Celebrate sweater weather and nesting season with a simple and cozy fall simmer pot and fill your home with the scent of autumn.
This is the easiest DIY ever! I don’t even think you can call it a DIY or a recipe but I am. Today I am sharing a simple and cozy Fall simmer pot.
Do you remember years ago when you walked into William Sonoma in the Fall, it had a distinct scent that transported you home to your grandmothers kitchen? They had a copper pot bubbling away on the stove filled with mulling spices. It is where I first learned to make a simmer pot over 20 years ago.
Since then, each year when the winds of Autumn blow I pull out my little copper pot and load it up with a combination of fruits, herbs and spices to create my own signature scent.
Fall, sweater weather, or whatever you call it is here! Cool crisp days, comfort food, and everything pumpkin are just of few of the things that make cozy season special.
One of the things I love to do to welcome the fall season is making stovetop potpourri and simmer pots. The comforting scents of fall wafting through the house is one of my favorite things about the cooler months. Yes, you could light your favorite candle and I often do, but why not make a Fall simmer pot combining your favorite spices and fruits?
What is a simmer pot?
A simmer pot also known as stovetop potpourri, is a pot of water filled with a combination of fresh ingredients, fruits, spices and herbs. You simmer it on the stove creating a seasonal scent that makes your house smell fabulous.
Why should you make a simmer pot?
- Aside from the obvious of creating a seasonal scent without chemicals, a simmer pot adds moisture to your home. As the weather cools down the air gets dry in the house and the humidity created by your pot is a good thing.
- You can create your own recipe or signature scent by adding your favorite fresh fruit, spices and water to a pot and voila a cozy fall simmer pot that will make your home smell delicious.
- It is a great way to use aging or old spices and fruit scraps.
Fall Simmer Pot Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-4 orange slices or peels
- 3-4 lemon slices or peels
- 4 slices of apple
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 star anise
- cinnamon sticks
- Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary
- Bay Leaves
- Fresh Water
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with all of the ingredients listed above and cover with water.
- Place the pot on the stove and bring to a simmer over low heat.
- Add more water every few hours as needed to cover the ingredients. Do not let the water level go down too far or the fruit will burn.
- You can use your simmer pot for a several days after making it, after that discard the ingredients and start new.
Variations
- Use a slow cooker or a crock pot, make sure to use the lowest setting.
- Use apple cores, apple slices or a apple peels instead of whole sliced apples.
- Citrus peels including orange slices, orange peels, lemon wedges, lemon peels.
- Cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon.
- Whole cloves, ground cloves, cardamom pods, star anise
- Fresh herbs, bay leaves,sprigs of fresh rosemary, mint leaves.
- Vanilla Bean pod or a dash of vanilla extract.
- Instead of water add apple cider to your pot.
- Fresh pine needles or sprigs of pine.
- Add a few drops of essential oils to make the smell more potent.
For more cozy Fall Ideas check out
An easy Fall DIY
5 Minute Fall Snack Mix for Peanut Butter Lovers or Fall Harvest Snack Mix
25 Tips & Ideas to Add to Your Fall Bucket List
7 fall self-care ideas to help you rest, relax and reboot
THAT’S ALL FOR NOW
I hope that you enjoyed making a fall simmer pot and that you try to make one the next time you would like to add the sweet aroma of autumn to your home.
Do you make simmer posts for Fall and Winter?
Have a great day friends, thank you for spending part of your day with me.
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How to Make a Simple & Cozy Fall Simmer Pot
Celebrate sweater weather and nesting season with a simple and cozy fall simmer pot.
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 1 pot 1x
Ingredients
Ingredients
1–4 orange slices or peels
3–4 lemon slices or peels
4 slices of apple
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 star anise
cinnamon sticks
Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary
Fresh Water
Instructions
Fill a large pot with all of the ingredients listed above and cover with water.
Place the pot on the stove and bring to a simmer over low heat.
Add more water every few hours as needed to cover the ingredients. Do not let the water level go down too far or the fruit will burn.
You can use your simmer pot for a few days after making it, after that discard the ingredients and start anew.
Notes
You can customize this simmer pot to suit your taste by using more or less spices, fruits and herbs.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 40
- Method: stove top
On My Radar
I’m sure it smells wonderful! Probably permeates your whole house and reminds you of fall and the coming holiday season.
Brenda
Good morning Brenda,
It makes the whole house smell fabulous! I love making simmer posts, they are so easy and you can use whatever you have.
I hope that your new home search is going well!
Have a wonderful day!
I love a simmer pot, Elizabeth Pine Cones! And what a fabulous idea to create a scent specially for your own home. That sounds really cosy and evocative!
Thank you April! It is such a simple and fun thing to do to celebrate the changing seasons.