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Best Stovetop Air Freshener | 2 Minute Simmer Pot Recipes

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Creating atmosphere in your home is as simple as a 2 minute simmer pot! So often we focus on the visuals in a home. Is it decorated nicely, is it clean enough, is it comfortable? But we can overlook the one sense that is closely tied to memory: scent. Create a memorable atmosphere in your home with this recipe for the best stovetop air freshener for any season.

Best Stovetop Air Freshener | 2 Minute Simmer Pot Recipes

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Creating Atmosphere with Stovetop Air Freshener | A DIY Stovetop Potpourri

Did you know that scent is closely tied to memory?

Grandpa’s pipe tobacco. Grandma’s moth balls. Mom’s apple pie. Your best friend’s vanilla candle.

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For good or bad, scent can bring back memories in an instant. So, why not be intentional in creating an atmosphere in our homes that will forever be associated with the feeling of coming home.

Stovetop potpourri is a very versatile option to create a signature scent that your family will always remember. There are so many different stove top potpourri recipes available for every season.

Best Stovetop Air Freshener | 2 Minute Simmer Pot Recipes

Lemon and lavender will always smell fresh and like a summer breeze.

Apples and cinnamon are cemented in my mind as a time for fall harvest.

Oranges and cloves bring back Christmas traditions and joyful gatherings.

Best Stovetop Air Freshener | 2 Minute Simmer Pot Recipes

All of these can easily be replicated with a simple simmer pot recipe that you tweak to your own liking.

Tools You’ll Need

This set of pots and pans has been an incredible investment! They are the perfect non-toxic, non-stick cooking surface for all my recipes.

How to Make Potpourri on the Stove

If you’ve followed along with Grace In My Space for any length of time, then you know I am a DIYer at heart. Thankfully, that easily translates into a stove top air freshener.

DIY potpourri is so easy to make. You only need less than 5 minutes to enjoy cozy scents all day long.

Fall stovetop air freshener ingredients.

First, put 6 cups of water into a large pot. Begin to heat the water while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Next, add in whatever scents you love and associate with the season or tradition you’re in. The best potpourri is the one that you craft to become a signature scent.

Pot on a stove with fruit and spices.

Thankfully, there is no right or wrong to making a stovetop air freshener.

Cinnamon potpourri is very popular in the fall and winter months. Lighter smells like lemon and fresh herbs feel more like summer and spring. However, it is completely preference based!

Kitchen with floating shelves.

Once you’ve combined all the ingredients you enjoy, bring the water to a boil and then reduce the heat to simmer.

You can simmer all day long, adding water as it evaporates.

SPECIAL NOTE: You can also use scraps rather than whole fruits! Next time you peel apples for apple pie, use the peeled skins to create a simmer pot. Or, once you’ve squeezed the juice from oranges, toss the peels into a pot for a fresh citrus scent the rest of the day.

What can I boil on the stove to freshen the air?

Here are some great scent combinations for each season.

Stovetop Potpourri SCENTS FOR THE SEASON


  • SUMMER – Lemon, grapefruit, lime, mint, basil, lavender
  • SPRING – Lemon, orange, rosemary, ginger, thyme, bergamot
  • AUTUMN – Apples, pears, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla
  • WINTER – Cranberries, oranges, peppermint, cinnamon, pine

How long does stovetop potpourri last?

Typically, stovetop potpourri is most intensely satisfying the first 8 hours.

Once it starts to simmer the aroma will spread throughout your house. So I highly recommend putting it on in the morning, or an hour before company arrives.

Stovetop simmer pot.

However, you can get a few days out of the same pot of ingredients. Simply add water as needed and simmer until you no longer notice the scent in the air.

If you are looking to get a few days out of your all natural air freshener, then I would recommend simmering in a crock pot instead of on the stove.

Potpourri Crock Pot Option

Replicating a stovetop air freshener in the crock pot is so simple!

Crockpot potpourri

Simply combine the water and all desired ingredients in a crock pot and turn on low.

You can let your crock pot potpourri simmer as long as you’d like. Just ensure that you leave the lid off so the scent can circulate.

Cinnamon potpourri crock pot on a counter.

fall stovetop potpourri

Today I’m sharing my favorite combination for a fall stove top potpourri.

I don’t know about you, but fall time and Christmas are the two seasons where scent is most closely tied to traditions and memories. This autumn potpourri has all the traditional fall smells that will have you ready to go apple picking and carve pumpkins.

Crockpot fall potpourri recipe.

The combination of apples, cinnamon and nutmeg reminds me of fall baking. Fall baking is my favorite.

Then, a little infusion of anise gives a slight hint of licorice that is unexpected. Finally, I top it off with orange for a fresh note.

Ingredients for all natural air freshener.

You can find my full recipe below. Feel free to add or omit to your liking.

Best Stovetop Air Freshener Recipe

Stovetop simmer pot.

All Natural Air Freshener | Simple Simmer Pot Recipe for Stovetop or Crock Pot

Yield: 1
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 2 minutes

Creating atmosphere in your home is as simple as a 2 minute simmer pot! So often we focus on the visuals in a home. But we can overlook the one sense that is closely tied to memory: scent.

Create a memorable atmosphere in your home with this recipe for the best stovetop air freshener for any season.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups water, add more as needed
  • 1 sliced apple or apple peels
  • 1 sliced orange or orange peels
  • 1 Tbs. whole cloves
  • 1 tsp. nutmeg
  • 2 tsp. vanilla
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 3 start of anise
  • 3 cinnamon sticks

Instructions

  1. Boil 6 cups of water
  2. Add all ingredients and reduce heat to simmer
  3. Simmer on low all day, adding water as needed

Notes

If you'd like to get more time out of this recipe, create it in a crockpot instead! Combine all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low without the lid on. You can turn the crockpot on each day for 2-3 days, or until scent has dissipated.

RECIPE INTENDED FOR SCENT ONLY- not for consumption

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1 pot
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0

You’ll Also Enjoy…

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you enjoy making your own potpourri as you create memories with your family.

You might also enjoy these posts on fall decorating!

You can also visit my recipe archives here.

Make sure to subscribe to get my Grace Notes directly to your inbox and to access all my insider perks. You can also follow along daily on Instagram and weekly on YouTube!

~Sarah

14 Comments

  1. Creating a stovetop air freshener with simmer pot recipes is a simple yet effective way to enhance your homeโ€™s ambiance. Using natural ingredients like citrus peels, herbs, and spices allows for a customizable scent experience. These quick recipes not only freshen the air but also create a cozy atmosphere in minutes.

  2. Looking to freshen up your home in minutes? Discover the best stovetop air freshener with these quick and easy 2-minute simmer pot recipes! Just throw together a few natural ingredients like citrus peels, cinnamon sticks, and cloves in a pot of water, and let the simmering magic do the rest. Not only will your space smell delightful, but you’ll also enjoy the calming effect of a homemade, fragrant brew. Perfect for a quick pick-me-up or unexpected guests!

  3. So excited to try this! Thank you so much for sharingโ€ฆthis sounds like it will smell amazing and going to give it a try in my little crockpot๐Ÿ˜Š

  4. Do you recommend only doing this if I have all the ingredients? I’m missing apple and anise. I’d like to have a nice smell in my home but won’t be able to get to the store in time. Wondering if it’ll still be nice or better to wait. Thanks!

  5. Do I keep the lid on the pot over the stove all day or remove the lid after it has started to boil and I lower the heat?

  6. Since I have grown children as well as grown grandchildren, my situation is a little different. Sometimes I fix my husband a favorite meal and I try to keep our kitchen and breakfast area nicely decorated. But every Friday evening our family is invited to dinner. We are blessed right now that we all live in the same area. All of them canโ€™t come every week but we go all out on birthdays. There are 11 of us right now with two great grands in the way.๐Ÿ‘ There is nothing I love more than planning a birthday celebration created just for them with decorations that show exactly things they love.

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