Fall Simmer Pot: 10 Cozy Recipes to Make Your House Smell Amazing

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I’ve always been a sucker for anything that makes the house smell like fall. For years, that usually meant stocking up on apple, pumpkin, and cinnamon candles the minute the weather started to cool down.

Then a couple of years ago, I stumbled across simmer pot recipes on Pinterest and decided to give one a try. There was no going back.

Not only did my house smell amazing, but I loved that I could toss a few apple slices, orange peels, and spices into a pot using ingredients I often already had in the kitchen. I honestly can’t remember the last time I bought a fall-scented candle.

If you’ve never tried one, a fall simmer pot — sometimes called fall stovetop potpourri — is basically one of the easiest DIY home fragrance ideas ever. You gently simmer fruits, herbs, and warm spices in water, and before long, your house smells like you’ve been baking something fabulous all afternoon.

And you really don’t need a complicated recipe or a dozen ingredients to make one. Some of my favorite combinations use nothing more than apples, citrus peels, cinnamon sticks, and vanilla.

Below you’ll find 10 of my favorite autumn simmer pot recipes, including a couple of ridiculously easy combinations to get you started.

JUMP TO RECIPES

What Is a Fall Simmer Pot?

A simmer pot is a simple mixture of water and fragrant ingredients that’s gently heated to release their natural scents into your home.

You may also hear them called stovetop potpourri, stovetop simmers, or simmering spices.

Instead of relying on synthetic home fragrances, you can use ingredients such as fresh fruit, citrus peels, herbs, extracts, and whole spices. Fall versions tend to feature all those warm, cozy scents we associate with the season: apples, oranges, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, ginger, rosemary, and cranberries.

They’re also a great way to use things that might otherwise get tossed. The peel from your morning orange or an apple that’s getting a little too soft for snacking can get a second life making your kitchen smell fantastic.

How to Make a Fall Simmer Pot

Making a simmer pot is almost ridiculously easy.

1. Add your fruit, herbs, spices, and other ingredients to a medium saucepan or small Dutch oven.
2. Add enough water to generously cover the ingredients — usually about 4 to 6 cups.
3. Bring the water to a gentle boil.
4. Reduce the heat to the lowest possible simmer.
5. Let everything gently simmer, adding more water whenever the level starts getting low.

That’s really all there is to it.

The only part you don’t want to forget is the water. A fall simmer pot filled with apples and cinnamon smells like cozy autumn heaven. A saucepan full of scorched apples and cinnamon sticks because you forgot about it? Decidedly less cozy.

Never leave a stovetop simmer pot unattended, and don’t allow the water to completely evaporate.

Can You Make a Simmer Pot in a Crock-Pot?

Absolutely. A slow cooker is a great alternative when you’d rather not have a pot sitting on the stove.

Add the ingredients from any of the recipes below to your slow cooker and cover them with water. Heat on HIGH until the mixture is hot, then switch to LOW or WARM.

Leave the lid off or slightly ajar so the fragrance can circulate throughout the room.

You’ll still need to check the water level occasionally and add more when necessary. A slow cooker eliminates the open stovetop burner, but it still shouldn’t be left running indefinitely or while you’re away from home. Always follow the safety instructions for your particular appliance.

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10 Fall Simmer Pot Recipes That Make Your House Smell Amazing

One quick note before we start: simmer pots are wonderfully forgiving.

I’ve included specific measurements so you don’t have to stand in the kitchen wondering exactly how many cinnamon sticks or cloves you’re supposed to use. But don’t worry about following these recipes with baking-level precision.

Half an orange instead of a whole one? Fine. Only two cinnamon sticks left in the pantry? Toss them in.

These measurements will give you a good, noticeable fragrance, but feel free to work with what you have.

Want the Easiest Fall Simmer Pot? Start With These Two

If you’re short on time — or just want your house to smell amazing using ingredients you probably already have — start with one of these first two recipes.

They’re simple, inexpensive, and don’t require tracking down the jar of star anise you bought three Thanksgivings ago and haven’t seen since.

1. Easy Apple Cinnamon Fall Simmer Pot

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This is the classic. If you’ve never made a simmer pot before, I’d start right here.

You’ll need:

• 2 apples, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• Peel from 1 orange
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4–6 cups water

Add everything to a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer. Add additional water whenever the level gets low.

What it smells like: Apple pie baking in the oven — without actually having to bake a pie.

Make it even easier: Don’t have an orange? Skip it. Apple, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla will still give you a wonderfully cozy fall fragrance.

2. Easy Orange & Cinnamon Stovetop Potpourri

This is one of my favorite DIY simmer pot recipes because you can make it with an orange peel that would otherwise end up in the trash.

You’ll need:

• 1 orange, sliced, or peel from 1 orange
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4–6 cups water

Add everything to a saucepan, bring to a gentle boil, and reduce to a low simmer. Add additional water as necessary.

What it smells like: Warm cinnamon with a fresh citrus note — simple, clean, and very fall.

No cinnamon sticks? In a pinch, you can use about ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Just know that your simmer pot won’t look quite as pretty and you’ll end up with some cinnamon sediment in the bottom.

Ready to Get a Little Fancier?

Once you’ve discovered how ridiculously easy those first two are, this is where the fun starts.

These next autumn simmer pot recipes layer in ingredients like cranberries, rosemary, cardamom, star anise, apple cider, and fresh ginger to create more distinctive fall fragrances.

3. Cozy Pumpkin Spice Simmer Pot

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Here’s the funny thing about a pumpkin spice simmer pot: you really don’t need the pumpkin.

Pumpkin itself doesn’t contribute much fragrance. It’s cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla that create that familiar pumpkin-spice scent.

You’ll need:

• 1 apple, sliced
• 1 orange, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4–6 cups water

Add everything to a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce to low, and simmer.

What it smells like: Your favorite fall coffee shop on the first chilly morning of the season.

4. Apple Cider Simmer Pot

If apple cinnamon is quintessential fall, this one takes it up another notch with actual apple cider and star anise.

You’ll need:

• 2 apples, sliced
• ½ orange, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 2 whole star anise
• 1 cup apple cider
• 4 cups water

Combine everything in a saucepan, bring to a gentle boil, and reduce to a low simmer. Add more water as necessary.

What it smells like: Hot spiced cider at a fall festival.

5. Apple Orchard Simmer Pot

Apple and pear give this one a slightly softer fruit scent, while rosemary keeps it from smelling overly sweet.

You’ll need:

• 2 apples, sliced
• 1 pear, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 4–6 cups water

Add all the ingredients to a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce to low and simmer.

What it smells like: Walking into a farm market after an afternoon of apple picking.

6. Vanilla Chai Fall Simmer Pot

If you love the smell of chai, this may become your favorite of the bunch. Cardamom and ginger give it a slightly spicier fragrance than the fruit-based recipes.

You’ll need:

• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 6 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 2 whole star anise
• 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4–6 cups water

Add everything to a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and allow it to simmer slowly.

What it smells like: A warm vanilla chai latte.

7. Cranberry Orange Autumn Simmer Pot

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If we’re giving out an award for the prettiest fall simmer pot, this one wins.

Bright cranberries, orange slices, rosemary, and cinnamon make it especially pretty when you’re entertaining.

You’ll need:

• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 orange, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 4–6 cups water

Add everything to your saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, and simmer.

What it smells like: Bright citrus and tart cranberry layered with warm fall spices.

Perfect for entertaining: Put this one on before guests arrive. It looks beautiful in the pot and makes the house smell welcoming without being overwhelmingly sweet.

8. Maple Cinnamon Simmer Pot

A little maple syrup adds another warm, sweet note to the classic apple-and-cinnamon combination.

And emphasis on a little. We’re making the house smell good, not candying our saucepan.

You’ll need:

• 2 apples, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 4–6 cups water

Combine everything in a saucepan, bring to a gentle boil, and reduce to a low simmer.

What it smells like: Pancakes on a chilly Sunday morning.

9. Woodsy Fall Cabin Simmer Pot

Not every fall fragrance needs to smell like dessert.

Fresh rosemary and orange peel make this one a little fresher and woodier while the apple, cinnamon, cloves, and vanilla keep it warm and cozy.

You’ll need:

• Peel from 1 orange
• 1 apple, sliced
• 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4–6 cups water

Add everything to a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, and simmer.

What it smells like: A cozy cabin tucked into the woods on a crisp fall weekend.

10. Thanksgiving Simmer Pot

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This one brings together just about every classic autumn fragrance in one pot.

It’s perfect to put on Thanksgiving morning before everyone arrives — and before anyone starts arguing about where they’re sitting.

You’ll need:

• 1 apple, sliced
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 2 whole star anise
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 5–6 cups water

Combine everything in a saucepan, bring to a gentle boil, and reduce to a low simmer. Add more water throughout the day as necessary.

What it smells like: Thanksgiving morning — warm fruit, citrus, cinnamon, herbs, and spices all mingling together.

The Best Ingredients for DIY Simmer Pot Recipes

Once you’ve made a few simmer pots, you really don’t need a recipe at all.

It’s actually fun to open the refrigerator and spice cabinet and see what you can come up with.

Fruits

Some of the best options include:

• Apples
• Pears
• Oranges
• Lemons
• Cranberries

Don’t overlook scraps, either. Apple peels, orange peels, lemon peels, and slightly past-their-prime fruit are perfect for simmer pots.

Warm Spices

For that unmistakable cozy fall scent, try:

• Cinnamon sticks
• Whole cloves
• Star anise
• Cardamom pods
• Nutmeg
• Fresh ginger

Whole spices generally work better than ground spices because they’re easier to work with and don’t create as much sediment in the water.

Fresh Herbs

Rosemary is probably my favorite herb for fall simmer pots because it pairs beautifully with both fruit and warm spices.

You can also experiment with:

• Thyme
• Sage
• Mint

Sweet & Cozy Extras

A small amount of one of these can completely change the fragrance:

• Vanilla extract
• Almond extract
• Pure maple syrup
• Apple cider

You don’t need much. Start small and add more if you want a stronger fragrance.

An Easy Mix-and-Match Formula

If you want to create your own fall simmer pot, start with:

1 fruit + 1 warm spice + 1 accent ingredient + water

For example:

• Apple + cinnamon + vanilla
• Orange + cloves + rosemary
• Pear + cinnamon + ginger

Once you find combinations you love, start layering in additional ingredients.

How to Make Your House Smell Like Fall Naturally

One of the reasons I fell in love with simmer pots is that you don’t need a long shopping list to create that cozy fall-house smell.

If fragrance is your main priority, some ingredients pack a bigger punch than others.

Fragrance Style	Ingredients
Sweet & Bakery-Like	Apples, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla + a little maple syrup
Fresh Fall	Orange peel, rosemary, apple + cinnamon
Warm & Spicy	Cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, star anise + ginger
Classic Fall	Apple, orange, cinnamon + cloves

And here’s one little trick: don’t start with an enormous pot filled to the top with water. Using just enough water to generously cover the ingredients can help create a more noticeable fragrance. You can always add additional water as it evaporates.

How Long Can You Simmer a Simmer Pot?

You can generally enjoy a simmer pot for several hours as long as you’re home to monitor it and continue adding water.

Keep the heat very low. You want a gentle simmer rather than a rolling boil.

Check the water periodically and add more before the ingredients become exposed.

If the scent starts to fade after a few hours, add something particularly fragrant, such as another piece of orange peel, cinnamon stick, rosemary sprig, or splash of vanilla.

Can You Reuse a Fall Simmer Pot?

Yes, you can often get more than one use out of the same simmer pot.

When you’re finished for the day, turn off the heat and allow everything to cool. Transfer the mixture to a covered container — or cover the pot if you have room for it — and refrigerate it promptly.

The next day, return it to the stove, add fresh water, and heat it again.

The fragrance won’t usually be quite as strong the second time around, so I like to refresh it with something aromatic such as fresh orange peel, another cinnamon stick, or a splash of vanilla.

Use common sense here, too. If the fruit or herbs look or smell spoiled, toss the mixture and make a fresh batch.

Make-Ahead Fall Simmer Pot Jars

Once you start making simmer pots, there’s another fun idea worth trying: DIY simmer pot jars.

They make adorable inexpensive fall gifts, Thanksgiving hostess gifts, teacher gifts, or little “just because it’s fall” gifts.

For a shelf-stable version, stick with dried ingredients such as:

• Dried orange slices
• Dried apple slices
• Cinnamon sticks
• Whole cloves
• Star anise
• Dried rosemary

Layer everything in a glass jar or package it in a clear cellophane bag and tie it with ribbon or twine.

Add a little instruction tag:

Add contents to a saucepan and cover generously with water. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce to low, and simmer. Add additional water as needed and never leave unattended.

You could even make several at once and keep them on hand for those occasions when you suddenly realize you’re supposed to bring a hostess gift.

Fall Simmer Pot Recipe: FAQs

Bring on the Cozy Fall Smells

If you’ve never made a fall simmer pot before, don’t overthink it.

Grab an apple, an orange peel, a few cinnamon sticks, and whatever warm spices you can find in the pantry. Cover everything with water, turn the heat down low, and within a surprisingly short amount of time, your house will smell like fall.

Start with the Easy Apple Cinnamon Fall Simmer Pot if you want the classic cozy scent, or try the Cranberry Orange Autumn Simmer Pot if you’re having people over and want something that’s as pretty as it is fragrant.

And fair warning: once you discover how easy these are, that cabinet full of fall candles may start collecting dust.

Pinterest Pin Set #1 — Primary Keyword: Fall Simmer Pot

Pin Title: Fall Simmer Pot: 10 Cozy Ideas That Smell Amazing

Text Overlay:
FALL SIMMER POT
10 Cozy Scents to Make Your House Smell Amazing

Pin Description:
Make your whole house smell like fall with these easy fall simmer pot ideas! 🍎🍂 From classic apple cinnamon to cranberry orange, vanilla chai and cozy pumpkin spice, these 10 simmer pot combinations are easy to make with fruit, herbs and warm spices. Plus, there are instructions for making them on the stove or in your slow cooker. Save this one for cozy season!

Pinterest Pin Set #2 — Simmer Pot Recipes / House Smells

Pin Title: 10 Simmer Pot Recipes to Make Your House Smell Like Fall

Text Overlay:
MAKE YOUR HOUSE
SMELL LIKE FALL
10 Easy Simmer Pot Recipes

Pin Description:
Forget the fall candle — these simmer pot recipes make your house smell amazing using apples, oranges, cinnamon, vanilla, cranberries and other cozy ingredients. 🍁 Get 10 easy combinations, including two super-simple recipes you can make with ingredients you probably already have at home.

Pinterest Pin Set #3 — Autumn Simmer Pot Recipes

Pin Title: 10 Cozy Autumn Simmer Pot Recipes

Text Overlay:
10 AUTUMN
SIMMER POT IDEAS
Your House Is About to Smell Amazing

Pin Description:
These cozy autumn simmer pot recipes might be my favorite way to make the house smell incredible once fall arrives. Try apple cider, vanilla chai, cranberry orange, pumpkin spice, woodsy cabin and more. Most take just a few minutes to put together — and your house will smell like you’ve been baking all afternoon. 🍎🍊

Pinterest Pin Set #4 — DIY / Stovetop Potpourri

Pin Title: Easy DIY Fall Stovetop Potpourri

Text Overlay:
DIY FALL
STOVETOP POTPOURRI
So Easy. Smells Incredible.

Pin Description:
Make your own fall stovetop potpourri with simple ingredients from your kitchen! These easy DIY simmer pot recipes combine fresh fruit, cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, vanilla and other cozy fall scents. I’m sharing 10 combinations, plus an easy mix-and-match formula so you can create your own. Perfect for crisp fall days, entertaining and Thanksgiving!

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