16 DIY Simmer Pot Recipes for Spring and Summer- A Cultivated Nest (2024)

DIY Simmering Potpourri Recipes.

Simmer pots may be old-fashioned, but they aren’t out of fashion. There’s a good reason your grandma always kept a pot full of herbs, spices, and fruit simmering on the back of her stove. Not only did it act as a humidifier in the dry winter air, but it also kept the house smelling great all year long. Here are 16 Simmer Pot Recipes for Spring and Summer!

DIY simmer pot recipes aren’t hard to come up with on your own, but here are a few wonderful smelling recipes to get you started!

16 DIY Simmer Pot Recipes for Spring and Summer

Skip the commercial products. Scented candles and incense are often chemical-laden, and I don’t want that kind of stuff in my home. I do have some all-natural soy/beeswax candles that I bought, but I prefer simmering potpourri made with natural ingredients as it smells stronger (and doesn’t require an open flame).
Use pure extracts. Unlike other scented DIYs, DIY potpourri air fresheners don’t usually use essential oils. But some of them do use extracts. I always have a hard time getting truly pure extracts from my local grocery store, so I like to get them on Amazon. You could use imitation extracts, but I’ve always thought pure extracts had a stronger smell (and taste better when baking).
Use whatever is in your kitchen.You don’t have to have fancy ingredients to make simmer pots. Use the fruit and herbs you have in your house or yard to make a wonderful scent. Any kind of citrus peels mixed with rosemary, mint, or thyme are quite common combinations.

1. Spring Stove Top Potpourri

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to Amazon and/or Etsy, which means that I may earn a small commission from some of the links in this post. Please see our Disclosure Page for more information.

This fragrant spring stovetop potpourri from Home Baked Bliss smells as good as it is beautiful. The addition of fresh lavender and rose petals will leave your home smelling like a garden full of blooms.

2. Lemon Rosemary Spring Simmer Pot

Make your home smell just like spring while using herbs you grew in your own garden! This lemon, rosemary blend by Thistlewood Farms is bright and fresh.

3. Lime, Rosemary, and Vanilla Simmer Pot

Keep your home smelling fresh with this lime, rosemary, and vanilla simmering potpourri from Gluesticks & Gumdrops. Just because you own a dog doesn’t mean your house has to smell like one!

4. Summer Simmering Potpourri

5. Lime Stovetop Potpourri

Gathering Dreams must have been dreaming of spring when she combined lime, mint, ginger, and thyme. This lime stovetop potpourri sure is dreamy!

6. Coffee Simmer Pot Recipe

The smell of coffee isn’t just for in the morning. Rejuvenate your senses all day long with this coffee simmer recipe from Hello Glow.

7. Fruit DIY Simmer Pot

Two Purple Couches had the right idea when they paired mint and grapefruit for this fruity simmer pot. This crisp fruity scent is so fresh and clean!

8. Lavender DIY Simmer Pot

Don’t Disturb this Groove is getting into the cleaning groove by putting on some fun music and simmering a blend of fresh lavender and other spices. Who said spring cleaning couldn’t have its perks?

9. Summer Pine Simmer Pot

10. Citrus Simmering Potpourri

Grapefruit is such a fresh, clean scent and The Crowned Goat has paired it with pomegranate and several other spices to create a warm and inviting stove top simmer.

11. Lemon Lavender Simmer Pot

Get Green Be Well had the right idea when she combined the calming scent of lavender with the freshness of citrus for this lemon lavender simmer pot. Improve your mood with natural ingredients!

12. Lemon, Cinnamon, Mint & Thyme

A bright and spicy aroma that will make your house smell delightful! A great scent to move from winter to spring. Check out the recipe from Gathering Dreams.

13. Citrus Juniper Potpourri

This combination smells bright, woodsy, and fresh! I can’t wait to try this one on a Saturday after I have cleaned my house. Hello Glow has the recipe for you!

14. Lemon, Rosemary, & Vanilla

A bright and sweet smell that will energize your mood and freshen your home! The Yummy Life shows you how to make this simple potpourri.

15. Cranberry Orange Mix

This combination sounds like it would make a wonderful stovetop potpourri. The crisp scent of oranges and the sweet scent of cranberries will be fresh and inviting in your home. The Crowned Goat features this recipe.

16. Apple, Orange & Cinnamon

Bitz N Giggles makes this yummy smelling recipe at the end of summer for a great transition to fall. I think this one will make your mouth water!

Next time you want to freshen your home – skip the candle store at the mall and head to the produce section of your local grocery store! Mix up your own DIY simmer pot recipe and fill your home with a wonderful aroma- naturally!

What’s your favorite simmer pot recipe? Share it in the comments!

You might also be interested in:Flower Garden DIY Essential Oil Roller

16 DIY Simmer Pot Recipes for Spring and Summer- A Cultivated Nest (2024)

FAQs

How long does a simmer pot last? ›

If there are no fresh fruit slices in your recipe, simply turn off the stove and cover the pot with a lid in between uses. Reheat when you need another dose of stovetop potpourri. According to the Happier Homemaker, with this method, your simmer pot can last four days.

Discover More ›

What's the point of a simmer pot? ›

A simmer pot is a clever, all-natural way to waft a pleasant aroma throughout your entire house. Just put the ingredients into a saucepan, cover with water and let simmer. The heat and steam will welcome your guests — or even help them feel like they've been transported somewhere else.

Keep Reading ›

Can you put dried flowers in a simmer pot? ›

You simmer a pot of water on the stove, then add in any fresh or dried herbs, spices, fruits, florals, or anything else you think will smell good. Keep the pot simmering and the fragrance of your additions will float throughout your home.

Learn More Now ›

How many times can you reuse a simmer pot? ›

Depending on what ingredients you've used in your simmer pot, you can reuse the same one for several days! If you've included fruit in your recipe, then it's best to use that pot for only 1 day.

Read On ›

Should you simmer pot with lid on or off? ›

Simmering and Boiling

Keep the lid on if you want to bring something to a simmer or a boil for two reasons. "One, heat escapes through an open lid, so it would take longer for water to come to a boil," says Ronna Welsh of Purple Kale Kitchenworks.

Learn More ›

Can you leave a simmer pot unattended? ›

Note: For safety reasons, please never leave your simmer pot unattended for long periods of time.

View Details ›

Can you use a crockpot as a simmer pot? ›

Simmer pots, or stovetop potpourri, can be made in the crockpot too!

Find Out More ›

Can I use cinnamon powder in a simmer pot? ›

And to give it a nice, rich aroma, you'll need: 2 cinnamon sticks (or 1 tsp ground cinnamon), 2 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Here's how it's done: Slice your orange and apple (keep the peel on both). Add all your ingredients to a small pot and fill with water until it's about ¾ full.

Keep Reading ›

What to put in a pot to make a house smell good? ›

Natural way to make your home smell amazing. For this recipe you need 3 cups of water, one sliced lemon, one sliced lime, 2 cups of fresh Rosemary, one and 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla extract. and 2 cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce to simmer and continue to simmer on low.

Tell Me More ›

What is a summer pot? ›

If you've not made one before, a simmer pot is essentially stovetop potpourri that's a naturally aromatic way to make your whole house smell amazing. Basically, it's a large pot of water set to a low simmer with fresh ingredients like sliced citrus fruits, berries, herbs and whole spices.

Read The Full Story ›

Are simmer pots healthier than candles? ›

Those store-bought air fresheners and candles might smell nice, but they're packed with chemicals that aren't so great for us or the environment. Simmer pots, using natural ingredients like herbs and fruits, offer delightful scents without any of those harmful additives—no chemicals, just pure goodness!

Can I use essential oils in a simmer pot? ›

A teaspoon of vanilla extract also makes a simmer pot smell divine; or, add a few drops of your favorite therapeutic essential oils to create a custom scent. To start your simmer pot, fill a small pot halfway with water and stir in your spices, herbs, peels, or fruits.

Tell Me More ›

What flowers are good for simmer pots? ›

Select your ingredients

Select herbs from your indoor herb garden, like mint and rosemary, to introduce a subtle, earthy tone combined with florals like rose, eucalyptus, lavender, jasmine, and violet petals that add an uplifting fragrance.

Explore More ›

What foods are best for simmering? ›

You can simmer beef stew, meatballs in sauce, chicken and rice with broth, seafood gumbo and meat stock … just to name a few! Braising, or simmering large cuts of meat in water, beer or wine softens ingredients into a flavorful meal.

Learn More ›

Can you put anything in a simmer pot? ›

Typically, anything fragrant or in a scent you like can work well in a simmer pot. The most popular additions to a simmer pot recipe are woodsy things like pine, citrus, cranberries, and whole spices.

Find Out More ›

What do you put on a stove to simmer? ›

Simmering requires enough liquid to partially or fully submerge any added ingredients, so start the process by filling your saucepan or stockpot with the liquid ingredients dictated by your recipe. Next, set the stovetop to low or medium heat until your dish reaches a simmer.

Find Out More ›