What is a Simmer Pot (Stovetop potpourri)? Everything You Need to Know

A simmer pot (or stovetop potpourri) is one of the simplest and most beautiful things you can do for your home. Fill a small pot with water, add a handful of herbs, some spices, a few slices of citrus, and set it over the lowest heat on your hob. Within minutes, your kitchen — and then your whole home — fills with a fragrance that no candle or synthetic spray can replicate. It smells alive, because it is.

What is a Simmer Pot? Everything You Need to Know

If you are new to simmer pots, this is everything you need to know to get started. If you already make them, you will find the full ingredient guide and our herb-by-herb recipes below.

What is a Simmer Pot?

A simmer pot, also called stovetop potpourri, is a pot of water simmered gently on the hob with natural ingredients that release fragrance as they heat. Unlike boiling, simmering keeps the water just below 100°C, releasing the essential oils in herbs and spices slowly and continuously rather than burning them off all at once. The result is a steady, evolving fragrance that fills the home for hours.

The concept is ancient, people have been simmering fragrant ingredients in water for centuries across cultures worldwide. For the full history of simmer pots and why they became a household tradition, read our post: The History & Benefits of Simmer Pots.

How Does a Simmer Pot Work?

When water heats, it carries volatile aromatic compounds — the essential oils in herbs, spices, and citrus — into the air as steam. These compounds are the same ones responsible for the medicinal and mood-affecting properties of each ingredient.

When you simmer rosemary, you release 1,8-cineole into the air, the same compound shown in studies to improve memory and focus. When you simmer lavender, you release linalool, which interacts with the nervous system to promote calm. A simmer pot is, in this sense, a form of natural aromatherapy.

What Do You Put in a Simmer Pot?

Almost any natural, fragrant ingredient works in a simmer pot. The best results come from combining a base note (something warm and deep), a middle note (something aromatic and herbal), and a top note (something bright and citrusy).

Herbs

• Rosemary — clarifying, memory-supporting, resinous

• Lavender — calming, floral, ideal for evening pots

• Thyme — grounding, herbal, antimicrobial

• Sage — complex, resinous, cleansing. Use sparingly

• Peppermint — sharp, energising, clarifying. Best for morning pots

• Lemon balm — soft, citrusy, calming

• Chamomile — sweet, floral, soothing. Best for evening pots

Spices

• Cinnamon sticks — warm, sweet, welcoming. The classic simmer pot base

• Cloves — intense, warm, antimicrobial. Use 6 to 8 whole cloves

• Star anise — deep, sweet, complex. Releases slowly over hours

• Cardamom pods — floral, citrusy, sophisticated. Lightly crush before adding

• Ginger — sharp, warming, energising. Fresh slices work best

Citrus & Extras

• Orange or lemon, sliced — bright top notes that lift the whole blend

• Vanilla extract or a vanilla pod — warmth and sweetness

• Dried rose petals (culinary grade) — floral, pairs beautifully with cardamom

• Bay leaves — warm, slightly medicinal, grounding

How to Make a Simmer Pot

Making a simmer pot takes less than five minutes:

• Choose a small pot: ceramic or stainless steel. Avoid light-coloured pots if using turmeric as it stains

• Add one litre of water: enough to simmer for two to three hours before needing to top up

• Add your ingredients: a typical pot uses 3 to 5 ingredients: one or two herbs, one or two spices, and a citrus element

• Bring to a gentle simmer over low heat: tiny bubbles at the surface, not a boil

• Top up with water every 30 to 45 minutes as it evaporates

• Turn off after 2 to 4 hours: ingredients can be composted or reused once for a lighter second pot

How Long Can You Leave a Simmer Pot On?

Two to four hours is the ideal range. Never leave a simmer pot unattended — keep it on the lowest heat your hob allows, never let it boil dry, and turn it off when you leave the room for extended periods. A timer helps.

Heavier spices like cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves last longer than delicate herbs like lavender or lemon balm. For delicate herb pots, check more frequently and keep the heat especially low.

Our Simmer Pot Recipes by Herb

Every herb has its ideal simmer pot combination. We have developed specific recipes for each one, with full instructions, intention-setting guides, and fragrance descriptions:

• Rosemary, Lemon & Pine — clarifying, focused, forest-fresh

• Lavender, Lemon & Vanilla — calming, floral, evening warmth

• Cinnamon, Orange & Clove — warm, spiced, deeply welcoming

• Ginger, Lemon & Black Pepper — energising, chai-like, morning

• Chamomile, Honey & Vanilla — tender, sweet, bedtime calm

• Star Anise, Orange & Cinnamon — deep, festive, long-lasting

• Clove, Apple & Cinnamon — intense, autumnal, bold

• Cardamom, Rose & Honey — floral, sophisticated, perfume-like

• Turmeric, Ginger & Black Pepper — earthy, golden, restorative

• Peppermint, Lemon & Eucalyptus — sharp, alpine, clarifying

• Thyme, Lemon & Bay — herbal, Mediterranean, grounding

• Fennel, Orange & Vanilla — sweet, gentle, nurturing

• Sage, Lemon & Black Pepper — ancient, resinous, cleansing

• Lemon Balm, Honey & Lemon — bright, citrusy, uplifting

At Botanical Blueprint, we believe a simmer pot is most powerful when it is made with intention. Before you add your ingredients, take a moment to decide what you want to invite into your home — clarity, calm, energy, warmth, or simply the pleasure of a space that smells genuinely good.

The simmer pot becomes a small ritual rather than just a recipe. That is the Botanical Blueprint approach — not just making your home smell good, but making it feel intentional.

Frequently Asked Questions About Simmer Pots

1. What is a simmer pot?

A simmer pot is a pot of water heated gently on the hob with natural ingredients — herbs, spices, citrus, and botanicals — that release fragrance as they warm. It is a simple, natural, chemical-free way to scent your home, with roots in centuries of domestic tradition across cultures worldwide. Unlike a diffuser or a candle, a simmer pot uses whole plant ingredients and delivers their aromatic compounds directly into the air through steam.

2. How long does a simmer pot last?

Most simmer pots last two to four hours on a single fill of water. Top up every 30 to 45 minutes to extend the life of the pot. Hardy spices like cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves can be reused for a second, lighter pot the following day. Delicate herbs like lavender and lemon balm are best used fresh each time.

3. Is a simmer pot safe?

Yes, when used correctly. Keep the heat low, never let the pot boil dry, and never leave it unattended for extended periods. Use a timer if needed. A simmer pot on the lowest heat setting of a modern hob is extremely safe — it is simply water with plant ingredients in it, no different in principle to a pot of herbal tea left to simmer gently.

4. What is the difference between a simmer pot and a diffuser?

A diffuser uses concentrated essential oils dispersed via ultrasonic vibration or heat. A simmer pot uses whole plant ingredients simmered in water. The simmer pot delivers a broader, more complex, and more natural fragrance — because you are using the whole plant rather than an extracted oil. It also acts as a natural humidifier, adding moisture to dry indoor air. The trade-off is that it requires more attention than a plug-in diffuser.

5. Can you reuse simmer pot ingredients?

Yes — most simmer pot ingredients can be reused once for a second, lighter pot. Hardy spices like cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and cardamom pods retain enough essential oil for a second use. Citrus slices and fresh herbs are best replaced for the second pot. After two uses, compost the ingredients — they break down beautifully and add fragrance to the compost bin in the process.