Fall Simmer Pots, What's The Big Deal? Why Are They So Popular? How To Make One......

When there's a stiff breeze in the air, and the warm weather has gone for yet another year, there is nothing cosier when it is cold outside than to snuggle up under a nice chunky knit blanket on the sofa with a hot cup of something to warm you up and be able to smell the aroma of crisp sweet apples, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, lemon, vanilla, pumpkin pie, cranberries and forest

fruits, pears, star anise, rosemary, and all of the other aromatic scents that signify that fall has just begun.

What Is A Simmer Pot?

So what exactly is a Simmer Pot? Well in a nutshell, it's a reasonably sized casserole dish or Dutch Oven, filled with fruit, herbs and spices, covered with water and left on the stovetop on low heat to simmer while the aroma permeates the house.

Best of all, if you make sure to wash the ingredients thoroughly, use purified or distilled water, and boil the ingredients for at least 20 minutes before simmering, then because the Simmer Pot is made with completely natural ingredients, the liquid is edible and makes a lovely herbal tea. Once the fruit, herbs and spices have dried out, they make a natural Potpourri and there are so many different combinations of fruits to choose from.

Why Choose A Simmer Pot Over Simply Buying a Bottle Of Air Freshener From The Store?

Simmer Pots might not be for everybody, I didn't think I would like the first one I made, but then I tried it and never looked back. They are so very cheap to make, and are a natural way to make your home smell amazing without the use of aerosols or chemicals. The liquid can also be decanted into a spray bottle and used as a room spray. I have also found that they are a fantastic way to use up any fruit that might be a little past its best.

The Simmer Pot method of making potpourri is also a great way to make a homemade gift for a loved one. They always say that homemade gifts are the best and show the most care and thought. This can also be something nice to do with children as they can assist with collecting the ingredients together and, depending on their age, they could even help you cut the fruit and place it in the pot.

Staple Ingredients To Add To Simmer Pots Any Time Of The Year

• Vanilla - use any kind of vanilla you want, but I find that vanilla extract works best.

• Cinnamon sticks - a couple of good quality cinnamon sticks add a depth of flavour to any Simmer Pot and the aroma lasts for hours after the pot is switched off.

• Star Anise - with it's sweet aniseed flavour, Star Anise adds that subtle sweet and sour note to any Simmer Pot.

• Cloves - these are a must for almost all Simmer Pots, especially fall Simmer Pots as they exude a warm note that cannot be replicated by any other spice, herb or piece of fruit.

• Herbs such as bay leaves, rosemary, basil, mint, and even sage can be added to Simmer Pots as when these are combined with the right ingredients they permeate the house and smell amazing

• Fruit - most Simmer Pots call for slices of apples, pears, pineapples, oranges, lemons, limes, and clementines as well as fresh cranberries, blackberries, red currents, strawberries etc. Have a look online using your favourite fruit or aroma as the base scent or base ingredient and see what recipes come up or have fun using your own imagination seeing what goes together.

• If you are not planning on drinking the herbal water, then why not add a couple of drops of essential oil from any fruits or things that cannot be boiled or simmered? My favourite is the scent of pumpkin pie and gingerbread so I will sometimes add a couple of drops of pumpkin pie spice scented fragrance oil to the mix or gingerbread house scented fragrance oil to make it smell just like Christmas!

If you are unsure what pot to use, as it is the fall season after all, why not try this white pumpkin style casserole dish or the orange cast iron Dutch Oven by Nuovva that has autumn colours on the coating.

So whether you prefer to just buy a fragrance from the store, or make your own, I hope you enjoy making your home smell warm and welcoming for the season ahead, and have a lot of fun doing so in the process.

*Post contains affiliate links