One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is how amazing the house always smells – the fresh Christmas tree, the baking holiday cookies and treats, cinnamon scented pine cones, and more. Another favorite scent in our house comes from fresh, homemade stovetop potpourri. Made with ingredients like fresh cranberries, oranges, and cinnamon sticks, this holiday stovetop potpourri recipe creates the perfect aroma for this time of year- sweet, cinnamon, and just exuding Christmas.
Often the word potpourri refers to a mixture of dried plant material that imparts a subtle scent to a room. This stovetop potpourri differs because it is much more fragrant and will impart lovely Christmas smells throughout the house. It is so quick and easy to make and then you just let it simmer on low while you host guests or curl up with a book. I hope you enjoy this recipe for stove top potpourri. You could also put it in a slow cooker for even longer-lasting, more worry-free home fragrance.
Easy Holiday Stovetop Potpourri Recipe
Ingredients:
- Fresh Cranberries
- Fresh Orange Slices
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Water
- Lemon Essential Oil
You will notice I did not provide precise quantities for the potpourri ingredients. This is because this recipe is not for eating- just smelling. Therefore, exact quantities are unimportant and you have the freedom to play around and customize it to how you like it.
How To Make Stove Top Potpourri For Thanksgiving or Christmas Season:
Place the fresh cranberries, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks into a sauce pan and cover with water.
Add a few drops of lemon essential oil to the mixture. Place the pan on a stovetop burner on low heat and simmer throughout the day. You can add more water to the pot if it begins to get low. If you are the forgetful type or you just have 1,001 distractions in your house, you may want to set a timer to check on it every 20 minutes and add water. Turn off when house is scented.
Or if you have a slow cooker, you can put the ingredients in there and check on it every few hours.
This lovely holiday Stovetop Potpourri Recipe fills the whole house with the scent of Christmas rather than just a small area like dried potpourri. It’s perfect for simmering all day or when you’re expecting company- that is why it is sometimes called simmering potpourri. This holiday stove top potpourri is also pretty in the pan as it simmers!
Here is a printable recipe card for this stovetop potpourri:
Holiday Stovetop Potpourri Recipe
Notes
Not a food recipe. Just for scent. Be sure to check on this every 20 minutes and add water so that the water does not evaporate below the fruit level.
Ingredients
- 1 bag of fresh cranberries (or about 2 cups)
- 2 oranges, sliced
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 6 cups of water
- 5 drops of Lemon Essential Oil (optional)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to pot.
- Place on stovetop burner over lowest heat setting.
- Allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
- Turn off. Or add 1/2 cup of water and allow to simmer for another 20 minutes until desired scent is reached.
You can add other fresh ingredients such as cloves or essential oils as well. Have you ever made a stovetop potpourri? Do you think you will try making this holiday stovetop potpourri recipe? What are your favorite holiday scents?
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Pam says
This smells great. Cranberry and citrus together is just the essence of the holidays. Perfect warm smells for cold winter weather.
Jeanine says
Oh this sounds awesome. I can’t really have smelly things in my home due to our parrot so this would be a really great, and healthy option for our house!
Scott says
I have to admit I’ve done similar with chocolate/etc. just to get the house smelling nice. Especially during the winter when we’re all cooped up.
Shaun says
With family coming over this Christmas, this will be on the “must have” list. We’ll be able to cover up that dog smell from my in-law’s klab.