Seasonal Simmer Pot Recipes: Four Simple Blends

A simmer pot gently warms fruit, herbs and spices in water to release their aroma. These four small-pan recipes offer a starting point for each season. Choose one, keep the pan supervised and expect scent nearby rather than a guaranteed whole-house effect.

Easy Seasonal Simmer Pot Recipes to Fill Your Home with Natural Fragrance

Spring: lemon, mint and lavender

• 750 ml water, plus extra to top up

• ½ lemon, sliced

• 2 small mint sprigs

• 1 small lavender sprig or ½ tsp dried lavender

Summer: orange and thyme

• 750 ml water, plus extra to top up

• 3 broad strips of orange peel

• 2 broad strips of lemon peel

• 2 small thyme sprigs

Autumn: apple and cinnamon

• 750 ml water, plus extra to top up

• 1 small apple, sliced

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 3 whole cloves

• 1 star anise, optional

Winter: orange, rosemary and cardamom

• 750 ml water, plus extra to top up

• ½ orange, sliced

• 1 small rosemary sprig

• 3 cardamom pods, lightly crushed

• 1 cinnamon stick

One method for all four recipes

1. Choose a saucepan with plenty of space above the water. Add ingredients and enough water to cover them.

2. Warm gently, then reduce to the lowest heat that maintains a very gentle simmer.

3. Stay nearby and check the water regularly. Top up before it runs low and never let the pan boil dry.

4. If the aroma feels too strong, turn off the heat and ventilate.

5. Turn off the hob before leaving the room. Let the contents cool before disposal; this mixture is not a drink.

Choosing ingredients and using appliances

Use correctly identified ingredients without unsuitable treatments. Do not substitute unidentified evergreen cuttings: not every conifer is appropriate. Keep hot pans and ingredients inaccessible to children and pets and consider everyone’s fragrance sensitivities.

These recipes describe hob use. Use a slow cooker only if its manufacturer permits this application and operating conditions; do not assume running it uncovered all day is suitable. A fresh small batch avoids storing and repeatedly reheating a used mixture.

Adapting a blend

Change one ingredient at a time. Dried herbs can be more concentrated in aroma, so start with a small amount. Essential oils are not required. Cleaning, ventilation and dealing with damp or waste come before adding scent.

For dry display, make botanical potpourri instead