The next time you want to fill your home or other space with a cozy scent of all-things-fall, try this simmering stovetop potpourri. Filled with apples, cinnamon, vanilla and anise stars, the scent is reminiscent of barn days and fall holidays, wrapped up in one. It is an easy way to create a sweet and welcoming scent, without burning candles or melting wax.
Simmering Potpourri
When I was a kid, I remember the smells that permeated the house every time my mom made homemade applesauce. The large stock pot sat on the stove for HOURS, filled with nothing more than apples and water. It sounds so simple (and really, it is!) but as that pot heated up, the apple aroma found its way to every nook and cranny of our house. The smell was warm and cozy and welcoming and autumnal. It was wonderful! I love when my home smells like fall!
I recall her also having a small potpourri crock pot type thing and during the holiday season, she would add dried potpourri with water and that smelled very good too. (It was basically like a slow cooker for potpourri!)
For today’s DIY potpourri simmer pot, all you need is a large pot or saucepan (whatever you cook soup in will work!) and a stovetop or cook plate.
Fall Stovetop Potpourri
The theme for today’s potpourri is autumn harvest. Fall is the time of year when local orchards are bursting with pumpkins and apples for us to pick. It is the season for pumpkin carving, applesauce and apple pie baking, campfire nights and warm apple cider drinking.
Those smells are captured wonderfully in this easy DIY fall potpourri recipe.
Harvest Apple Autumn Potpourri Ingredients
To make this smellerific simmer pot, you will need the following:
- 1 Green Apple
- 1 Red Apple
- 2 Tbs Vanilla Extract
- 2-3 Cinnamon Sticks
- 4-5 Anise Stars
Alternative Spices to Consider
Depending on your smell preferences, you can choose to add any of the following to your mix:
- Whole cloves
- Nutmeg
- Allspice
- Pumpkin Spice
- Lemon slices
- Orange Slices
- Fresh cranberries
- Sprigs of fresh rosemary
How to Make Fall Stove Top Potpourris
Follow these easy instructions to make a batch of this potpourri:
1. Fill a medium or large pot about halfway with water.
2. Slice fruit and add all ingredients to the pot.
3. Bring the contents of the pot to a boil and then turn the heat down to low. Let the liquid evaporate into your home. You can keep the pot on low for hours. Just make sure that there is always water in the pot.
Can you re-use the potpourri?
YES! You can enjoy this potpourri another day as well. Here’s how:
Allow the contents in the pot to cool completely. Store the ingredients in a mason jar or any other airtight container and place in the refrigerator. Re-use the potpourri again within a few days, adding some fresh water to the jar contents in your pot.
Simple Safety Tips
- Never leave your house with the stove turned on.
- Place pot on a back burner to decrease the likelihood of a child or pet bumping it.
- Check the pot every half hour or so to make sure there is still water in the bottom.
If you have ever felt too intimidated to try a simple stovetop potpourri, don’t! It is truly so simple and pretty hard to mess up. Once you make your first batch, challenge yourself to experiment with future batches! Love citrus? Add fresh fruits like lemon and orange slices to your pan. Obsessed with pumpkin spice? Go heavy on the cloves and pumpkin pie spice.
Have fun trying out different simmer pot recipes! Share your favorite combinations in the comments below!
