A winter potpourri on your stovetop.

As temperatures drop and winter settles in, creating a cozy and welcoming atmosphere at home seems more important than ever. One of the easiest ways to bring warmth into your space is to concoct winter simmer pots. This simple, natural method allows you to infuse your home with rich, seasonal aromas, add warmth to your space, and create the perfect ambiance for holiday gatherings, quiet winter nights, and everything in between!

Winter Simmer Pots (ingredients) | Kicking Back the Pebbles

Your very own winter wonderland indoors!

Making a simmer pot is an artful yet easy process that anyone can master. All you need are some basic ingredients, your stovetop, and a slow cooker (you can use any pot that can hold up to 4 cups/1 liter of water but Dutch ovens/cast iron pots are notoriously ideal for simmering since they distribute heat evenly). Bring water to a boil, add your chosen ingredients, then reduce the heat to a simmer and let the aromas slowly fill the air. The beauty of simmer pots is that you can easily customize them to reflect your favorite winter scents and create a unique, signature fragrance for your home.

Essential ingredients

Crafting the perfect winter simmer pot relies on using high-quality, aromatic ingredients. Many of these items can be found in your backyard or kitchen pantry, and you can mix and match them according to what’s available. Here are some essential elements to consider:

Fruit – apple, pear, and orange slices to add freshness.
Spices – cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, and nutmeg to provide warmth and depth.
Herbs – fresh rosemary, sage, pine needles, or eucalyptus to bring a refreshing, woodsy aroma.
Flavorings – a splash of caramel extract or brown sugar to add a subtle sweetness.
Other aromatics – cranberries, juniper berries, or pomegranate seeds are winter favorites to add both color and fragrance to your pot.

Benefits of winter simmer pots

A winter simmer pot can offer much more than just pleasing aromas; it also comes with several benefits that make it a go-to natural home fragrance:

Mood booster – Ingredients, like cinnamon and rosemary, have uplifting properties that can help improve your mood during dark winter days.
Natural air freshener – Simmer pots offer a chemical-free alternative to store-bought air fresheners, making them ideal for homes with children or pets.
Humidity enhancer – Simmering water adds moisture to dry winter air, which can help alleviate issues like dry skin and irritated sinuses.
Customizable – You have full control over the ingredients to tailor each simmer pot to match your current mood, the season, or an event!

How to use them

Crafting a winter simmer pot is simple and doesn’t require any fancy equipment. Here’s how to get started:

Gather ingredients – choose a few items from your pantry or forage your nearest green patch!
Add water – fill a pot halfway with water to allow enough room for ingredients while preventing overflow.
Bring to a boil, then simmer – place the pot on your stovetop or use a slow cooker. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer.
Top up as needed – as the water evaporates, keep topping it up with more water to extend the simmering time.

Winter Simmer Pot (Pear Medley)

Fill your home with the cozy, fruity warmth of a “Pear Medley” simmer pot. A blend of fresh pear slices, cloves, star anise, and a hint of caramel creates a comforting, aromatic ambiance—perfect for chilly days and festive gatherings!

Equipment

medium-sized pot

Ingredients

4 cups water (1000 ml)
8-10 dried pear slices (or slice up 2 fresh pears)
1 tbsp cloves whole
2 pieces star anise
5 drops butter-pecan flavoring oil (or any kind of caramel flavoring, or 2 tbsp brown sugar)

Instructions

Fill a medium-sized pot with about 4 cups of water. Add the pear slices, cloves, star anise, and butter-pecan flavoring.
Place the pot on the stove over medium heat. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle simmer.
Once the mixture reaches a simmer, reduce the heat to low.
Keep an eye on the water level in the pot. Add more water to maintain the desired level if it reduces too much during simmering.

Notes

A word of caution: You can use any pot that can hold up to 4 cups/1 liter of water. Dutch ovens/cast iron pots are notoriously ideal for simmering since they distribute heat evenly. Never leave a simmering pot unattended—you will need to refill it with water periodically. If you have a crockpot, you can jumpstart a boil on the stove, then transfer to that to simmer all day safely.

You can find dried pears on online retailers like Amazon and Walmart or specialty food sites such as Nuts.com. You can, of course, use fresh pears instead (up to 2 medium-sized ones).

You can use any kind of caramel flavoring you like or have on hand (butter-pecan, butterscotch, etc.) or substitute with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar instead.

Winter Simmer Pot (Woodland Mist)

Bring the refreshing essence of the forest into your home with a “Woodland Mist” simmer pot. Pine or cedar sprigs, dried lavender flowers, juniper berries, and a hint of eucalyptus essential oil create a calming, woodsy aroma—perfect for peaceful winter days indoors.

Equipment

medium-sized pot

Ingredients

4 cups water (1000 ml)
3-4 sprigs pine or cedar (you'll need to raid your backyard or the nearest patch of green for these!)
¼ cup dried lavender flowers/buds food-grade
1 tbsp juniper berries whole
4 drops eucalyptus essential oil

Instructions

Fill a medium-sized pot with about 4 cups of water. Add the pine or cedar sprigs, lavender buds, juniper berries, and eucalyptus essential oil.
Place the pot on the stove over medium heat. Allow the mixture to come to a gentle simmer
Once the mixture reaches a simmer, reduce the heat to low.
Keep an eye on the water level in the pot. Add more water to maintain the desired level if it reduces too much during simmering.

Notes

A word of caution: You can use any pot that can hold up to 4 cups/1 liter of water. Never leave a simmering pot unattended—you will need to refill it with water periodically. If you have a crockpot, you can jumpstart a boil on the stove, then transfer to that to simmer all day safely.

You will need to raid your backyard or the nearest patch of green for pine or cedar sprigs for this recipe, but if, alas, you can’t find any, you can use essential oils instead. Read product instructions to determine how many drops of essential oil you need for 1,000 ml of water.

You can find food-grade dried lavender flowers and juniper berries on online retailers (like Amazon, Walmart, or specialty food websites). Or you can check out my Winter Simmer Pot Essentials list featured at the end of this post!