One thing I love about fall, other than cooler weather, warm drinks, apple orchards, cider, and doughnuts, are the smells that I associate with it. The house fills with a lovely mix of warm cinnamon and vanilla, pumpkin spice, oranges, apples, and cloves.
All these scents fill our home each fall as the weather cools down. It reminds me of when I was little. When my kids are grownups, I hope it reminds them of being children too.
Now you may ask how I make these delicious smells in my home year after year. Easy, with a Fall Simmer Pot!
I get that you may think, hey I can go buy a house spray, or plugin to come to the same effect, less time and work. But, the beauty of the Fall Simmer Pot is that there are no chemicals in it, so you and your family are not breathing in potentially harmful chemicals.
What is even better, it can even be made into a hot drink! Literally, like tea, you can add honey, agave, or even a small bit of simple syrup! It will become your favorite thing to simmer and sip in your home!!
Another wonderful use for this simmer pot is to give it as a gift. I take all the ingredients (except for the water) and add them to a Mason Jar or other adorable jar. Add a tag with directions on use and viola, and you have a simple, classic, and inexpensive gift for friends, neighbors, and family alike.
What is a Simmer Pot
A simmer pot is a lovely way to add natural fragrance to your home. You add a bunch of items to a pot of water – like cinnamon sticks, apple peels, orange peels, cranberries, cloves, and other whole herbs, to name a few.
Think of warm potpourri! It is simple to make and often you may have the items already in your home!! It is an inexpensive way to make your home smell warm and inviting.
Plus, there are other uses. You can use the strained liquid as a hot drink. That is basically what mulled cider is!
How to Make a Simmer Pot
A simmer pot could not be easier to do. You need a few simple fruits and herbs, which I detail below, a stove or crockpot, and water. It is combined into a pot/crockpot and warmed up. That is the basic premise. I have simmer pots for fall and winter.
Fall Simmer Pot
Ingredients
- 8 cups of Water
- 1 whole orange peel
- 1 whole tart apple peel (like a granny smith, or use what you have!)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon homemade vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon whole cloves
- 2 Star Anise
Supplies
- Enamel Dutch Oven at least 3.5 Quarts or other large pot for the stove OR use your crockpot open and on low
- Spoon to stir
- Measuring spoon
Directions
- Turn on the heat on high – medium/high on your stove or medium on your crockpot
- Fill your dutch oven or crockpot halfway with water
- Stir in your spices – cinnamon stick, whole cloves, and star anise
- Add the peels – orange, apple
- Measure 1 Tablespoon of homemade vanilla extract and add it to the mix
- Stir the ingredients and bring it to a boil
- Once boiling, lower the heat to low on your stove or crockpot and simmer uncovered for as long as you like.
- Make sure to check on your pot every 60 minutes or so to make sure that the water is OK, you do not want to burn the pan!!! But using a larger pot as suggested, will mean you do not need to add water as often.
- Enjoy the lovely fall simmer pot smell and keep it running as long as you want!!!
Once you have done one simmer pot, you will be a convert! It is an amazing way to get lovely fall smells into your home living space without all the chemicals! Plus, it can make an awesome gift!
