If you want to make your home smell wonderful without using any chemicals, candles, or oils, make your own Natural Simmering Potpourri. This blend of fruits and spices can be customized to your preferences and fills the air with delicious aromas as it gently simmers on your stovetop.
Natural Simmering Potpourri
I love it when my house smells like cinnamon and apples. These smells are so comforting and cozy, especially in the fall and winter. But I don’t love to use air fresheners made with chemicals. I also avoid a lot of essential oils that can harm my pets (we do use EO’s topically for the humans, but we don’t diffuse them very often because of the dogs and cat).
So during the holiday season in particular, I love to make this natural simmering potpourri. I think you’ll love it too!
Ingredients to Make Natural Simmering Potpourri
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 orange
- 1 apple
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 3-5 whole cloves
- Water
This is a really great way to use up fruit that is starting to turn or has been bruised.
How to Make Natural Simmering Potpourri
STEP 1: Slice the orange and apple into rounds.
I like to cut the apples across so the core looks like a star in the center of each slice.
STEP 2: Place the sliced orange and apple to a medium pot or sauce pan. Add the cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.
STEP 3: Pour enough water into the pot to just almost cover the ingredients in the pot.
STEP 4: Heat the potpourri over low heat on a back burner. Simmer on low heat for up to 3 hours, adding more water as the water gets low.
Important safety tip: Check the simmering potpourri often to keep the water level up. If all of the water evaporates and is not replaced, the potpourri will burn. Do not leave the simmering potpourri unattended.
Giving Natural Simmering Potpourri as a Gift
This simmering potpourri can be given as a gift with a few changes.
- Use dried apples instead of fresh.
- Use dried oranges instead of fresh.
Add the dried apples, dried oranges, fresh cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves to a clear glass jar with a lid. Add a ribbon and gift tag with the simmering instructions and a use by date (use within 1 week) along with a note to refrigerate until using.
Reusing the Potpourri
The apples especially tend to break down as the mixture simmers. But if you haven’t been simmering it for long and need to leave the house, simply turn off the heat and cover the potpourri with a lid. It will be ready to heat up again when you return.
Start fresh with new ingredients once the apples, cranberries, and oranges have broken down and the mixture isn’t giving the same aroma as it did at first. You can transfer the cinnamon sticks to the new potpourri if you wish.
Tip: I actually found cinnamon sticks at the Dollar Tree! You never know where you’ll find them and when you see them for cheap, stock up. Other great places to check for a good deal on cinnamon sticks is an Amish grocery store (easy for me in Ohio) or on Amazon.
Natural Simmering Potpourri
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 batch 1x
Description
If you want to make your home smell wonderful without using any chemicals, candles, or oils, make your own Natural Simmering Potpourri. This blend of fruits and spices can be customized to your preferences and fills the air with delicious aromas as it gently simmers on your stovetop.
Ingredients
1 orange
1 apple
1 cup fresh cranberries
3 cinnamon sticks
3–5 whole cloves
Water
Instructions
- Slice the orange and apple into rounds.
- Place the sliced orange and apple to a medium pot or sauce pan. Add the cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.
- Pour enough water into the pot to just almost cover the ingredients in the pot.
- Heat the potpourri over low heat on a back burner. Simmer on low heat for up to 3 hours, adding more water as the water gets low.
Important tip: Check the simmering potpourri often to keep the water level up. If all of the water evaporates and is not replaced, the potpourri will burn.
Let’s Talk!
After you make this Natural Simmering Potpourri, come back and tell me how you like it! You can leave a comment and recipe rating in the comments section below. You can also click here to see this on Pinterest and leave a comment there or even your own picture. Another option would be to tag me on Instagram @MomNeedsChocolate. Can’t wait to hear from you!
MORE GREAT RECIPES
Check out some of the top Mom Needs Chocolate favorites recipes:
- The Best Chicken Fried Rice
- Homemade Granola with Cranberries
- Carrot Cake Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Easy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
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