Everything we experience with our senses has the potential to leave a lasting impression, including scent. Our minds form strong connections between certain smells and specific memories or feelings, and those connections can last a lifetime!
For instance, the scent of baking spices and citrus takes me back to the holidays of my childhood, when the whole house would be filled with the smells of Mom’s delicious cooking for days on end. That smell was an integral part of the magic of the season, and I can still feel it whenever I smell that Christmas-y combination of scents!
Reproducing that scent in my home immediately makes it feel more like Christmas, and it couldn’t be easier to do! Today I’ll be sharing this simple idea with you, by showing you how to make a simple simmering potpourri that will fill your home with the delightful scents of the holiday season.
Still need to cross a few names off your gift list? Keep scrolling for simple instructions for giving this holiday potpourri mixture as a gift! 🙂
How To Make A Holiday Simmering Potpourri
Ingredients:
Mandarin orange, sliced
Cinnamon sticks, broken in half
Fresh cranberries
Cloves
How To Use It
Add all the ingredients to a small pot, then add water until it reaches about one inch below the rim. Set the pot on your stove and bring the water to a simmer, then drop the heat down to low.
Simmer the potpourri mixture as long as you want, adding water as necessary to keep it from drying out.
You could also keep your potpourri warm using a crockpot. Use the recipe above for a small dip-sized crockpot, or double or triple the recipe to use it in a standard-sized crockpot.
How To Give Holiday Potpourri As A Gift
Add the mandarin orange, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and cloves to a small jar. Add some cute ribbon, and attach a card with instructions on how to use it (see above).
BONUS: Williams Sonoma-Inspired Simmering Potpourri
If you’re looking to mix things up a little with your potpourri, give this option a try too! This recipe was inspired by the signature scent of Williams Sonoma, and will keep your home smelling fresh and cozy.
Ingredients:
1 lemon, sliced
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 tsp vanilla
How To Use It
Follow the instructions provided above for the Holiday Simmering Potpourri.
What scents do you associate with the holidays?
Simmering Christmas Potpourri Recipe
Equipment
- Medium Sauce Pan
Ingredients
- 1 Orange sliced
- 2 Cinnamon sticks broken in half
- 1/2 cup Fresh cranberries
- 1 teaspoon Cloves whole or ground
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small pot, then add water until it reaches about one inch below the rim.
- Set the pot on your stove and bring the water to a simmer, then drop the heat down to low. Simmer the potpourri mixture as long as you want, adding water as necessary to keep it from drying out.
