Fresh lemon, sweet basil, rosemary, mint, and lavender are just a few of the aromatic ingredients used to create these spring & summer stovetop potpourri recipes. They’re easy to make and will keep your home smelling fresh all season long!
Summertime has arrived in full force here in Florida. With temperatures in the 90s, we try to avoid going out in the middle of the day because it’s just so dang hot! These spring & summer stovetop potpourri recipes will bring a hint of sunshine to your home without the scorching heat. Plus, they use ingredients you likely have in your garden and kitchen right now!
What is a Stovetop Potpourri?
A stovetop potpourri is a mix of fruits, herbs, spices, flower petals, and extracts that are placed in a simmering pot of water to make your home smell good! They’re great alternatives to plug-ins, paraffin candles, and room sprays. All of those fresheners smell great, but they contain ingredients harmful to your health. These stovetop potpourri recipes are 100% natural and are an excellent way to freshen up the house!
How Long Does Stovetop Potpourri Last?
These recipes will keep your house smelling good for several hours. I’ve had success using the same potpourri a few days in a row. Simply turn the burner off before bed, place the pot in the fridge, and ignite the burner again in the morning. All you need to do is replenish the water as it simmers to ensure that the ingredients aren’t burned in the pot. If the scent weakens, you can always add more ingredients to bring back the aroma.
What Can I Simmer on the Stove to Make my House Smell Good?
A variety of natural ingredients can be used! Here’s a list of various herbs, spices, fruits, and flowers to get you started:
HERBS
Rosemary
Basil
Thyme
Mint
Eucalyptus
SPICES
Cinnamon
Ginger
Clove
Nutmeg
Vanilla
FLORAL
Lavender
Rose
Gardenia
Chamomile
FRUITS
Lemon
Lime
Orange
Strawberry
Apple
Cucumber
When choosing herbs and flowers, make sure you’re using fresh ones from the garden or from a local flower/garden shop. Most of the dried herbs and flower petals sold in stores are covered in a layer of synthetic chemicals. Simmering those chemicals into the air defeats the purpose of making this all natural home refresher.
If you enjoy using extracts but the expense is holding you back, be sure to check out my Homemade Vanilla Extract recipe!
Citrus Simmer Pot Recipes
Lemon Lime
- 1 lemon
- 2 limes
- Several sprigs of Mint
- Several sprigs of thyme
Lemon Rosemary
- 2 lemons
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Several sprigs of rosemary
Orange Marmalade
- 1 orange (or the peels of 2 oranges)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Several basil leaves
Fruity & Floral Simmer Pot Recipes
Strawberry Basil
- 7-10 cut strawberries
- Several basil leaves
- 1 lemon
Lavender Vanilla
- Several Lavender flowers
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Eucalyptus Rose
- Rose petals from 6-12 roses
- 3 long branches of eucalyptus, cut
- Optional vanilla extract
How to Make a Stovetop Potpourri | Directions
Bring a small pot 3/4 full of water to a simmer.
Cut/peel the fruit, measure out the extracts, and/or pluck petals off the flowers according to the recipe you’re using.
Add all ingredients to the simmering pot of water, and enjoy the aroma!
Important: Don’t forget about your stovetop potpourri while it’s simmering on the stove! You need to keep up with replenish the water because once it evaporates, your contents can burn in the pot which is a safety hazard.
Gifting Stovetop Potpourri in a Jar
You can make some great homemade gifts out of these recipes, too! The recipes containing fruits will need to be used relatively quickly before the ingredients go bad, so prepare the jar shortly before gifting and store it in the fridge. The recipes with herbs and flower petals will last a few days longer if you want to make them a little bit ahead of time!
Leave a Reply