10 Christmas Simmer Pot Recipes For the Holiday

Most Christmas simmer pot recipes smell like the same citrus-and-cinnamon pot with one ingredient swapped, and by the third batch your kitchen feels stuck on repeat. I wanted ten pots that each smell like something different: a fresh-cut tree, a gingerbread house, cool peppermint, a cup of chai.

A simmer pot, also called stovetop potpourri or simmering potpourri, is a pot of water with fruit, spices, herbs and sometimes tea kept at a low simmer so the steam carries the scent through the house. It’s a natural air freshener made from grocery store ingredients, and it’s a lovely swap for candles, wax melts, plug-ins and room sprays during the busiest weeks of December.

Every recipe below comes with real measurements and simple steps. Pick the scent that fits your day, whether that’s a slow Saturday at home or a houseful of guests at six.

What You Might Need

You don’t need special equipment for any of these. Here’s what makes the process easier:

• A medium saucepan, glass pot or enameled cast-iron Dutch oven
• A kettle or pitcher of water for top-ups
• A slow cooker, if you’d like a hands-off option
• A fine mesh strainer for cleanup
• Mason jars or kraft bags if you plan to gift a few
• A kitchen timer

The basic method is the same for almost every pot. Fill your pot one-half to two-thirds with water, add your blend, bring it to a gentle simmer and then turn the heat to low. I recommend a medium saucepan, glass pot or enameled Dutch oven, and avoid aluminum because it can affect the fragrance. Plan to top off the water every 30 to 60 minutes.

A few safety notes before you start. Keep an eye on your pot and never leave it unattended. If all the water evaporates, the pan and ingredients can burn, so turn the pot off at night and whenever you leave the house, and set a timer to remind yourself to check the water.

If you have pets, keep the pot where paws can’t reach it and skip any essential oil add-ins. The ASPCA says concentrated oils can cause problems with only a few drops and recommends keeping oils up and out of reach. Store-bought liquid potpourri is a different product altogether: Oklahoma State University’s veterinary center explains it combines essential oils with detergents that can burn a pet’s mouth and skin.

1. Apple and Allspice for a Home-for-the-Holidays Smell

Picture apple rounds and orange wheels bobbing in a big pot, with red cranberries tucked between them and a few sprigs of thyme floating on top. This one smells like a warm kitchen on a December afternoon, fruity and gently spiced.

Here’s what goes in:

• 1 apple, sliced into rounds
• 1 orange, sliced into rounds
• 1/2 cup fresh or dried cranberries
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 tablespoons whole allspice
• 3 sprigs of thyme

1. Fill a large pot with water, as full as you can, so it lasts longer.
2. Add everything and bring it to a bubble.
3. Turn the heat down to medium-low or low as soon as it bubbles, since long stretches of high heat make a simmer pot smell cooked.
4. Top off the water as it cooks down.

Keep this pot to one cinnamon stick, because cinnamon can quickly drown out everything else. If the scent seems faint after an hour, add a second stick. Start the pot about an hour before guests arrive, since that’s how long the scent takes to fill a house.

How to Style It: Lay the apple and orange rounds on the surface so the colors show, and let the thyme rest along one edge of the pot. A cream or white enameled pot makes the cranberries look extra bright. Keep the rest of the stovetop clear apart from a small dish for the spoon, so the pot reads as part of the decor.

Shop It: The Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven holds a low simmer steadily for hours, and the glossy enamel looks pretty enough to leave on the front burner all afternoon.

Lodge Essential Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 6 Quart, Island…

• Quality Enameled Dutch Oven: The Lodge Essential Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven gives you all the benefits…
• Simmer in Style: This colorful enamel pot comes in a variety of colors to add a pop of interest to your…
• Care Instructions: Our non-toxic Dutch oven is dishwasher safe, but hand washing with warm, soapy water…

$89.99

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

2. Clove, Bay Leaf and Orange Peel, the Classic Winter Pot

This is the deep, spicy scent of a well-stocked spice drawer. Orange peel is the only fruit in it, so it smells warm and a little woodsy, and it’s the simplest pot on this list.

You’ll need:

• Peel from 1 orange
• 5 bay leaves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves

1. Fill a small pot halfway with water and stir in the peel and spices.
2. Bring it to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer uncovered for as long as you like.
3. Top it off with more water every 30 to 60 minutes.
4. Use a larger pot if you’d rather refill less often.

Because the ingredient list is so short, this is a great pot to start on a weeknight with whatever’s already in the pantry.

How to Style It: Use a small saucepan on a back burner and let the bay leaves float on top where you can see them. Cut the orange peel into one long spiral so it curls around the edge of the pot. It looks intentional, and it’s easier to fish out later.

Shop It: Simply Organic Whole Cloves come in a glass jar with a shaker lid, and whole cloves are what this recipe calls for.

Simply Organic Whole Cloves, 2.05 Ounce | Hand-Selected…

• 2.05 ounces; Glass bottle
• Cloves with an intensely deep aroma and flavor.
• Certfied Organic; Kosher

$11.41

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

3. Fresh-Cut Christmas Tree

If your tree is artificial, this is the pot that makes the house smell like the real thing. Pine sprigs and cedar shavings bring the forest, and dried orange, bay leaves, cinnamon and a little cardamom warm it up.

This one works as a jar mix, so you can make it ahead:

• 4 dried orange slices, or 1 fresh orange, sliced
• 1 tablespoon dried cranberries, or 1/4 cup fresh
• 1 tablespoon cedar shavings
• 2 to 3 pine sprigs
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, or 1 fresh sprig
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom seeds

1. Combine the ingredients in a jar, or set them out by the stove.
2. Fill a pot three-quarters of the way with water and bring it to a boil.
3. Turn the heat to low and add the ingredients.
4. Keep it simmering, adding water as needed so the pot stays more than halfway full.

Clemson lists pine and cedar sprigs among its winter simmer pot ingredients. Only use evergreens you can identify, and leave out yew: NC State Extension rates its poison severity as high and lists its bark, fruit, leaves and seeds as poisonous. Trimmings from your Christmas tree work if you know what kind of tree it is.

How to Style It: Let the tips of the sprigs poke above the waterline so the pot looks like a little forest floor. Pair it with a small bowl of extra cranberries on the counter, and you’ve got a pretty kitchen moment with almost no effort.

Shop It: Fiskars Pruning Shears make quick work of snipping sprigs from a backyard tree or the bottom branches of a fresh Christmas tree.

Sale

Fiskars 6″ Non-Stick Pruning Snips, Resin-Resistant Garden…

• GARDENING ESSENTIAL: Steel blade micro-tip plant shears with sheath ideal for pruning flowers, herbs, and…
• MAXIMUM POWER AND PRECISION: Micro-tip precise blades cut all the way to the tip for clean, healthy cuts…
• LONG-LASTING AND RELIABLE: Non-stick blade coating helps reduce jamming; Steel blades stay sharp through…

$13.98

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

4. Juniper and Rosemary Winter Wonderland

This one smells crisp and bright, like cold air on a clear winter morning. Lemon rounds, rosemary, bay leaves and chopped juniper berries give it a clean, green scent with a soft hint of vanilla underneath.

Gather these:

• 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
• 3 rosemary sprigs
• 1/2 cup juniper berries, roughly chopped
• 1 vanilla bean or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon whole coriander

1. Fill a large pot with water and add the ingredients.
2. Bring it to a bubble, then lower the heat to medium-low or low and keep it simmering.

Juniper resin is sticky, so wash your knife right after chopping the berries.

How to Style It: This pot looks gorgeous in a glass pot where you can see the lemon rounds and rosemary from the side. Set it on the stove next to a small sprig of rosemary in a bud vase so the kitchen carries the same green note.

Shop It: The Visions 5-Liter Glass Dutch Oven shows off everything inside, and glass is one of the pot materials Clemson suggests for simmering.

Corning Vision Visions 4.5 L Round Dutch Oven with Lid

• Corning Vision Visions Amber 4.5 Liter Round Dutch Oven w/ Lid

$108.99

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

5. Gingerbread House

This pot is pure bakery. Fresh ginger coins, cardamom, nutmeg and vanilla simmer into a scent so close to gingerbread that people will walk into the kitchen looking for cookies.

Here’s the blend:

• 1 large piece of fresh gingerroot, cut into coins
• 1 vanilla bean or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon green cardamom pods
• 2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 1 whole nutmeg pod
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 5 whole star anise pods

1. Fill a large pot with water and add everything.
2. Bring it to a bubble, then turn it down to medium-low or low.
3. Keep it at a gentle simmer and top off the water as it cooks down.
4. Start it about an hour before company comes.

Fair warning: this blend is convincing enough that guests will expect baked goods, so have real cookies on hand.

How to Style It: Put a plate of gingerbread cookies on the counter near the stove and let the star anise float on top of the pot, where the little stars look like decorations. This is the pot for a cookie exchange or a decorating afternoon.

Shop It: Frontier Co-op Whole Star Anise gives you plenty of pods for this pot and several others on this list, since star anise shows up again and again in Christmas blends.

6. Peppermint, Lemon and Rosemary

This one smells cool and bright, like a candy cane with a squeeze of fresh lemon. It’s the lightest pot on the list, and a nice reset after a day of heavy spices and baking smells.

It takes only a few ingredients:

• 1 to 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
• 1 lemon or lime
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary

1. Fill your pot halfway with water and add the ingredients.
2. Bring it to a gentle boil.
3. Lower the heat and let it simmer uncovered.
4. Add more water every hour or so to prevent scorching.

You can reheat this pot several times through the week by adding fresh water and ingredients as needed.

How to Style It: Slice the lemon into rounds so they float on top with the rosemary, and set a glass jar of candy canes beside the stove. The red-and-white stripes give the kitchen the peppermint look while the pot handles the scent.

Shop It: McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract sits in the baking aisle of most grocery stores, and one small bottle is enough for several pots.

McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract, 2 fl oz

• 2X more Pure Peppermint Extract than our 1 fl. oz. bottle
• Made with the oil of peppermint for a minty taste
• No corn syrup, non-GMO & gluten-free

$4.76

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

7. Vanilla Chai

This is the cozy, curl-up-on-the-couch pot. Black tea, vanilla, cardamom and fresh ginger make the house smell like a mug of chai, warm and creamy with a peppery edge.

What goes in:

• 2 cinnamon sticks, about 6 inches each
• 4 black tea bags
• 1 vanilla pod, sliced lengthwise
• 15 whole cardamom pods
• About a 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 2 teaspoons black peppercorns

1. Fill a large saucepan or stockpot with water, leaving a few inches at the top.
2. Add all of the ingredients.
3. Bring it to a gentle simmer.
4. Keep it on low for as long as you like, adding water as needed.

Slice the ginger thin, since thick pieces sink to the bottom. Any black tea works here, and chai tea bags make the spice scent stronger. To use it again the next day, scoop out the tea bags before they fall apart overnight and cover the pot. In the morning, top it up with fresh water and new tea bags.

How to Style It: Set this pot on the stove with a tray nearby holding two mugs and the tea tin. It turns the kitchen into a little tea station for a slow evening.

Shop It: Twinings Chai tea bags are an easy grocery store pick, and chai bags give this pot a stronger spice scent than plain black tea.

8. Cranberry Orange Rosemary, the Classic Done Well

Yes, this is the pot everyone knows, and there’s a reason it’s everywhere. Bright cranberries, orange slices, rosemary and star anise smell like Christmas in its most familiar form, and a teaspoon of vanilla keeps the whole pot soft and sweet.

Here’s the full list:

• 2 cups fresh cranberries
• 1 large orange, sliced
• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 3 whole star anise
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8 cups water

1. Add the cranberries, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, rosemary and vanilla to a pot.
2. Cover everything with the 8 cups of water.
3. Heat it over medium-high until the water starts to boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer.
4. Check the water level often and add more as needed.

Don’t leave this pot heating on the stove unattended. Extra cranberries freeze well, which is handy since they’re only in stores for a short time.

How to Style It: Build the pot as an arrangement: cranberries across the bottom, orange slices in a staggered line on one side, rosemary beside them, then pour the water in slowly so nothing shifts. It looks like a centerpiece sitting on the stove.

Shop It: The Le Creuset Signature 6.5-Quart Round Dutch Oven holds all 8 cups of water with plenty of room to spare, and a red one makes the cranberries look even brighter.

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Deep Round Oven, 6.5 qt…

• Enameled cast iron delivers superior heat distribution and retention; Ready to use, requires no seasoning
• Easy-to-clean and durable enamel resists dulling, staining, chipping and cracking; Light colored smooth…
• Tight-fitting lids are specially designed to circulate steam and return moisture back to the food…

$289.95

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

9. Saved Orange Peel With Clove and Ginger

This is the thrifty pot, made with a peel you’d normally toss after snacking on an orange. It smells bright and citrusy, with a warm, spicy finish from the ginger and cloves.

You’ll need:

• 1 orange peel, or orange slices with the peel on
• 8 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 inch fresh ginger
• 3 cups water

1. Place the peel, cloves, cinnamon and ginger in a small saucepan with the water.
2. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat.
3. Reduce the heat to a simmer.
4. Let it simmer through the day, watching the stove and adding water as it reduces.

Lemon, lime or grapefruit peels work too, and one pot lasts two to three days if you refrigerate it overnight and reuse it the next morning. Compost the contents once they stop giving off fragrance. You can also air-dry citrus, apple or ginger peels and store them in an airtight jar for future simmer pots, so you can collect peels all month.

How to Style It: Keep a glass jar of drying peels on the windowsill. The orange curls look cheerful in the light, and you’ll always have the start of a simmer pot ready.

Shop It: OXO Good Grips POP Containers seal airtight, so dried peels stay fragrant until you’re ready to simmer them.

OXO Good Grips POP Container, Airtight Food Storage for Pantry…

• OXO Good Grips POP Containers’ airtight, space-efficient design keeps dry foods fresh and your…
• New shapes, sizes and BPA free, dishwasher-safe construction stack perfectly with all POP Containers and…
• Convenient fill line makes it easy to store staples like cereal, flour, sugar, pasta, rice, coffee, nuts…

$15.95

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

10. Build Your Own Christmas Simmer Pot Recipes

Once you’ve made a few of these, you’ll notice they all follow the same pattern. This last recipe is a base pot you can make as written, then change up with whatever is in your fruit bowl and spice cabinet.

Start with this base:

• 1 orange
• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 6 star anise
• 6 allspice pods
• 1 tablespoon cardamom pods
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 4 rosemary sprigs
• 4 to 8 cups water

1. Add the orange, spices and rosemary to a medium saucepan or large pot.
2. Fill the pot with water and bring it to a boil.
3. Reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and leave it uncovered.
4. Add water whenever the level drops low enough to expose the fruit and spices.

Once you’ve made the base, build your own version. Use at least one fruit, one herb and one whole spice, with an optional liquid:

• Fruit: apples, pears, cranberries, pomegranate, orange, grapefruit, lemons or limes
• Herb or botanical: thyme, bay leaves, mint, or fir or spruce sprigs
• Whole spice: cracked nutmeg, juniper berries, fennel seeds, black peppercorns, or fresh or dried ginger
• Liquid, if you like: tea bags, apple cider or a little lemon juice alongside the water

Dried and fresh ingredients can go in the same pot. A citrus or apple pairs well with rosemary, thyme or fir plus a warm spice like cinnamon, cloves or star anise. Clemson’s winter list adds allspice berries and cedar sprigs to the mix. When the scent fades and the fruit turns mushy, Clemson recommends changing out the ingredients after a few pot fills.

For gifts, use dehydrated citrus and dried herbs, since they keep without refrigeration. Fill a jar or bag with the ingredients and tie on a tag with the stovetop directions to make a simmer pot kit.

How to Style It: Set up a little simmer pot bar on a tray: a bowl of citrus, a jar of cinnamon sticks, a small dish of cloves and star anise, and a few sprigs of greenery in a cup. It looks lovely on the counter all month and makes choosing tonight’s blend fun.

Shop It: The Nesco Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator lets you dry orange slices at home, so you can stock up on dried citrus for gift jars and future pots.

Nesco FD-60 Snackmaster Express Food Dehydrator for Great Jerky…

• 500‑WATT DRYING POWER WITH CONVERGA‑FLOW AIRFLOW SYSTEM circulates warm air evenly across trays…
• FOUR BPA‑FREE DRYING TRAYS WITH EXPANDABILITY UP TO 12 TRAYS allow users to start with small, everyday…
• ADJUSTABLE THERMOSTAT (95°F–155°F) lets users select proper temperatures for different foods…

$70.93

Buy on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases

That’s the real joy of Christmas simmer pot recipes. Start with one of the ten above, then play with your own blend until your house smells exactly like your version of the holidays.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a simmer pot last?
One pot lasts a few hours on the stove, and Clemson recommends changing the ingredients after a few pot fills. If you refrigerate it overnight, you can often get two to three days from one pot.

Can I make a simmer pot in a slow cooker?
Yes. Use a slow cooker with the lid off or set ajar so the steam can carry the scent.

Is it safe to leave a simmer pot on overnight?
No. Clemson says to never leave it unattended, so turn it off at night and whenever you leave the house.

Are simmer pots safe around pets?
Keep the pot out of reach and skip essential oil add-ins, since the ASPCA says concentrated oils can cause problems with only a few drops.

Can I use dried fruit and spices?
Yes. Dried orange slices work in place of fresh ones, and dried and fresh ingredients can go in the same pot.

Can you eat or drink a simmer pot?
No. A simmer pot is meant to be smelled, and the ingredients aren’t meant to be eaten after hours of simmering.

How do I throw out a simmer pot?
Let the pot cool, strain it through a colander or fine mesh strainer, and put the spices in food waste, compost or the trash.