Sweet Orange, Cranberry, and Clove Simmer Pot Mix
A lovely way to bring scent to your home with natural ingredients, the simmer pot has been around for centuries. Simmer pots are customizable potpourri that is warmed on the stove and left to simmer or sit after being heated and freshen the air. Many believe that they bring about peace and calm.
In fact, making simmer pots is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season, including the ancient holiday of Yule. During this Norse tradition, it is common to celebrate with nature, and what better way to do so than by creating a gorgeous botanical mixture with the scents of winter? We have made many simmer pots on the blog before, so here is a new one for you to try!
This mixture uses some common potpourri elements. It can be used as a coffee table mixture, if you prefer, or simmered over the stove. I have had some people leave comments that simmer pots are not necessarily any more economical than burning a candle. At this point in my life, I feel like I am simply trying to be tolerant of what our culture considers natural, clean, and non-toxic. Do I think that simmer pots are likely more healthful to breathe in than a paraffin candle? Of course. Do I believe that leaving your stove burner on all day long wastes energy? Yes. To solve that problem, you can simply bring the mixture to a boil for 5 or so minutes, then shut it off and reheat when the scent is gone. I have also put simmer pots on top of our wood stove, and that works incredibly well!
what you will need:
5 cups dried uva ursi leaves
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup dried whole cloves
1 cup dried orange peel, chopped
12 dried orange slices
20 drops sweet orange oil
20 drops clove oil
directions:
In a large bowl, mix together the uva ursi, cranberries, cloves, orange peel, orange slices, orange oil, and clove oil. Make sure everything is well coated in the oils and that the scent is strong. Add more oil if you prefer a stronger scent.
Divide the mixture into airtight containers. If you are turning this into a gift, a glass jar works best as it beautifully shows off the mix! Tie a gift tag onto the jar with the ingredients and instructions to use the simmer pot.
To use: Place about 1 cup of simmer pot mix into a quart of water. Bring the pot to a boil and simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pot from heat and smell the holiday scent! If the scent becomes dull, reheat the pot and begin again. This mixture will last all day and probably the next day.
To preserve the simmer pot mix, keep in an airtight container out of direct sunlight. It should last for several years, depending on how to store it!
This simmer pot mixture makes a wonderful holiday gift. We love giving simmer pot mixes to neighbors, teachers, caregivers, and more. They bring about a peaceful nostalgia, and make for a fun “candle” experience! You can add other things to the mix. I think that the dried oranges are so pretty, but of course, fresh oranges are much more powerful.
If you would like to avoid simmering this over the stove, you can also place it into a crockpot on low.
xoxo Kayla
