enjoy this for more than a day.
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