Stovetop Potpourri is one of the easiest ways to make your home smell amazing for the holidays. Fresh cranberries or apples, orange, rosemary, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and water simmer together on the stove for a festive scent everyone notices right away (and a scent everyone associates with the holidays.)
We have made this for decades and especially love making this before guests come over, during holiday baking days, or anytime we want the house to feel extra welcoming. It’s simple, pretty, and uses just a few fresh ingredients and spices.
We also love making it a gift to give to neighbors and friends because everyone loves it.
We hope this makes your Christmas and New Years smell better than ever!
Why You’ll Love It + Why it works:
- Natural Aroma: Makes your home smell warm, fresh, and festive.
- Scents of the Season: Perfect for holidays, guests, parties, and cozy days at home.
- Lasts for Days: Can be refreshed with more water and simmered again when watched carefully.
- Citrus and Spices Create the Scent: Orange, cinnamon, and cloves give the potpourri its warm holiday fragrance.
- Low Heat Helps it Last: A very gentle simmer releases the fragrance slowly without evaporating the water too quickly.
Stovetop Potpourri Ingredients
- Cranberries, or diced apples (1 cup): Adds a pretty seasonal look and a fresh fruity scent.
- Orange (1): Adds bright citrus fragrance and helps freshen the whole potpourri. Fresh or dried oranges.
- Rosemary (2-3 springs): Adds an earthy, fresh scent that pairs beautifully with the fruit and spices.
- Cinnamon sticks (2-3 sticks): Adds a warm, classic holiday fragrance.
- Whole cloves (2 teaspoons): Adds a strong, spicy scent that makes the potpourri smell extra festive.
- Water (4-6 cups, more as needed): Allows the ingredients to simmer safely and release their fragrance.
Change it Up
Once you have the hang of the original recipe, feel free to play with the spices. Increase or decrease the spices in the recipe. Add other herbs and spices such as vanilla, whole nutmeg, fresh mint, or star anise.
How to make Stovetop Potpourri
PREP. Cut your orange into slices or quarters and place the orange slices in a cooking pot. Add 1 cup cranberries and 2-3 springs of fresh rosemary, 2-3 sticks of cinnamon, and 2 teaspoons whole cloves.
SIMMER. Pour 4-6 cups of water into the pot. Simmer over very low heat.
ENJOY! Continue to simmer, allowing the fragrance to fill your home for about 4 days. Check the water approximately every hour. Add ½-1 cup to bring up the water levels. Turn the stove OFF when you aren’t able to monitor it every hour.
The potpourri will be at its most fragrant on the first day. Add new ingredients to help revive the aroma, but discard after 3-4 days. Also, be sure to keep an eye on the water level.
Slow Cooker Directions
Place the lid on the crock pot to prevent evaporation. Turn the pot to HIGH heat and let it fill the whole house with Christmas cheer.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Slice or quarter the orange so more citrus fragrance can release as it simmers.
- Keep the heat very low so the water does not evaporate too quickly.
- Check the water level about every hour and add more as needed.
- Never leave stovetop potpourri unattended, and turn off the stove if you cannot check it regularly.
- Make-ahead tip: combine the fruit and spices in a jar or bag and refrigerate until ready to simmer.
- Use our free printable Holiday Gift tag to turn this into a cute neighbor gift. Place the cranberries, rosemary sprigs, cinnamon sticks, and cloves in the bottom of a bag or in a mason jar. Add a whole orange on top. Tie a ribbon around the bag or jar, along with an instruction tag.
Stovetop Potpourri Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup cranberries, or diced apples
- 1 orange
- 2-3 springs rosemary
- 2-3 sticks cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons whole cloves
- 4-6 cups water, more as needed
Instructions
- Cut your orange into slices or quarters and place it in a cooking pot. Add cranberries and spices.
- Pour 4-6 cups of water into the pot. Simmer over very low heat.
- Continue to simmer, allowing the fragrance to fill your home for up to 4 days. Check the water level approximately every hour. Add ½-1 cup to bring up the water levels. TURN OFF the stove if not able to check it every hour.
Notes
- Slice or quarter the orange so more citrus fragrance can release as it simmers.
- Keep the heat very low so the water does not evaporate too quickly.
- Check the water level about every hour and add more as needed.
- Never leave stovetop potpourri unattended, and turn off the stove if you cannot check it regularly.
- Make-ahead tip: combine the fruit and spices in a jar or bag and refrigerate until ready to simmer.
Recipe FAQ
If using fresh produce, refrigerate for up to 2 days before simmering.
If using dried produce, store at room temperature for up to 1 month before simmering.
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This recipe was first shared December, 2020.
This is nice to make in a small crockpot. Leave on the counter & you still have all of your store for cooking.