15 simmer pot recipes

Simmer pots are an easy way to make your home smell fresh and inviting.  I specifically love having a simmer pot blend because it doesn't contain chemicals like store bought air fresheners and the flavors and ingredients can be customized.  In many cases, everything you need is already in your home or yard.

What is a simmer pot?

Essentially, it is a pot of water containing fragrant ingredients that are brought to a boil and then simmered on low heat. This accomplishes two things. It releases fresh flavors into the air and it also helps humidify the air.  Personally, I love having a simmer pot when I'm home on a cold day!

A small saucepan can be used, however, I prefer using a small slow cooker (crock pot). You don't have to watch the slow cooker as closely to make sure there is sufficient water in it. This is the slow cooker I have. I love the size and the color (and the price!). It's a smaller size, more along the size you would keep appetizer dips in. A crockpot is perfect because it keeps your ingredients at a low heat.

Simmer Pot Ingredients

Items that have a fresh smell are the best. I combine certain groups, but let me give you some ideas as to what can be used.  A simmer pot is usually made up of lots of water and 3 to 5 of the ingredients below. Ingredients can be from your fridge, pantry, garden or yard.  Below are a few pictures showing you some of the ingredients you can use.

Fruits, especially citrus fruits

Orange slices
Orange peels
Lemon slices/lemon peels
limes/lime peels
grapefruit
Apples/apple slices/apple peels
Apple cider or apple juice
Cranberries (awesome for a splash of color!)

Herbs and spices (fresh if you can but dried also work)

Sprigs of rosemary
whole cloves
vanilla extract
sprigs of thyme
star anise (so pretty!)
nutmeg
bay leaves
lavender
fresh rosemary
cinnamon sticks
fresh ginger slices
mint

From the yard - non-edibles

a small sprig of cedar (arborvitaes work)
Spruce or pine from a tree

Combinations I use & enjoy

Modern simmer pots are about both fresh and clean scents and also have a pretty appearance. These are not the old stovetop potpourri mixtures that were brown and on the unsightly side.

Cranberry & lemon

• This is my favorite fall simmer pot. Probably because it's just so pretty! And the cranberries are only available for a certain period of the year.
  
  Sliced lemon
  cranberries
  rosemary sprigs
  vanilla extract (a teaspoon or a tablespoon's worth, depending on how large your pot is)

The William Sonoma scent

This was the first simmer pot recipe I ever used. It is widely shared that it is actually what William Sonoma uses in its stores. (I can't confirm that but their stores smell divine!).

Sliced lemons
Rosemary sprigs
Cinnamon sticks
vanilla extract

Cranberries & oranges

Cranberries
Orange slices
cinnamon sticks
sprigs of rosemary

Gingerbread

 

Thinly sliced fresh ginger
2-3 cinnamon sticks
whole cloves
whole star of anise

Orange & mulled Spices

Sliced orange
2-3 cinnamon sticks
mulling spices
A sprig or two of fresh rosemary

Citrus

This always smells fresh and clean in a house!

Slices of oranges, lemons and limes.
Cranberries (optional garnish)

In the Woods

I take small clippings of aromatic trees in my yard. To me, it smells like being in the woods! None of these simmer pots are to be consumed. If you don't have a dedicated one, I would avoid using your food pot to heat items you would not consume.

Clipping of cedar
clipping of spruce

Apple Pie

This is perfect when you have apples that are just past where you want to eat them.

Apple slices
Cinnamon
Cranberries (optional - for color,and flavor)

Ginger and Lemon

Did you know these two ingredients make ginger tea? It's so good!

Thinly sliced fresh ginger
sliced lemon
(add something colorful for garnish - I had cranberries handy).

Smells like Chai!

Speaking of tea, this mixture of anise (the star shaped spice), whole cloves, cinnamon sticks and whole peppercorns is such a wonderful scent on a cold day!

Cinnamon sticks
Whole anise
Whole cloves
peppercorns

Fresh outdoor scent!

Clipping of cedar (not edible)
Sprigs of rosemary
Bay leaves

Cinnamon and Cranberries

Cranberries (lots of cranberries)
Cinnamon sticks
Rosemary

Richly spiced orange

Did you know that anise is the flavor of black licorice? It's such a rich flavor!
Sliced oranges
Cinnamon Sticks
Whole Anise
Whole cloves

Lovely Lemon & Crannberry

Lemon
Cranberries
Cinnamon

Orange Rosemary & Pine

Another outdoor woods type scent!

Orange slices
Rosemary sprig
pine cutting

Fruit and Pine

Orange slice
apple slice
lemon slice
cinnamon sticks pine sprig
vanilla extract

Lemon & Sage

Makes me think of Thanksgiving!

Lemon slices
Sprig of sage
Whole cloves

Ways to save money with your simmer pot ingredients!

Some of these ingredients (looking at you cinnamon sticks) have become very expensive over the last few years.  Here are some frugal ideas to obtain less expensive ingredients.

Use what is in season!  Cranberries are beautiful and also add a nice scent in combination to other fruits, herbs and spices.
Buy items on sale. Fruit for example. Buy the inexpensive apples or the citrus that is on sale that week.
Use up what you have. Apples not crisp? Slice them and use them this way.
Slice fruit peels and use those. Orange peels, apple peels can be sliced and used.
Buy things like cinnamon sticks at the dollar store or the bulk store. So much cheaper!
Use what is in your garden (or ask a neighbor who gardens if they can share).
Forage in your yard for fresh-smelling ingredients (cedar, spruce & fir trees).
Use up old herbs & spices in your spice drawer.

If you have any other ideas on how you make pretty but inexpensive simmer pots, let me know!

For those of you using these to add humidy into your home, take a look at this post called Increasing Humidity in a Dry House.