Stovetop Potpourri

Looking for a way to give your house that inviting warm holiday scent whether you are cooking or not? This Stovetop Potpourri is the perfect recipe for just that.

 

Why You’ll Love This Stovetop Potpourri

An easy recipe that makes the whole house smell like Christmas- what’s not to love!

• No artificial fragrances – Some people have a sensitivity to artificial scents. With this recipe, you can get amazing scents without all the fake stuff!
• Great for gifting – Add the ingredients to little jars and it makes a great gift  for friends or family.
• Make it your own – There are plenty of ways to mix up the fruits, spices and ingredient amounts to make this recipe your own. 

Ingredients

With these simple ingredients, your home smell will help ring in the holiday season without the artificial air freshener smell! They’re all easily found at local grocery stores.

• Rosemary sprigs – Rosemary adds a savory and herbaceous tone to this easy simmer pot recipe.
• Orange – Orange slices add a sweet and fruity touch that makes the entire house smell like Christmas. 
• Spices – I use a combination of cinnamon sticks, whole star anise pods and whole cloves to really add spice and warmth to this Christmas potpourri.
• Cranberries – When simmered, fresh cranberries will “pop,” releasing a sweet and fruity scent that is one of my favorite scents of the season.
• Splash of red wine – Wine is a great addition because it’s rich, reminds me of the winter months, and as an added bonus- you can drink the rest! 

Variations

The great thing about this Christmas stovetop potpourri is that you can change up the potpourri ingredients to your liking! Here are a few suggestions.

• Fruit – In addition to a handful of  cranberries, you could also use apple cider, lemon peels or fresh apple slices to give your homemade potpourri a fruity scent. 
• Vanilla – You can either add a splash of vanilla extract or throw in some whole vanilla bean pods for extra warmth. 
• Fresh ginger – If you want your own stovetop potpourri to have more of a bite, some fresh grated ginger will do the trick!
• Slow cooker – Instead of simmering this on your stovetop, you can always add everything to your slow cooker as a great option.
• Gifting – One of my favorite things to do is add these ingredients to a mason jar or cellophane bags for neighbor gifts! Just make sure to keep the fruit whole.
• Dried ingredients – If you want to be able to store these or use as thoughtful gifts, consider using dried ingredients like whole spices and dried orange peels.

How to Make Stovetop Potpourri

The best part about this recipe, is that it’s not really a recipe at all! Using fresh ingredients and your stove, your entire home will be smelling good in no time.

1. Add ingredients to pot of water. Fill a large pot halfway with water. Add all ingredients.
2. Bring to low simmer. Simmer over low heat and allow the smells to spread around the house!
3. Water level. Keep an eye on the water level to make sure all of the water doesn’t evaporate. 

More Amazing Holiday Recipes

Now that we’ve got your house smelling fantastic, it’s time to get to cooking! Here are some of our favorite Christmas dinners and desserts.