Fill your home with the cozy, comforting scents of citrus and spice using this simple simmering pot recipe that brings warmth and seasonal cheer to every room.

As the temperatures cool and we cozy up indoors, there’s nothing like filling your home with a warm, inviting aroma. While candles and essential oil diffusers are popular choices, a simmering pot recipe is an easy, all-natural way to bring those comforting seasonal scents into your home.

This Cozy Citrus & Spice Simmering Pot Recipe combines bright citrus with warming spices, creating a delightful aroma that will linger for hours. You can print this recipe at the bottom of this post!

When I was growing up, my mom always had a small pot of orange peels, apples, and cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove. It’s a tradition I carried over into my own home and all these years later I still love having a simmering pot on the stove in the fall and winter time. Here a few reasons why I love making a simmering pot in my home:

Natural Home Fragrance: Fills your space with a warm, inviting aroma without synthetic chemicals.
Adds Humidity: Helps combat dry air, especially useful in colder months.
Creates a Cozy Atmosphere: Enhances the ambiance, making your home feel more welcoming.
Uses Simple Ingredients: Utilizes common kitchen items, making it budget-friendly.
Calming Routine: A relaxing ritual that brings mindfulness to your homemaking.

A simmer pot is a simple, natural way to create a warm and welcoming home. With just a few simple ingredients, you can set the mood for family gatherings, and quiet evenings, or just add a little extra joy to your daily routine. And the best part? It uses simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen!

The Benefits of a Simmering Pot

Simmering pots aren’t just about the wonderful scent; they also add a bit of moisture to the air, which can be especially helpful in the drier months. Plus, making a simmering pot brings a touch of the season into your home without synthetic fragrances—just pure, natural ingredients that create a homey feel.

Cozy Citrus & Spice Simmering Pot Recipe

Ingredients:

1 orange, sliced
1 apple, sliced (optional for an added layer of warmth)
1 cinnamon stick
3-4 cloves
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
A few sprigs of fresh rosemary or a handful of bay leaves (optional for an earthy note)
3 cups of water

Instructions:

Gather Ingredients: Start by slicing the orange and apple. If you don’t have an apple, feel free to leave it out, but it adds a rich, cozy aroma to the mix.
Combine Ingredients: In a small pot, add the orange slices, apple slices, cinnamon stick, cloves, and any additional ingredients you’d like, such as rosemary or bay leaves.
Add Water: Pour in about 3 cups of water, just enough to cover the ingredients.
Simmer and Enjoy: Place the pot on low heat, bringing it to a gentle simmer. Add the vanilla extract as it begins to warm up. Let it simmer, filling your home with a wonderful aroma. Be sure to check the water level periodically and add more as needed to keep the ingredients covered.

Note: In our house, we often save the peels from our oranges after eating them to use for simmering pots instead of slicing the whole fruit.

Tips for Customizing Your Simmering Pot

While this recipe combines the uplifting scent of citrus with the cozy warmth of cinnamon and cloves, feel free to make it your own! Here are a few other ideas to try:

Lemons or Limes: Replace or add to the oranges with lemon or lime slices for a brighter, zesty aroma.
Cranberries: A handful of fresh or dried cranberries adds a pop of color and a subtle fruity aroma, especially nice around the holidays.
Star Anise: For a unique, slightly spicy note, add a piece of star anise.
Ginger: Fresh ginger slices bring a touch of warmth and spice that pairs wonderfully with the other ingredients.

How to Use Your Simmering Pot as Part of Your Daily Routine

One of the most beautiful things about simmering pots is their versatility. Here are a few ways you can incorporate this cozy ritual into your homemaking routine:

Create a Welcoming Atmosphere for Guests: Start a simmering pot an hour before guests arrive to give your home a warm, inviting scent.
Set the Mood for Relaxation: Let the pot simmer in the background during family movie night, reading time, or when you’re winding down for the evening.
Boost Your Mood During Cleaning Sessions: Turn a chore into a mini self-care ritual by starting a simmering pot while you clean. The comforting scent can make tidying up feel more enjoyable.

Whether you’re hosting friends or simply want to add a touch of warmth to an ordinary day, this simmering pot recipe brings that extra bit of joy to your home. So light a candle, start this cozy citrus and spice simmering pot, and embrace the simple pleasures that make a house feel like a home.

Cozy Citrus and Spice Simmering Pot

Ingredients

1 orange, sliced
1 apple, sliced (optional for an added layer of warmth)
1 cinnamon stick
3-4 cloves
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
A few sprigs of fresh rosemary or a handful of bay leaves (optional for an earthy note)
3 cups of water

Instructions

Gather Ingredients: Start by slicing the orange and apple. If you don’t have an apple, feel free to leave it out, but it adds a rich, cozy aroma to the mix. Altermatively, simply use the leftover peel of the fruits and save them as you eat them.
Combine Ingredients: In a small pot, add the orange slices, apple slices, cinnamon stick, cloves, and any additional ingredients you’d like, such as rosemary or bay leaves.
Add Water: Pour in about 3 cups of water, just enough to cover the ingredients.
Simmer and Enjoy: Place the pot on low heat, bringing it to a gentle simmer. Add the vanilla extract as it begins to warm up. Let it simmer, filling your home with a wonderful aroma. Be sure to check the water level periodically and add more as needed to keep the ingredients covered.

Notes

Note: In our house, we often save the peels from our oranges after eating them to use for simmering pots instead of slicing the whole fruit.