There’s something about the change from summer to Fall that has a bigger impact on our sense of smell than any other seasonal transition. It seems like right after Labor Day we start to crave the smell of pumpkin spice, cinnamon, orange and cloves (and a wood fire doesn’t hurt either).

Scented candles can fill our homes with Autumn scents pretty easily, but they tend to contain chemicals. So if you want something more natural why not try the trusted and true method your grandmother (and likely her mother) used to use? Simmer pots full of enticing spices and dried fruits will fill your home with a delicious scent and you don’t have to worry about what you and your family are breathing in.

The best thing about simmer pot recipes is that they’re adaptable, and you can experiment and do something different each time. Depending on what you have lying around you can experiment with different combinations to see what you get. It’s hard to go wrong when you’re using Fall’s favorite scents.

How to Make a Simmer Pot

There’s nothing complicated about this generations-old technique. Simply fill a pot with water and bring it to a boil. Then add a sprinkling of your ingredients, let them boil for a few minutes, and then turn it down to simmer on the stove for a few hours. The water will evaporate so make sure you’re adding some more as needed. Usually every 30-45 minutes depending on the size of your pot.

Favorite Simmer Pot Recipes

These are recipes that we’ve tried and liked, but consider them as starting points only. Experiment with what you’ve got and see what you come up with.

Simmer Pot #1

• 5 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Simmer Pot #2

• Peel from 1 apple
• Peel from 1 orange
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 cinnamon sticks

Simmer Pot #3

• Peel from 1 lemon
• Peel from 1 orange
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 tablespoon whole cloves

Simmer Pot #4

• Peel from 2 oranges
• 1/4 cup cranberries
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves

Simmer Pot #5

• 2 cinnamon sticks
• Peel from 1 lemon
• Fresh rosemary sprig
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves

Helpful Hint

Hang on to your fruit peels and allow them to dry in a container rather than tossing them in the compost. If you get into the habit of doing this around the end of summer you’ll have a nice collection to choose from when simmer pot season arrives. Apple, orange and a little lemon work best for Autumn simmer pots.

Do you have any favorite simmer pot recipes? Share them with us in the comments!

Photos courtesy of Pixabay