Essential Oil Simmer Pot Recipes Inspired by the Garden

Bring the beauty of the garden into your home with these natural, seasonal simmer pot recipes using essential oils.

Welcome Your Garden Indoors

If you're looking for a gentle, natural way to scent your home, a simmer pot is a perfect choice. Using essential oils inspired by the garden, you can create fragrant blends that reflect the changing seasons – all without synthetic sprays or candles.

Essential Oil Simmer Pot Recipes Inspired by the Garden

Simmer pots are a time-honoured, eco-friendly method to fill your space with warm, comforting aromas. Whether you love the fresh notes of spring blooms or the earthy calm of winter evergreens, there’s a garden-inspired blend for every mood and season.

What is a Simmer Pot?

A simmer pot, also known as a stovetop potpourri, is a simple mixture of water, herbs, fruit, and spices that is gently heated to release its natural fragrance into the air. When made with essential oils, you can capture the essence of a summer herb garden or a spring meadow, no matter the weather outside.

You can use a saucepan on the hob, a slow cooker, or even a candle warmer to keep your blend gently simmering.

Why Garden-Inspired Scents?

Our gardens are full of aromatic inspiration. Herbs, flowers, fruits and foliage all carry beautiful, complex scents that bring the outdoors in.

Garden-inspired simmer pots not only smell wonderful, but they also:

Create a calming, nature-connected atmosphere
Use ingredients you may already grow or have on hand
Reflect the seasons in a sensory way

How to Make a Simmer Pot with Essential Oils

Here’s how to create your own:

You’ll need:

A pot or slow cooker
Water
Optional fresh botanicals or fruit slices
5–10 drops of essential oils

Steps:

Fill your pot about halfway with water.
Add any whole ingredients (herbs, citrus, petals).
Add your essential oils.
Simmer gently over low heat.
Top up water as needed and never leave it unattended.

Fragrance Layering: What Is It?

Fragrance layering involves combining multiple scent notes to build a more complex and balanced aroma.

Much like in perfume making, this technique uses:

Top notes (the first scent you notice – citrus, mint)
Middle notes (the heart of the blend – florals, herbs)
Base notes (the grounding scents – woods, spices)

By layering oils thoughtfully, your simmer pot will smell full-bodied and harmonious, not flat or overpowering.

Seasonal Simmer Pot Recipes Inspired by the Garden

Spring Blend – Fresh Garden Bloom

A light and floral scent to welcome renewal.

Essential Oils: Lavender (middle), Geranium (middle), Lemon (top)
Optional Botanicals: Rose petals, chamomile flowers

Summer Blend – Herb Garden Breeze

Cool and crisp with a refreshing herbal lift.

Essential Oils: Basil (middle), Peppermint (top), Lime (top)
Optional Botanicals: Mint leaves, rosemary sprigs

Autumn Blend – Orchard & Spice

Warm, comforting and a little sweet — like apple pie by the fire.

Essential Oils: Sweet Orange (top), Cinnamon (base), Clove (base)
Optional Botanicals: Apple slices, star anise, bay leaf

Winter Blend – Evergreen Calm

Earthy and grounding with hints of crisp woodland air.

Essential Oils: Fir Needle (middle), Cedarwood (base), Eucalyptus (top)
Optional Botanicals: Pine branches, juniper berries

Tips for Customising Your Blends

No fresh herbs? Use dried ones or skip them — the oils do most of the work.
No fruit on hand? A hint of peel or zest is enough to add a fresh citrus lift.
Too strong? Add fewer oil drops and increase as needed.
Get creative: Use what’s in your garden – think thyme, sage, or lavender clippings.

Make It Eco-Friendly

Use leftover herb bundles, peelings, or trimmings.
Compost your botanicals after use.
Store your favourite oil combos in a labelled box for quick simmering.

Essential Oil Simmer Pot Recipes: A Garden in Every Season

Simmer pots are a simple, sensory way to celebrate the changing seasons and the beauty of nature, right in your home. Whether you're diffusing the soft scent of geraniums in spring or warming your home with clove and fir in winter, there's joy to be found in these fragrant rituals.

Liked this post?Try our Epsom Salt Potpourri Recipes or explore Easy Seasonal Simmer Pot Ideas

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is the best pot to use for a simmer pot?

You can use a stainless steel saucepan, a ceramic pot, or a small slow cooker for a simmer pot. Ceramic pots are especially charming for tabletop use with a candle warmer, while saucepans are ideal for stovetop simmering.

2. How long can I leave a simmer pot going?

A simmer pot can gently bubble for several hours, as long as you regularly top it up with water to prevent it from drying out. Always monitor your pot to stay safe and never leave it unattended.

3. Can I reuse the ingredients in a simmer pot?

Yes, you can reuse the same botanicals and oils for up to 1–2 days. Simply strain out any spent pieces, refrigerate overnight if needed, and refresh with a little more water and a few extra drops of essential oil.

4. Which essential oils are safe for simmer pots?

Essential oils such as lavender, lemon, rosemary, sweet orange, eucalyptus, and fir needle are popular and safe for simmering. Always choose pure, high-quality essential oils without synthetic additives for the best aroma.

5. Can I make a simmer pot without essential oils?

Absolutely! You can create a beautiful fragrance using only fresh or dried ingredients like citrus slices, herbs, and spices. Essential oils offer a stronger, longer-lasting scent if you wish to boost the aroma.