Let’s dig into seven easy Christmas simmer pot recipes that are easy and inexpensive and will infuse your home smell the natural way filled with the festive scent of a holiday candle.  At the end of the post, you’ll find a printable recipe card with simmer pot recipes.

Before we dive into these simmer pot recipes, allow me to address any questions you may have about crafting homemade Christmas simmering pots.

Jump to Recipe

When To Begin Simmer Pot Recipes?

What Time Should To Begin My Pot?

After experimenting with these simmer pot recipes in our slow cooker, I recommend beginning to let them simmer early.

So, I will begin my slow cooker early in the morning for Christmas. When the family arrives to celebrate a beautiful scent will make our home smell like Christmas.

Use a slow cooker or buy a small simmer pot for the best results for these simmer pot recipes. Using a slow cooker is easier than using the stove top method.

Tip: With the home filled with company check a pot on the stove top every 2 to 3 hours to make sure there’s enough water in the saucepan. After all, we want to savor every moment we have during the holiday season with our loved ones.

The best way to achieve a Christmas smell the natural way throughout the entire house is to set your slow cooker on high to reach a hot temperature. Simmer pots require some time for the ingredients to meld and warm up.

Once you notice steam filling the lid, it’s a good indication that the scents are beginning to intermingle and create the perfect Christmas smell.

To maintain this festive scent throughout Christmas day, keep the setting high until your family and guests arrive. Just before their arrival, reduce the temperature to low, and the slow cooker will last for the day.

Make The Whole House Smell Like Christmas?

Grocery Store Magic: For Your Own Home

​Smells of Christmas for simmer pots:

• cinnamon sticks
• whole cloves
• apple
• pear
• citrus fruits
• star anise
• bay leaves
• orange slices
• lemon slices
• pine needles
• Rosemary
• vanilla extract
• cardamom pods
• essential oils can also be used

TIP: Save scraps of fresh evergreens when you decorate for the holiday season for simmer pot recipes. If you don’t have fresh evergreens, no problem, add sprigs of Rosemary for the same woodsy smells of the holidays.

Can I Reuse Simmer Pots?

Simmer Pots: Reuse Ingredients

Yes! The best thing about simmer pot recipes is their versatility and natural way to have your home smell with a festive scent and a pleasant aroma. 

Simmering pot recipes are a great natural way to use natural ingredients from the grocery store, such as lemon peel, orange peel, green apples, red apples, and pear skins.

The advantage of using a simmer pot is the ability to wrap and refrigerate the fresh ingredients for future use. This means you can enjoy the simmer pot recipes with warm spices not just once but twice! It’s a great way to make the most of infusing your entire home the natural way with the aroma of the Christmas season.

My favorite thing about simmer pot recipes is their inexpensive way to have your home smell with the scents of the holiday season. 

Make Your Home Smell Like Williams Sonoma

Have you ever wanted your home to smell like Williams Sonoma during the Christmas season? 

Well, you’re in luck because you can easily create this festive scent the natural way by adding a few ingredients to your simmer pot. 

• fresh cranberries
• whole spices like nutmeg
• warm spices from the spice cabinet such as ground spices such as clove and a bit of ginger

Tip: If you are using ground spices such as ground cloves. Use 1-1/2 tsp. ground cloves.

To substitute ground cinnamon for cinnamon sticks, use 1-1/2 tsp. of ground cinnamon

Fresh cranberries add freshness to the mix.  Enhance the simmering pot by adding whole spices like nutmeg to add warmth for the holiday season.

With these additions, you’ll be well on your way to having your home smell with a festive scent that rivals the Williams Sonoma Christmas smell.

Easy Christmas Stove Top Potpourri

Elegance On The Stove: Traditional Simmer Pot:

For this simple simmer pot recipe fill a large saucepan with fresh water to completely cover your ingredients and add it to the stove top.

Add leftover greens from your Christmas tree or add sprigs from pine trees. Another option is to use rosemary sprigs from the grocery store to add the woodsy smells of the holiday season to your home.

Now add the sprigs of rosemary or pine trees to your homemade Christmas simmer pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat and make sure to check the water level every 2-3 hours to see if you need to add more water.

If you want add the ingredients to a mason jar with a lid and store it in the refrigerator. This can be used for up to 2-3 days to simmer again. Isn’t this great?

I also think this makes a wonderful gift.

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Gift Giving Ideas

Gifts That Wow: Elevate Your Gifting Game with These Great Gift Ideas

These simmer pot recipes double as a wonderful gift.  Give these as neighbor gifts, to teachers, your girlfriends, and coworkers, allowing them to enjoy a potpourri pot and enjoy this festive scent in their own home. 

Imagine giving these simmer pot recipes in cellophane bags or a mason jar adorned with a pretty ribbon. For a touch of elegance add a velvet or a satin ribbon. For rustic charm add jute or twine to tie it all together. Add a pretty printable gift tag to add a personal touch.

For another gift idea give this homemade Christmas potpourri with a plate of cookies. I’d be thrilled if I received this as a gift, especially with Christmas cookies, my favorite thing! Add their favorite hot cocoa, coffee, or tea.

These thoughtful Christmas gifts are bound to bring smiles and will fill their home with the beautiful scent of the holiday season.

Tis The Season to Spark Joy: Find Your Holiday Season Inspiration Here!

If you’re in search of inspiration to prepare your home for the upcoming Christmas season, look no further!

I invite you to explore my home tour, where I share a bunch of tips and ideas that will help you create a truly festive and inviting home. From simple decor suggestions to creative arrangements. You’ll find plenty of inspiration to infuse your own with holiday charm.

What’s more, I provide an abundance of quick craft ideas that not only make a wonderful gift but also offer an opportunity for quality family time and creating cherished Christmas memories.

So, let the spirit of the Christmas season fill your heart, and let your creativity flourish as you embark on crafting heartfelt gifts and decorate your home with warmth.

Festive Fragrance Feast: Delight in These Christmas Simmer Pot Recipes

Home For The Holiday Season: Unveil the Charm of Winter With These Simmer Pot Recipes

Below you will find some easy DIY Christmas and winter scent simmer pot recipes.

Culinary Marvels Await: Explore These Click-Worthy Fantastic Recipe Ideas

Recipe 1: Traditional Christmas Recipe

• Peels from 1-2 oranges or 4 orange slices
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 tsp whole cloves
• 2 Star Anise
• 3 evergreen branches, pine needles, or even 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
• 1 Whole nutmeg chopped
• 1 cup cranberries
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

This simmering pot recipe will smell like the holiday season and it will be beautiful with the combination of rich colors. Not to mention how pretty this combination will be to see on Christmas as everyone walks by.

Recipe 2: Juniper Citrus Christmas Simmering Pot Recipe

• 3-4 slices of orange
• 2-3 lemon peels or ½ lemon cut into quarters, with the peel on
• 1 tablespoon dried juniper berries
• 2 sticks of cinnamon
• This recipe is amazing, especially because of the scent of the juniper berries.

And how about this as a slow cooker or stovetop Christmas potpourri? This makes your home smell amazing for the holiday season!

Recipe 3: Cinnamon Sticks, Clove Citrus Christmas Simmer Pot Recipe

• 3 orange slices
• 3 lemon slices
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 tsp. cloves
• a handful of cranberries
• a handful of fresh pine needles

Recipe 4: Lemon & Orange Simmer Pot

• Peel from 1 lemon or lemon slices
• Peel from 1 orange or orange slices
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 Tablespoons whole cloves

Lastly, this will be a great pick-me-up during the cold days of winter.

Enhance your home during the colder, dreary months by infusing it with a pleasant home smell, creating a comforting atmosphere. Imagine the cozy warmth of a crackling fire as you indulge in a steaming bowl of soup, all while surrounded by the inviting home smell that makes your space feel like home.

Recipe 5: Winter Months Simmering Potpourri Recipe

• 2 sliced apples
• 2 slices orange
• 3 large cinnamon sticks
• 3 whole cloves
• 1 bunch of fresh rosemary sprigs
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

This recipe is a great way to have your home smell beautiful with winter scents in a pot! *Bonus* The combination of apples, oranges, and cinnamon sticks makes the home smell like fall too!

Recipe 6:  Spicy Winter Simmer Pot

• 4 slices orange sliced with peel 
• 1 small granny smith apple sliced with peel on
• 1 lemon slice with the rind on
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 3 Star Anise
• 2 rosemary sprigs

**For extra spice add whole nutmeg or add 1 tsp. Fresh cloves**  Open the nutmeg slightly to release the aroma

Recipe 7:  Fesh Winter Simmer Pot

• 1/4 grapefruit sliced peel on
• 1 apple sliced
• 1/2 lemon sliced with peel on 
• 1 tbsp. ground ginger
• 3 cinnamon stick
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 3 fresh pine branches or a bunch of fresh pine needles or fresh rosemary

TIP: Try red grapefruit in combination with cinnamon sticks and cranberries for a festive bright color

Reasons To Try These Amazing Simmer Pot Recipes

1. Spread the Joy of Christmas: Share these delightful simmer pot recipes with your friends and family, and let the festive scents fill their homes for the holiday season and winter season too! Whether it’s a holiday gathering, a thoughtful gift, or just a cozy day by the fire, these simmer pot recipes are sure to create a magical Christmas atmosphere.
2. Get Creative with Simmer Pot Recipes: Experiment with different combinations of spices, fruits, and herbs to create your own signature Christmas simmer pot recipes. Share your unique simmer pot recipes in the comments and inspire others to try something new this holiday season!
3. Gift the Gift of Christmas: Surprise your loved ones with a homemade Christmas simmer pot and a plate of delicious cookies. It’s a heartfelt gesture that will make their holidays even more special. Spread the love and warmth of the season with this thoughtful and aromatic present.

Conclusion

Simmer Pot Recipes

In conclusion, these seven easy Christmas simmer pot recipes are sure to infuse your home with a festive and inviting scent during the holiday season.

• Starting your simmer pot in advance, preferably in a slow cooker, allows the ingredients to meld harmoniously and create a captivating aroma. Remember to use various ingredients like cinnamon sticks, citrus fruits, cloves, pine needles, or rosemary to achieve the perfect Christmas smell.
• The best part about these simmer pot recipes is their versatility; you can reuse ingredients like orange peels and lemon peels to keep the festive aroma going.
• Additionally, they make a great gift for your loved ones, and when paired with delicious cookies or their favorite hot beverage, they become even more special.
• As you create this wonderful gift decorate your home with warmth and have your home smell festive for the holiday season, may the spirit of Christmas fill your heart and create memories for you and your loved ones.

Enjoy the joyous moments of the holiday season, and home smell a natural way with the festive scents of these simmer pot recipes that wrap you in the magic of Christmas.

I hope you enjoyed this idea for amazing Christmas simmer pot recipes and ideas I shared to add an aroma the natural way to your own home. I’d love to know if you will try one of these simmer pot recipes and which is your favorite. I love connecting with my readers and growing a relationship with all of you!

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