6 Fall Simmer Pot Recipes That Will Make Your House Smell Amazing
There is just something about fall that makes me want my entire house to smell like apples, cinnamon, and something delicious baking in the oven. And while I love a good fall candle, one of my favorite ways to make the house smell cozy is with a homemade simmer pot.
If you’ve never made one before, you’re going to love how easy they are! All you need is a saucepan, some water, and a handful of ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
The best part? You can make your house smell like apple pie, pumpkin spice, fresh oranges, or even a cozy coffee shop without actually baking anything.
I’ve put together six of my favorite fall simmer pot recipes, starting with my go-to cozy fall combination. Whether you’re getting ready for guests, spending a rainy afternoon at home, or just want your kitchen to smell amazing, there’s a recipe here for you.
What Is a Simmer Pot?
A simmer pot is basically a homemade stovetop air freshener made with natural ingredients like fruit, spices, and herbs.
You add everything to a saucepan with water and let it gently simmer on the stove. As the ingredients warm up, they release their fragrance into the air, filling your home with the most wonderful smells.
It’s one of those simple little things that can make an ordinary afternoon feel extra cozy.
And unlike baking an entire apple pie just to make your house smell good, a simmer pot takes only a few minutes to put together.
1. Cozy Fall Simmer Pot
This is my favorite all-around fall simmer pot because it has a little bit of everything. The apples and oranges add a fresh, fruity scent, while the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise bring in those warm fall spices.
But the real secret ingredient is the vanilla extract! It gives everything a slightly sweet, almost baked-good smell that makes your kitchen feel like you’ve been making something delicious all afternoon.
Ingredients
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
- 2–3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 2–3 star anise
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 4–5 c water
Directions
Add all the ingredients to a medium saucepan and pour in the water.
Bring the mixture just to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Let it gently simmer uncovered for 2–4 hours, adding more water whenever the level gets low.
Keep the pot on a gentle simmer rather than a rolling boil so the water doesn’t evaporate too quickly.
My favorite tip: If you want an even sweeter fall scent, add ½ tsp pumpkin pie spice or a few extra pieces of apple peel. You can also leave out the rosemary if you’d rather have more of an apple pie or apple cider smell.
2. Apple Pie Simmer Pot
Want your house to smell like you’ve been baking apple pie all day? This is the one to make!
It’s sweet, warm, and full of cinnamon and apple goodness. I especially love this one on a chilly afternoon when I want that fresh-from-the-oven smell without actually turning on the oven.
Ingredients
- 2 apples, sliced
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 4 c water
Directions
Add the apple slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, vanilla, and nutmeg to a saucepan.
Pour in the water and bring everything just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let it gently simmer uncovered for 2–3 hours, adding more water as needed.
Make it extra cozy: Add a pinch of ground ginger or an extra cinnamon stick for a stronger spiced apple scent.
3. Pumpkin Spice Simmer Pot
If pumpkin spice season is your favorite season, this simmer pot is for you!
It has all those warm, cozy spices that make you think of pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, and your favorite fall coffee drinks.
The pumpkin itself has a mild fragrance, so the cinnamon, cloves, and pumpkin pie spice do most of the work here.
Ingredients
- ½ c pumpkin puree
- 1 orange, sliced
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4–5 c water
Directions
Add the pumpkin puree and water to a medium saucepan and stir until combined.
Add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla.
Bring the mixture just to a boil, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Let it gently simmer uncovered for 1–2 hours, stirring occasionally and adding more water as needed.
My favorite tip: Use a larger saucepan for this one. The pumpkin puree can make the mixture thicker, so keep an eye on the water level and stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.
4. Cranberry Orange Simmer Pot
This is such a pretty simmer pot, and it smells just as good as it looks!
The combination of cranberries, oranges, and cinnamon gives your home a fresh, fruity scent with just enough warmth to make it feel like fall.
It’s also a great one to make when you’re having people over for Thanksgiving because the cranberries and oranges look beautiful together.
Ingredients
- 1 c fresh cranberries
- 1 orange, sliced
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 2 star anise
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 4 c water
Directions
Add the cranberries, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and rosemary to a saucepan.
Pour in the water and bring the mixture just to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low and let it gently simmer uncovered for 2–3 hours. Add more water as needed.
Make it your own: For a sweeter scent, add ½ tsp vanilla extract. If you prefer a brighter, more citrusy fragrance, add a few strips of fresh orange peel.
5. Maple Cinnamon Simmer Pot
This one reminds me of a cozy fall breakfast with warm maple syrup, cinnamon rolls, and freshly baked treats.
The maple syrup adds a subtle sweetness, while the apples, cinnamon, and vanilla create that warm bakery-inspired scent.
It’s a fun one to try on a lazy weekend morning!
Ingredients
- 1 apple, sliced
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp whole cloves
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 4 c water
Directions
Add all the ingredients to a medium saucepan and stir to combine.
Bring the mixture just to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
Let it gently simmer uncovered for 1–2 hours, adding more water whenever needed.
Because this recipe contains maple syrup, be especially careful not to let the water evaporate completely. The syrup can burn if the pot gets too dry.
My favorite tip: Add a few strips of orange peel if you want to give this simmer pot a slightly brighter scent.
6. Spiced Chai Simmer Pot
If you love the smell of a warm chai latte, this simmer pot is going to be a favorite.
It combines cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves for a rich, spicy fragrance that feels perfect for a cold fall day.
The orange adds a little freshness, while the vanilla helps soften the stronger spices.
Ingredients
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 5 whole cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, sliced
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 2 star anise
- ½ orange, sliced
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 c water
Directions
Add all the ingredients to a medium saucepan and pour in the water.
Bring the mixture just to a boil, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting.
Let it gently simmer uncovered for 2–3 hours, adding more water as needed.
Make it extra cozy: Add an extra cinnamon stick or a few more slices of ginger if you prefer a stronger, spicier fragrance.
Can You Make a Fall Simmer Pot in a Slow Cooker?
Yes! If you’d rather not use the stove, you can make most of these simmer pot recipes in a slow cooker.
Simply add the ingredients to your slow cooker, pour in the water, and turn it to low.
Leave the lid off while it’s heating and releasing its fragrance, but keep an eye on the water level and add more whenever needed.
A slow cooker is especially convenient when you want your home to smell amazing for several hours without keeping a saucepan on the stove.
Just remember that a simmer pot is for fragrance, not for eating or drinking, and you should never leave a heated simmer pot unattended.
How Long Does a Simmer Pot Last?
Most simmer pots will release their fragrance for about 2–4 hours, although some ingredients may continue smelling good for longer.
Cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise tend to hold their fragrance well, while fresh fruit and herbs may become less fragrant as they cook.
If you want to keep the scent going, you can add a few fresh ingredients to the pot.
The most important thing is to keep enough water in the saucepan so the ingredients don’t dry out or burn.
Can You Reuse a Simmer Pot?
You can reuse a simmer pot later the same day, as long as the ingredients are still in good condition.
If you want to save it for the next day, let the mixture cool promptly, transfer it to a covered container, and refrigerate it. Reheat it the following day, adding fresh water as needed.
I recommend discarding the ingredients after that rather than continuing to reuse them for several days. Fresh fruit and herbs break down as they sit in water, and the fragrance won’t be as strong.
Can You Make Simmer Pot Jars as Gifts?
Absolutely! Homemade simmer pot jars make such cute fall gifts for neighbors, teachers, friends, or anyone who loves a cozy home.
You can even make a few ahead of time to give out around Thanksgiving.
For a gift jar, I recommend using dried apple and orange slices instead of fresh fruit. This makes the jar easier to assemble ahead of time and avoids the moisture problems that can happen when fresh fruit is sealed in a container.
Add dried apple slices, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, and dried rosemary to a clean, dry mason jar.
A Few Tips for Making the Best Fall Simmer Pot
You really don’t need to overthink these recipes, but there are a few little tricks that make them even better.
- Use fruit that is a little past its prime. Apples and oranges that aren’t quite fresh enough for snacking can still work perfectly in a simmer pot, as long as they aren’t moldy or spoiled.
- Don’t peel everything! Apple skins and orange peels add color and fragrance.
- Keep the heat low. A gentle simmer is all you need. A rolling boil will make the water evaporate much faster.
- Start with enough water. Your ingredients should have plenty of room to float around in the saucepan.
- Never leave a simmer pot unattended. Check the water level regularly, turn off the heat before leaving the house or going to bed, and keep the pot away from children and pets.
