Craft Your Own Springtime Stovetop Potpourri
As the seasons shift, there's something wonderfully refreshing about opening the windows and welcoming the essence of spring into our homes. The crisp refreshing air, with a gentle hint of floral and earthy scents, helps drive out the winter stagnation. That first cracking of the seal is pure magical bliss.
I love setting the mood in my house using aromas. Citrus scents help us to feel joyful and refreshed, piney scents help us feel invigorated and open, woody scents help us feel grounded and ready to face the day, earthy scents like patchouli help calm our minds, and florals can be soothing for the emotional heart. It's no surprise that the world of perfumery is such a big industry. Indulging in perfumes and essential oils can sometimes come with a hefty price tag. Fortunately, our kitchens hold the key to creating delightful scents that are both natural and budget-friendly.
Simmer pots, also known as stovetop potpourri, offer a natural and cost-effective option. By simmering water with a medley of fragrant herbs, fruits, and spices, simmer pots release the volatile aromatic oils that scent your home with warmth and tranquility. With simmer pots, the possibilities are endless. Unlike their synthetic counterparts, simmer pots enrich our home's ambiance and imbue therapeutic aromatic properties to support our well-being.
Benefits of Simmer Pots
Natural: Simmer pots provide a natural and pleasing alternative to synthetic air fresheners and candles. Aromatic ingredients like herbs, fruits, and spices release fragrant volatile oils that gently scent the air, creating a welcoming and inviting atmosphere in your home.
Customizable Scents: One of the greatest advantages of simmer pots is their versatility and customizability. You have complete control over the ingredients you use, allowing you to customize the scents to suit your preferences and mood, setting the perfect ambiance for any occasion.
Cost-Effective: Simmer pots offer a low-cost way to enjoy natural fragrance in your home, utilizing simple, everyday ingredients that are often readily available. You can even repurpose kitchen scraps to reduce waste and save money.
Therapeutic Benefits: Beyond the simple aromatic enjoyment, many of the ingredients used can boast therapeutic properties that benefit your overall wellness. For example, many aromatic herbs and essential oils have airborne antimicrobial properties as well as mood-enhancing effects.
How to Make a Simmer Pot
Ingredients: These are all optional suggestions to get your creative juices flowing. You can utilize either fresh or dried ingredients. Fresh can provide a stronger, more potent aroma, but dried herbs can be stored for an extended time. Whenever possible, use organic ingredients to minimize exposure to pesticides.
Citrus peel or slices: lemons, oranges, or grapefruit
Herbs: rosemary, thyme, mint, or conifer tips
Florals: lavender, lilacs, or rose petals
Spices: cinnamon sticks, cloves, bay leaves, or cardamom pods
Extracts: vanilla, cinnamon, or peppermint
Instructions:
Begin by selecting your desired ingredients based on your preferred scent profile.
In a saucepan or pot, combine your chosen ingredients with plenty of water. Add enough water to cover the ingredients, about 1/2 to 2/3 full.
Place the pot on the stovetop and bring to a gentle simmer over low heat. As the water heats up, the volatile aromatic oils will be released into the air, filling your home with a delightful fragrance.
Allow the simmer-pot to continue simmering for as long as desired, adding more water periodically to prevent it from drying out. Turn off the heat when you're ready to stop. Never leave the simmer pot unattended.
Simmer Pot Recipes
Citrus Bliss
1 lemon, sliced
1 orange, sliced
2 sprigs of rosemary
splash of vanilla extract
Floral Joy
1 handful of lavender buds, or a sprig of lavender cutting, ok to leave on the leaves
1 handful of rose petals
1-2 sprigs of lemon balm
Spring Garden
1 sliced lime or lemon
2-3 sprigs of thyme
2-3 sprigs of lemon balm or mint
1 sprig of rosemary
Lemon Spice
1 sliced lemon
2 sprigs of rosemary or your favorite mint
2 sticks of cinnamon or 2 pinches of fennel seeds
Safety Tips
Never leave a simmer pot unattended.
Keep an eye on the water level to prevent it from evaporating completely.
Use caution when handling hot ingredients or simmering pots.
Crafting your own springtime stovetop potpourri is not only a delightful sensory experience but also a simple and budget-friendly way to infuse your home with the scents of the season. With these simple steps, you can craft your own aromatic bliss to fill your home with invigorating and therapeutic scents of the season.
Comments