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    Home » Gifts from the Kitchen » Make Your Own Simmering Holiday Potpourri

    Make Your Own Simmering Holiday Potpourri

    Published: Nov 15, 2019 · Modified: Mar 19, 2021 by Elaine · This post may contain Amazon affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This blog generates income via ads · 24 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    PIn for Holiday Potpourri

    Use your slow cooker or stove top and make your home smell like Christmas with this Simmering Holiday Potpourri! Wrap it up in small packages for gifts and attach a printable gift tag.

    Slow Cooker Simmering Holiday Potpourri

    As I write this, I have this simmering holiday potpourri in my slow cooker. My kitchen is filled with the warm, earthy scents of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and oranges. It smells like Christmas!

    I decided to package this slow cooker simmering spice mix as 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. 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.

    Make your own simmering holiday potpourri in your slow cooker or on your stove top. Makes your home smell like Christmas! Includes instructions for making holiday gift bags and downloadable printable gift tags, too. Happy Holidays! |www.flavourandsavour.com

    Favourite scents bring back happy memories!

    Do you have a favourite 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.

    Over the years, I've searched for her recipe in family memento boxes, but I have yet to find it.

    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!

    Ingredients for Simmering Holiday Potpourri

    Ingredients for Simmering Holiday Potpourri 

    You'll only need a handful of ingredients to make this spice mix. 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: for a pungent aroma that smells a little like licorice
    • cranberries:  fresh or frozen
    • orange slices: for a fresh clean scent and to add colour to your spice mix. Apple slices will work, too!
    • You can also add fresh rosemary or even bay leaves to the mix for more scents and colour.

    close up view of potpourri spice mix in round slow cooker

    How to Make DIY Simmering Holiday Potpourri

    1. The recipe includes amounts for one package. If you want to make a large quantity, just adjust the amount by using the little slider when you click on the Servings in the recipe card below.
    2. Add 2 to 4 cups of water or apple juice to a saucepan or slow cooker, depending on the size you're using.
    3. Add the spices, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, cranberries and rosemary sprigs to the water.
    4. Gently heat the mixture on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. Keep it on low heat or a simmer setting and check frequently, adding more water as needed.
    5. It won't be long until you'll have filled your home with the scents of the season!

    Holiday Simmering Slow Cooker Potpourri in clear gift bags tied with a ribbon

    How to Package Potpourri Spice Mix for Gifts

    A package or jar of this simmering spice mix would be a welcome hostess gift, teacher gift or neighbour gift. You can prepare it well ahead of time. A win-win!

    Package it in a pretty glass jar, a small gift box, or in a clear gift bag and you have a great hostess gift.

    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 (but they will eventually form sludge at the bottom of the saucepan or crockpot.

    If you want to include the cranberries and 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.

    Then all the recipient has to do is add a few cranberries and some slices of fresh orange to the dried mix.

    Items to package simmering holiday potpourri

    How to Dry Orange Slices

    You can also dry orange slices in the oven or in a dehydrator if you want to add them to the package. Cut oranges into slices ⅓ of an inch thick. Space out on a rack placed over a baking sheet. Heat in the oven at 250°F for 1.5 to 2 hours, watching carefully to make sure they don't burn. When dry, remove and let cool completely.

    Simmering Holiday Potpourri in cellophane bags with gift tags

    Find the instructions and free downloadable, printable gift tags below the recipe card.

    Make your home smell like Christmas with this easy recipe for simmering potpourri. For stove-top or slow cooker. Makes a great gift.

    Make Your Own Holiday Simmering Potpourri Gift

    Make your home smell like Christmas with simmering holiday potpourri in a slow cooker or on a stovetop. Package for gift-giving and add one of the printable gift tags provided.
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: kitchen gift
    Cuisine: Canadian, American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 1 package
    Author: Elaine
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 4 large cinnamon sticks broken (to release scent)
    • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
    • 1 tablespoon whole allspice berries
    • 1 tablespoon star anise (optional) but it has a slight licorice scent
    • ½ cup fresh cranberries
    • 1 medium whole orange
    • 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 including the cranberries and orange, keep 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 orange to 2 - 3 cups water (or apple juice) in a saucepan or slow cooker. Simmer over low heat.
    • Never leave unattended and add water as needed. This mix will last for several days.
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @enessman or tag #flavourandsavour!

    Click here for your free Scents of the Season Gift tag

    Scents of the Season Gift Tags ptintable

     

    Looking for other gift ideas from your kitchen?

    Warm Turmeric Cinnamon Milk Spice Mix

    warm-turmeric-cinnamon-milk-spice-mix-reduced

    Salted Caramel Sauce

    Salted Caramel Sauce with downloadable, printable gift tags for holiday gift-giving. |www.flavourandsavour.com

    This post has been updated with new photos and information.

    SAVE THIS TO ONE OF YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS and connect with me on Pinterest! I’m always finding new tasty recipes to pin. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss a recipe!
    This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on any of the affiliate links and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I’ll receive a small commission. The commission is paid by the third party, not by you. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  It's an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
    How to Make Simmering Holiday Potpourri on your stove top or in your slow cooker. Makes your home smell like Christmas! Includes printable gift tags, too.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Taylor

      December 12, 2021 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      Love this idea! I made it last week for a cookie baking get-together. Made the house smell wonderful!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        December 12, 2021 at 9:47 am

        Thanks Taylor, I love having this simmering away! Happy to hear you like it too.

        Reply
    2. Katie W

      November 18, 2021 at 10:43 am

      Where is the best place to buy these ingredients in bulk?

      Reply
      • Elaine

        November 18, 2021 at 12:25 pm

        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!

        Reply
    3. SST

      November 02, 2021 at 5:15 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        November 02, 2021 at 6:01 pm

        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!

        Reply
    4. sherry

      October 13, 2021 at 10:55 am

      5 stars
      I received this from a friend last year and loved it so much i am making it for other friend's fall/winter birthdays.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        October 13, 2021 at 1:37 pm

        Hi Sherry, What a nice gesture! I'm sure they'll appreciate it as much as you did!

        Reply
    5. Janine

      November 16, 2020 at 10:18 am

      Could you put dehydrated oranges and cranberries in this instead of fresh?

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 16, 2020 at 2:36 pm

        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!

        Reply
    6. Terri

      November 25, 2019 at 5:59 am

      5 stars
      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 🙂

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 25, 2019 at 7:52 am

        Thanks Terri! It’s a 5-minute project that will make your home smell wonderful for days!

        Reply
    7. [email protected]

      November 21, 2019 at 6:11 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 21, 2019 at 6:30 pm

        Thanks so much, Denise! What a lovely image you've made! You're so right, however. Aromas bring back wonderful memories!

        Reply
    8. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

      November 21, 2019 at 7:54 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 21, 2019 at 8:39 am

        This potpourri simmering on the stove will definitely get you in a tree-decorating mood! Enjoy!

        Reply
    9. Jessica

      November 20, 2019 at 8:14 am

      5 stars
      This is an absolutely wonderful idea for the holidays! Can't wait to make this and get my home smelling like Christmas!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 20, 2019 at 8:21 am

        Thanks Jessica--I know you'll love it!

        Reply
    10. Ayngelina

      November 20, 2019 at 7:22 am

      5 stars
      I would have never thought to do this but it's such a good idea!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 20, 2019 at 8:20 am

        Thanks Ayngelina!

        Reply
    11. Cathy

      November 20, 2019 at 6:49 am

      5 stars
      What a lovely gift idea! The printable tags are brilliant! I agree that the lovely scent contributes greatly to the beautiful holiday atmosphere.

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 20, 2019 at 8:20 am

        Thanks Cathy! I've had this in my slow cooker every day this week. Smells heavenly!

        Reply
    12. Colleen

      November 19, 2019 at 4:34 pm

      5 stars
      I LOVE this idea, Elaine, and cannot wait to try it. And what a lovely homemade gift idea, too. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 20, 2019 at 8:19 am

        Thanks Colleen! It's easy to make several little bags at once. Great to have on hand for gifts!

        Reply

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