How To Make Your House Smell Amazing During The Holidays.
Like homemade foodie potpourri!
Growing up, my mom had this little crockpot that she filled with potpourri and liquid or spices. NOTHING filled the house with scent quite like that did.
This is my spur-of-the-moment version. And you can totally use a crockpot!
There are zero rules here: use whatever you’d like. You just add it all to big pot of water and simmer it on low heat. It works for sure – a few years ago I walked into a house and was hit in the face with the most holiday-like scent ever. Turns out it was just a big pot of simmering spices on the stove. Craze.
I used what I had on hand, which included orange peels, dried orange peel, an apple, cloves, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, fresh ginger and star anise. I was super tempted to use a vanilla bean but they are such precious commodities around here that I couldn’t bear it. Possibly at Christmas time!
I really love exclamation points today, by the way.
so.freaking.simple. And natural too.
I love using it in the crockpot since I have a gas range. It’s just easier and then I don’t have to think about it for a few hours. If you give it a shot, let me know! Fake foodie candles for the win.
Homemade Simmering Spices
Ingredients
- 5 cups water
- 2 navel oranges, peeled
- 1 apple, sliced in half
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 3 star anise
- 1 teaspoon-sized knob of fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon cardamom pods
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon dried orange peel
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients together in a saucepan and heat over low heat until simmering. I have kept this going for a few hours, adding additional water when needed. You can also throw everything in the crockpot and set it on low or high with the top off.
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
It’s so pretty too. I kind of want to eat everything in there.
151 Comments on “How To Make Your House Smell Amazing During The Holidays.”
I usually do it in the crock pot and always want to bake something that smells just like it.. Lovely scents! I wish I was at your house right now :) All those spices
I wish I had a scratch and sniff screen because I can almost smell it now! It’s gotta be pure heaven! Who needs Yankee candles :)
PRO TIP: Set a timer or SOMETHING – a reminder on your phone, etc. to help you remember to either ADD MORE WATER or TURN THIS THING OFF. You know, so that you don’t forget about it and then leave the house for a couple of hours and then come back home to a smoky house and ruined pan full of scorched potpourri ingredients. Not that I speak from experience or anything…. Also holy terrifying :(
A lady told me at the store the other day that if you burn food in a pan add a couple teaspoons of cream of tartar and boil some water in the pan and it will come clean.. not that you need this advice or anything lol.
I have done this for years only I use baking soda. Let it boil for a few minutes, check the water and see how loose the burnt on food is. If not loose yet add more water, if needed, let boil for a few more minutes. This works really well.
I just did this when I got home from work today! I used rosemary, vanilla, cinnamon and orange. Mmm! Happy thanksgiving!
how much of each, thanks
Ooooh, I bet this smells delicious! Great idea for a holiday party!
How cool is this??Thanks for the tip!
I can only imagine how amazing this smells. Nothing like some home made holiday popurri!
LOVE.
I LOVE this idea! I poached pears a few weeks ago in a mixture that made the apartment smell out of this world… It didn’t occur to me to do something like this just for the smell! So worth it. Love this idea, thanks so much for posting!
What a great idea! I love this alternative to candles, which is typically how I make my house smell nice, but it’s always good to have another idea.
Love these photos so much!!! :)
These photos are so pretty!! I wish I could smell through the screen!
This is such a great idea! I used to simmer potpourri in water on the stovetop, but I burned it a few times so I stopped. I like the crockpot idea for that very reason. I actually have one of those mini crocks so maybe I will pull it out tomorrow for this!
I can almost smell it now! Thank you for your post and beautiful pics!
Pinned!
K-
I wish cameras could also capture scent because I bet that smells just divine! :)
If you put some sugar in the mix then surely you could use it as some kind of syrup mixer for drinks? I would just want to eat it too and would be a bit sad if I couldn’t!
Fab idea!
I had the same yesterday night when caramelizing clementines.
The citrus scent spread in the kitchen donating happiness to all.
next time I use yuor idea!
thanx
This is what I do too; so much nicer than too sweet candle smells and I can vary it up a lot. I actually use a little crockpot I bought just for simmering spices; takes up little counter space and works like a charm.
Happy Thanksgiving Jessica!
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Diggidy done.
Gorgeous pictures, bet it smelled out of this world!
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And you say you don’t craft! This is totally crafty. Cannot wait to have this smell wafting through my house.
Would it be weird to use the left over water to make oatmeal?
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This is an awesome idea! I can’t wait to try it!
At the end of Christmas season I go to the local Lowe’s and buy several bags of the cinnamon scented pine cones. I put them in water on the stove with clove or fruit skins. It makes the house smell so good and your mouth waters.
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Can you tell me how long this lasts? Like, do you have to throw it all out at the end of the day, or can you reuse it for a few days? I’m wondering in particular if the apple and the orange peel get icky.
I’ve been using this technique for awhile now…another way is to make your concoction pour into a mason jar and set it on a candle warmer…rememeber to heat the brew first to give it a kick start…I do one with lemon thyme and mint…one with orange cinnamon and cloves…one with rosemary and eucalyptus and lime…there is no limit to variety and so much better than having to spray all the time…love it…*Ginger*
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Pinned this on pinterest and added it to my blog for fall “crafts” I want to do! :) YUM
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Guys, if you´re smart, you can DRINK it too!!!! ;) I´m from Germany and we have, besides mull wine/hot wine punch, something called “FEUERZANGENBOWLE” which smells pretty awesome and also tastes like Christmas too :)) And besides, it´s really pretty too :) You can have blue fire :) One recipe is right here and maybe just google it and look at some pictures – you will love it :) http://german.about.com/library/blfeuerzangenb.htm
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Since vanilla beans are so expensive try a few drops of pure vanilla extract.