Use your slow cooker or stovetop and make your home smell like Christmas with this Simmering Holiday Potpourri! Warm spices, cranberries, and oranges in a Christmas simmer pot will make your home smell inviting. Wrap this spice mix in small packages for gifts and attach a printable gift tag, included!
As I write this, I have this simmering holiday potpourri in my slow cooker. My kitchen is filled with warm, earthy scents of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and oranges. It smells like Christmas!
(A record number of you have made this potpourri since I published it in 2016. So for any of you who have yet to give it a try, I've updated this post with new photos and information for everyone to enjoy.)
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❤️Why you'll love this potpourri spice mix
- It will make your home smell cozy and inviting! Softly falling snow, a crackling fire, and the aroma of cinnamon and cloves are bound to put you in the holiday spirit. I like to have this spice mix simmering during a holiday party.
- Choices. You can make it in in a pot on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or in a mini slow cooker.
- This spice mix makes a nice hostess gift. I decided to package this slow cooker simmering spice mix for gifts after I received a comment on my Instagram photo of my potpourri mix. One of my followers told me she had decided to make little boxes of this as gifts for her friends.
- Free printable tags are included. I thought it was such a great idea, so I've included little printable "Scents of the Season" gift tags that you can print and attach to your packages, too.
🛒 Ingredients
You'll only need a handful of ingredients to make this Christmas stovetop potpourri. You'll be using whole spices, not ground. Ground spices may eventually turn into muck in the bottom of your saucepan or slow cooker.
- cinnamon sticks: You can find these in the spice aisle of your local supermarket.
- whole allspice: Its aroma is hard to define, but it smells like a combination of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
- whole cloves: These give a sweet and spicy aroma. Did you know that the aroma might reduce drowsiness, irritability, or even headaches?
- whole star anise: Star anise has a pungent aroma that smells a little like licorice. I love the little star shapes!
- cranberries: You can use fresh or frozen cranberries, both will work well.
- orange slices: Oranges give a fresh clean scent and add colour to your spice mix. Apple slices will work, too! Or use dried orange slices, if you'd like.
- You can also add fresh rosemary or even bay leaves to the mix for more scents and color.
🥄How to simmer Christmas potpourri
This recipe includes amounts to make one package. If you want to make a larger quantity, adjust the amount by using the little slider when you click on "Servings" in the recipe card below.
- To a saucepan or slow cooker, add 2 to 4 cups of water or apple juice. The amount will depend on the size of the pot you're using.
- Add the spices, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, cranberries and rosemary sprigs to the water.
- Gently heat the mixture on the back burner of your stovetop or in a slow cooker. Keep it on low heat or on a simmer setting and check it frequently, add in more water as needed.
- It won't be long until your home will be filled with the scents of the season!
👍🏼 How to package potpourri spice mix for gifts
A package or jar of this simmering spice mix is always a welcome hostess gift, teacher gift or neighbor gift. You can prepare it well ahead of time. A win-win!
Package the mix in a pretty glass jar, a small Mason jar, a tiny gift box, or in a clear plastic or cellophane gift bag and you have a great little gift.
Using a fresh orange and cranberries: If you want to include the cranberries and whole orange in your gift bag, keep the package refrigerated until gift-giving time. Don't include the ground spices, as they will stick to the orange and the cranberries.
To make a dried spice mix package, on the other hand, don't include the cranberries or fresh orange slices. Use dried orange slices instead. Learn how to dry oranges for potpourri and crafts in this post. It includes easy instructions and drying time for drying oranges in either the oven or in a dehydrator.
You can add extra ground cinnamon, cloves, and allspice to the dried mix too. The ground spices will release their scent faster (but they will eventually form sludge at the bottom of the saucepan or crockpot.)
Then all the recipient has to do is add a few cranberries to the dried mix.
❓Reader's Questions
You can simmer this spice mix for a while, then turn the heat off and cover it with a lid. It will last for a few days. As it simmers, you'll need to add more water. Never leave it unattended.
I sometimes add fresh or dried lemon slices or thick slices of unpeeled apple. Orange peels are nice, too.
😊 Favourite scents bring back happy memories!
Do you have a favorite smell?
Recently, my brothers and I were recalling our childhood memories of Grandma's freshly baked buns. Tuesdays were always Raisin Bun Day at Grandma's. Her kitchen was filled with warmth from the oven, butter melting on buns, and one-of-a-kind grandmotherly love.
Our sense of smell evokes memories and brings back pictures as clear and sharp as if they were yesterday. Grandma's freshly baked buns, evergreen boughs, and Black Magic chocolates are all scents that I remember from my childhood Christmases.
Our olfactory system is situated in the part of our brain that is important for memory. There are strong neural connections between these two.
I hope you'll get a chance this season to make this DIY holiday potpourri. Bring back some happy memories of past Christmases!
🌟 Did you make this simmer pot recipe?
Questions? Comments? When you make this simmering holiday potpourri spice mix, please leave a comment (or a question) and a star rating below. Thanks so much! Subscribe to my newsletter and have new recipes delivered straight to your inbox once a week.
🗒 More ideas for gifts from the kitchen
📖 Recipe
Make Your Own Simmering Holiday Potpourri
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 large cinnamon sticks broken (to release scent)
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 tablespoon whole allspice berries
- 1 tablespoon star anise
- ½ cup fresh cranberries
- 1 medium whole orange or dried orange slices
- rosemary or evergreen sprigs, optional
- a clear bag, or a 250 (1 cup) Mason jar, or a recycled jam jar.
- festive ribbon and a tag
Instructions
- To make a dried mix package, don't include the cranberries or fresh orange slices. You can add extra ground cinnamon, cloves and allspice to the mix too. The ground spices will release their scent faster.
- If you're including the cranberries and orange, keep the bag refrigerated until gift-giving time. Don't include the ground spices, as they will stick to the orange and the cranberries.
- Add the dried mix, fresh cranberries and sliced fresh or dried oranges to 2 - 3 cups water (or apple juice) in a saucepan or slow cooker. Simmer over low heat.
- Never leave it unattended as the water could completely evaporate. Add water as needed. This mix will last for up to 4 days.
Video
Nutrition
This post has been updated with new photos and information.
Diane
Can clementines be substituted for oranges?
Elaine
Yes, clementines can be substituted for oranges in this recipe! You can use a whole clementine or dried clementine slices in place of the orange.
Diane
Thank you so much for your quick reply!
Amy
I made it but it is not giving off an aroma that can be smelled throughout the kitchen. I can only smell it if I stand in front of it. 😞. Any suggestions?
Amy
Smells wonderful!! Easy to make! Aroma is stronger the next day. After simmering the first day, I stored it in the fridge overnight, set it out the next .morning started to simmer and the house smelled absolutely great!
Brit
I made this last year and will definitely be making it again this year! Love those little gift tags too. Thanks--they're a nice touch!
Elaine
You're welcome! Thanks for the 5-star rating!
Shanda
Hi :). This looks sooo beautiful and I am sure it smells very festive. I am wanting to package these for my son’s teachers and my coworkers. Should I put the rosemary sprigs and cranberries in the mix or suggest they add them - not sure if they will last as they may not use them for 2-4 days. Was just going to add a whole orange. Thanks for the fabulous gift idea!!
Elaine
Hi Shanda, I'm sure you're coworkers and teachers will appreciate receiving this! Depending on the length of time you need these to last, I'd add the rosemary, but maybe not the cranberries. Thanks for your question! Happy holidays to you and your family.
Patty Kava
Can you use frozen cranberries in this mixture?
Elaine
Hi Patty, Yes, frozen cranberries work just as well in this potpourri, if you're making it to use yourself. If you're packaging it as a gift, the thawed cranberries would be a little mushy, so I don't recommend it. Thanks for your question!
SANDY
Is it hard to find star anise and allspice berries? I remember using potpourri in the 80’s and loved the smells.
Elaine
They're both available on Amazon. I buy them at my local grocery store. If you can't find them, this mix will still make your home smell wonderful! Add a few extra cloves or cinnamon sticks.
Kl
Do you make this in the crockpot with the lid on or off?
Elaine
Simmer it without the lid so the aroma fills your home. Keep it on low heat and add water occasionally as it evaporates. Enjoy!
Taylor
Love this idea! I made it last week for a cookie baking get-together. Made the house smell wonderful!
Elaine
Thanks Taylor, I love having this simmering away! Happy to hear you like it too.
Katie W
Where is the best place to buy these ingredients in bulk?
Elaine
That's such a great question, Katie! It depends where you live. If you have a store that sells bulk foods, like the Bulk Barn in Canada, that would be convenient. I buy my ingredients for this potpourri at my local health food store as they sell spices in bulk. Hope this helps!
Lisa Vickery
Amazon
SST
Sorry to sound completely ignorant, but this mixture then simmers for days? And lends an aroma to the home? This will be my first time making it.
Elaine
Thanks for asking! Yes, it simmers either in a crockpot or in a saucepan on your stovetop and makes your home smell lovely! You can turn the heat off whenever you like, and turn it back on when you want to. It will last for a few days. Enjoy! Let me know how you like it!
Heather Martin
Do you think adding dried cranberries would work?
Carmen
I am making my first crockpot simmer though I couldn’t find star anise in our local grocery stores in Arkansas, I put both apple and orange slices with cinnamon sticks, whole all spice, whole cloves and bay leaf…so happy I found your site.
sherry
I received this from a friend last year and loved it so much i am making it for other friend's fall/winter birthdays.
Elaine
Hi Sherry, What a nice gesture! I'm sure they'll appreciate it as much as you did!
Janine
Could you put dehydrated oranges and cranberries in this instead of fresh?
Flavour & Savour
Hi Janine--I have made it with dehydrated oranges, but I've never tried it with dehydrated cranberries. I don't see why it wouldn't work! Let me know how it turns out for you!
Terri
I saw your post in a facebook group and I was in love! This is so darn beautiful I'd even want to use it as a centerpiece! I can only imagine how divine it smells. What a fantastic gift too! I want to try making it this year 🙂
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Terri! It’s a 5-minute project that will make your home smell wonderful for days!
Denise@urbnspice
This is a beautiful idea for make-ahead gifts, Elaine. There is nothing like the wonderful fragrance of spices and citrus wafting in your kitchen. I can imagine music playing in the background with snow falling softly outside and a fireplace crackling. Making memories. That is what a gift like this would do. Thanks for sharing such a great idea.
Flavour & Savour
Thanks so much, Denise! What a lovely image you've made! You're so right, however. Aromas bring back wonderful memories!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
What a fabulous homemade gift! Love it! And I can only imagine how good it smells! We're soon decorating our tree so I'll have to make a batch of this!
Flavour & Savour
This potpourri simmering on the stove will definitely get you in a tree-decorating mood! Enjoy!
Jessica
This is an absolutely wonderful idea for the holidays! Can't wait to make this and get my home smelling like Christmas!
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Jessica--I know you'll love it!
Ayngelina
I would have never thought to do this but it's such a good idea!
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Ayngelina!
Cathy
What a lovely gift idea! The printable tags are brilliant! I agree that the lovely scent contributes greatly to the beautiful holiday atmosphere.
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Cathy! I've had this in my slow cooker every day this week. Smells heavenly!
Colleen
I LOVE this idea, Elaine, and cannot wait to try it. And what a lovely homemade gift idea, too. Thanks for sharing.
Flavour & Savour
Thanks Colleen! It's easy to make several little bags at once. Great to have on hand for gifts!