Simmering Potpourri – A Natural Way to Freshen Indoor Air
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If you want your home to smell cozy and inviting without chemical air fresheners or diffusers that can clog filters and irritate your lungs, try simmering potpourri. This simple, old-fashioned method uses real ingredients — fruit, herbs, and spices — to fill your space with gentle, natural fragrance.
Unlike candles or essential oil diffusers, simmering potpourri doesn’t release synthetic fragrance compounds or heavy particulates into the air. You control exactly what goes in.
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Why Choose Simmering Potpourri?
I was talking to a friend of mine recently, and she said her mother was having trouble with her heating system. When the repairman came out, he found that her furnace filter was clogged with essential oil buildup.
It turns out that she loved the smell of essential oils, so she’d been running her diffuser daily. The diffuser coated the furnace filter with oil, and the oil attracted debris, and before long, her furnace was struggling to get fresh air. This wasn’t the first time he’d run into the problem, either.
Recent studies have shown that essential oil diffusers and scented candles can contribute to indoor air pollution, leading to respiratory irritation, headaches, or even reduced air quality. Many commercial air fresheners release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ultrafine particles that linger long after the scent fades.
Simmering potpourri, on the other hand, uses ingredients straight from your pantry or garden. As the mixture gently steams, the scent molecules disperse naturally — no synthetic stabilizers, paraffin wax, or aerosolized oils required.
How to Make Simmering Potpourri
You only need a small pot of water, fresh or dried botanicals, and a heat source.
Add your ingredients to a saucepan, cover them with a few cups of water, and bring to a gentle simmer. Once it starts steaming, turn the heat to low and let it release fragrance into the room. Refill with water as needed.
If you want aroma and a delicious beverage, try our classic Wassail or mulled cider recipes.
Simple Everyday Mixes
1. Cozy Kitchen Blend
- 1 sliced orange or apple
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1–2 bay leaves
2. Woodland Walk
- 1 sprig of pine or cedar
- 3–4 juniper berries or crushed peppercorns
- A few rosemary sprigs
- Optional: a small piece of vanilla bean
3. Citrus Sunshine
- Peel of 1 lemon and 1 orange
- A few slices of ginger
- 1 sprig of thyme or basil
4. Autumn Spice
- ½ cup apple cider or water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- A few drops of real vanilla extract
5. Winter Calm
- 1 sliced orange
- ½ cup cranberries
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- A pinch of cardamom
Use Tips
Small simmer pots work best. Try an old enamel saucepan, slow cooker, or mini “crockpot” set on warm.
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- Reuse for a few days. Let it cool, cover, and refrigerate between uses. Discard once the scent fades or ingredients darken.
- Compost leftovers. The used herbs and fruit make great compost material.
- Adjust to your preference. Add more citrus for a bright scent or extra spices for depth.
- Use a SimmerMat Heat Diffuser. I love these things. When we got our stove, I always had “hot spots” and problems with scorching. I got two SimmerMats (pictured below) and use them any time I need low and slow cooking, like simmering sauces – or potpourri.
Common Questions
No — always supervise, or use a small slow cooker instead of the stove. Add water frequently so it doesn’t boil dry.
Yes! Dried herbs, flowers, or peels work well — they just need a little more water. Homemade dried orange slices (or peels), cinnamon sticks, and bay leaves are pantry staples for this.
It won’t filter particulates, but it does help replace stale or musty odors with pleasant natural fragrance, without adding pollutants. Learn more about natural ways to eliminate musty smells here.
Yes — place your pot on a wood stove or near a radiant heat source in winter. It adds humidity and fragrance at the same time.
Make Your Own Dried Simmering Potpourri Blends for Gifting
Simmering potpourri makes a heartfelt, low-cost gift that smells amazing and celebrates the season. You can easily dry and package the ingredients ahead of time — perfect for Christmas stockings, or teacher and hostess gifts.
How to Dry Ingredients
- Fruits: Slice oranges, lemons, apples, or cranberries ¼ inch thick.
Dry in a food dehydrator or oven at 150–170°F until leathery but not brittle. - Herbs & Flowers: Air dry or dehydrate rosemary, lavender, thyme, rose petals, or mint.
- Spices: Whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise keep indefinitely; no drying needed.
- Optional Add-Ins: Pine cones, small nut shells, or dried cedar tips add texture and scent.
Store each dried ingredient in airtight jars until you’re ready to assemble your blends.
DIY Gift Blend Ideas
Holiday Cheer
- Dried orange slices
- Cinnamon sticks
- Whole cloves
- Bay leaf or rosemary sprig
Winter Woods
- Dried cedar or pine tips
- Juniper berries or peppercorns
- Crushed nutmeg
- Dried apple slice
Spring Renewal
- Lemon peel
- Dried lavender buds
- Thyme sprigs
- Dried rose petals
How to Package Your Simmering Potpourri
- Glass jars: Mason jars or recycled spice jars show off the natural colors.
- Paper bags: Line small kraft bags with wax paper and label with a simple sticker.
- Cellophane or muslin bags: Tie with twine or ribbon.
Make sure to include a tag with directions: “To use your simmering potpourri: Add 2–3 tablespoons to a small pot of water and simmer on low. Refill water as needed.”
Storage and Shelf Life
Keep your dried blends in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. They’ll hold fragrance for up to a year — though they tend to disappear faster once friends catch a whiff!
A Breath of Common Sense
Simmering potpourri may not come in sleek packaging or plug into the wall, but it’s a simple, effective, and safe way to make your home smell wonderful. With ingredients you already have on hand — and without synthetic chemicals — it’s one more small way to keep your home healthy and welcoming, the Common Sense way.
This article was written by Laurie Neverman, engineer by training, health researcher by calling. Disappointed by mainstream advice to “just live with it”, she’s devoted her time to learning more about helping the body to heal. You can read more about how she cleared her skin of psoriasis in her book, “Psoriasis Healing“.