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Simmer&Stir Blog – Natural Scents & Botanical Recipes
Welcome to Simmer & Stir — a place for seasonal inspiration, natural home fragrance and simple botanical recipes. Discover simmer pots, potpourri, herbal drinks, homemade syrups and easy ideas for bringing the scents and flavours of the season into your home.
All Posts
DIY Aromatherapy Shower Steamers for a Relaxing Evening Ritual
Make a small batch of DIY aromatherapy shower steamers with lavender and cedarwood for a softer, slower evening shower ritual.
Astrid van Essen
3 min read
Spooky Scents: 5 Halloween Simmer Pot Recipes for a Cosy Home
Create a cosy Halloween atmosphere with five simple simmer pots made with citrus, apples, herbs and warming spices.
Astrid van Essen
4 min read
How to Dry Flowers and Keep Their Colour
Preserve more of your flowers’ colour and shape with practical tips for silica gel, air drying and pressing.
Astrid van Essen
5 min read
How to Make Potpourri: A Dried Garden in a Bowl
Arrange whole dried roses, petals and leaves into a beautiful bowl of potpourri, with an optional gentle scent.
Astrid van Essen
5 min read
Can You Make Natural Laundry Perfume? What Works and What Doesn’t
Can you make natural laundry perfume at home? Learn what safely freshens washing and why essential oil should not go straight into the machine.
Astrid van Essen
3 min read
Towels Smell Musty, Even After Washing? Here’s How to Freshen Them Up
Do your towels smell musty even after washing? Find out what causes the stale smell and how to make them fresh again without fabric conditioner.
Astrid van Essen
5 min read
Make Your Own Christmas Tea: 3 Easy Festive Tea Blends
Make your own Christmas tea with orange, cinnamon, apple and warming spices. Try 3 easy festive tea blends, perfect for drinking or gifting.
Astrid van Essen
4 min read
5 Autumn Botanical Mocktails with Berries & Herbs
Five easy autumn mocktails with elderberry, rosehip, blackberry, sage and lemon balm. Simple botanical drinks for cosy evenings and gatherings.
Astrid van Essen
4 min read
How to Make Reed Diffusers at Home: Easy Recipe + Refill
Make your own reed diffuser with the right diffuser base, essential oils and reeds, plus an easy homemade reed diffuser refill.
Astrid van Essen
4 min read
How to Make Room Spray with Essential Oils: Easy Recipe
Make your own room spray with essential oils, alcohol and distilled water for an easy, customisable home fragrance.
Astrid van Essen
3 min read
Winter Solstice Plants & Botanicals: 9 Natural Symbols of Midwinter
A practical guide to nine plants and botanicals associated with midwinter, plus simple ways to use them in natural seasonal decorations and scent.
Astrid van Essen
3 min read
Yule Simmer Pot: Meaning, Ingredients + 3 Winter Solstice Recipes
Three Yule simmer pot recipes with orange, evergreen, herbs and spice, plus a simple explanation of the ingredients and seasonal meaning.
Astrid van Essen
3 min read
Winter Solstice Simmer Pot: 3 Botanical Blends for the Longest Night
Three winter solstice simmer pot recipes using citrus, evergreens, herbs and warm spices, with fresh, forest and cosy scent profiles.
Astrid van Essen
3 min read
Winter Solstice Rituals: 7 Simple Ways to Welcome Back the Light
Seven simple winter solstice rituals for home, using candles, scent, evergreens, warm drinks and quiet reflection.
Astrid van Essen
3 min read
How to Celebrate the Winter Solstice: 9 Simple Ideas for the Longest Night
A simple, modern guide to celebrating the winter solstice at home with light, scent, evergreens, warm drinks and small seasonal rituals.
Astrid van Essen
4 min read
How to Use an Oil Burner with Wax Melts or Fragrance Oil
How do you use an oil burner? Learn how it works with wax melts, fragrance oil or essential oils, how much to use and the basic safety points.
Astrid van Essen
3 min read
10 Botanical Mocktails for Christmas and Winter Gatherings
Ten festive botanical mocktails made with herbs, fruit, tea and winter spices — with US measurements, metric equivalents and optional 1 oz spirit pairings.
Astrid van Essen
6 min read
7 Autumn Simmer Pot Recipes for a Cosy, Naturally Fragranced Home
Try 7 autumn simmer pot recipes with apple, citrus, herbs and spices for a cosy, naturally fragranced home.
Astrid van Essen
5 min read
How to Make Scented Pinecones Naturally for Autumn and Christmas
Learn how to clean, dry and scent pinecones for a simple natural autumn or Christmas decoration, with blend ideas and essential safety advice.
Astrid van Essen
3 min read
5 Warm Apple Drinks for Cosy Autumn Evenings
Five easy warm apple drinks with cinnamon, ginger, orange and herbs for cosy autumn evenings, including alcohol-free apple cider ideas.
Astrid van Essen
3 min read
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