Scented homes began long before plug-in diffusers and aerosol cans. The simmer pot was the original household deodorizer, even if it was threaded with folklore. It cleansed spaces, shifted moods, became seasonal, and carried intentions in steam. And now? It’s back, with more uses than ever, in a way that it’s become storytelling in steam.

What is a simmer pot?

It’s a natural stovetop scent infusion made by gently simmering fruit, herbs and spices in water to fragrance your home. It’s a natural potpourri that has a history…

The Story of the Simmer Pot

Long before bottled fragrances and chemically-filled candles and aerosol sprays, households scented their cottage homes the old-fashioned way: a simple pot, on a low heat, filled with water, and whatever seasonal flavours were on offer. Apples after harvest. Citrus in winter. Pine or bark chips found after a storm. Berries in summer. And those special herbs and spices for certain celebrations.

Back then, homes were closed in over winter, sometimes with animals, and well, they needed to make something fresher to really get into the crevices of those thatched roofs. And as they always had a fire going, that instead of simmering soups and stews, the simmer pot made it more lively during those dark, cold months of winter.

But the simmer pot wasn’t just about the fragrance—it somehow became practicality wrapped in superstition. It was nourishment overlapping with atmosphere. It was the home mirroring the land, the season, and sometimes, the unseen.

The Old-World Roots

Across the British Isles, particularly in Celtic regions, scent was tied to intention. Homes were cleansed not always by smoke (which was sacred, but not always suitable), but often by scented steam instead.

Kitchen hearths were believed to be threshold spaces where:

  • food fed the body,
  • scent fed the spirit,
  • and intention shaped the atmosphere of the home.

A simmer pot could mean many things, depending on the blend:

  • warding off sickness or gloom,
  • welcoming good fortune,
  • clearing stale air after storms or celebrations,
  • or simply calling warmth back into cold rooms.

The simmer pot was a tradition. The steam became the ritual. And the scent became the story it shared.

Creating Atmosphere: The Romance of Self-Care

Here’s the thing about simmer pots that romance readers instinctively understand: they’re not just about making your home smell good. They’re about tending to your space the way you’d tend to yourself—with intention, warmth, and a little bit of magic that doesn’t need a spell book.

There’s something deeply romantic about the act itself. Choosing your ingredients. Watching the steam rise. Knowing that in thirty minutes, your entire home will smell like a hug. It’s the same energy as lighting candles before settling in with a good book, choosing the perfect playlist for a rainy afternoon, or making a special tea blend in your favorite cup. All these small acts whisper this moment matters.

And when you create this atmosphere in your home, you’re not just doing it for yourself—you’re doing it for everyone who enters. Your partner who walks in after a long day. Your friends who visit for some wine and juicy gossip. Even your pets, who’ll curl up a little closer when the air smells like comfort. A simmer pot says you are home.

It’s self-care that radiates outward, like adding some real-world romance into your life, and not just your reading list.

A Basic Simmer Pot Recipe

You’ll need:

Method:

  1. Add your ingredients.
  2. Fill a small pot over halfway with water (about 4 cups) to cover your selected ingredients.
  3. Bring to a gentle simmer (not a rolling boil).
  4. Turn the heat down low and let it steam for 30–90 minutes.
  5. Top up water as needed so it doesn’t run dry.

Safety note: Don’t leave it unattended, and don’t let the pot boil dry.

Slow Cooker or Mini Burner

Don’t want to tie up the stove? Try using a small slow cooker or a candle warmer and let it simmer for hours. You can simply flick the switch (once you’ve added more water) to let it do its magic the next day and the next.

A Simple Simmer Pot Blend

This is the easiest one that smells comforting:

  • 1 orange, sliced (or a few strips of orange peel)
  • 1–2 cinnamon sticks
  • 6–8 whole cloves (optional but gorgeous)

Add water, simmer low, and let it do its thing.

Want it softer? Add a splash of vanilla extract.
Want it greener? Add a sprig of rosemary.

How the Simmer Pot Can Be Repurposed

A good simmer blend lasts 2–3 days. Keep the strained water refrigerated between uses and gently reheat it each morning to continue the mood cycle. But that scented liquid can be kept for a lot longer.

Here’s how a single simmer blend can be reused—without losing its sublime scent:

Strain & Save the Scented Water

If using the large pots, once cooled, strain your blend and bottle the water. This liquid gold has many second lives.

Household Mister / Deodorizer

This decanted simmer pot liquid deodorizes the home the natural way. Simply use the saved simmer water and add it to a misting spray bottle to refresh:

  • curtains
  • couches
  • guest rooms
  • or anywhere that needs a soft atmospheric lift, like dog beds or your partner’s work boots that unceremoniously get dumped by the back door. Hey, why not do the door mats, too.

Freeze into Scent Cubes

Pour the strained scent-water into ice trays. Freeze into cubes and store them in zip bags for the freezer.

These cubes can later be placed into:

As they melt, they slowly release that layered fragrance again. One cube = hours of renewed ambience.

Seasonal Simmer Pots & Their Stories

You can make simmer pots for different seasons, or fruit flavourings, and moods. They also have a tradition, some to celebrate the season, some done for protection, and those that are created just for that warm hug that makes you inhale deeply as you nestle into your favourite reading chair to start a new book.

Here are just a few:

1.     Christmas Simmer Pot—The Gift of Abundance

These blends make stunning gifts as kits when placed in glass jars or simply wrapped in cellophane for stocking stuffers for friends, or those unexpected guests.

Ingredients: cranberries, orange, cloves, cinnamon, star anise and pine.

Red berries symbolize prosperity, warmth, celebration and protection through the season.

2.     Winter’s Simmer Pot—The Manor Hearth Blend

Ingredients: Apple, vanilla bean, rosemary sprig, cinnamon sticks.

Cosy gothic warmth without menace. Perfect for curling up with a historical romance or a dark academia read while the snow softly falls outside.

3.     Spring Solstice—The Gardener’s Pot

Ingredients: Sliced lemon and limes, lavender and thyme with a splash of vanilla essence.

This blend makes you want to open your windows and smile at the sun. Pair it with a springtime romance or anything set in an English garden.

4.     Summer—The Orchard Clearing Pot

Ingredients: Grapefruit, peppercorns (just a few), basil and thyme with some coconut water (or coconut essence) and sliced lime, for that summer vibrancy.

Or: Assorted summer berries: strawberries, raspberries and blueberries with basil and zest of limes and lemons.

This one is light, bright, and perfect for lazy summer reading on the porch with something small-town contemporary and sun-soaked.

5.     Autumn (Fall)—The Hearth Spice Pot

Ingredients: Nutmeg, pumpkin spice or pumpkin essence, cinnamon sticks, orange peel, and a splash of vanilla or whatever else you have on hand to enjoy the season.

This one is the scent of cozy sweaters, falling leaves, and everything pumpkin. Ideal for October reads—whether that’s a witchy romance or small-town fall festivals.

6.     Date Night at Home—The Invitation Pot

Ingredients: Blood orange slices, rose petals, a drizzle of honey, cardamom pods, vanilla bean, star anise, and a cinnamon stick.

Warm, exotic, just a little mysterious. This is for the night you’ve set the table, dimmed the lights, and want the air to feel as intentional as the playlist. Bonus: your partner will walk in and immediately ask what smells so incredible.

7.     Cozy Reading Afternoon—The Comfort Pot

Ingredients: Apple slices, chamomile tea bag, honey, lavender buds, and a pinch of mint.

Soft, sweet, soothing. This is your “cancel all plans and sink into the couch with a comfort read” scent. Pairs beautifully with tea, blankets, and whatever book makes your heart feel full.

Why the Simmer Pot?

Well, they carry a story…

And soon, this tradition will weave into the sensory world of Forget Forever—where scent becomes so much more than just a story.

You can find it here>>

 

For now, just know that what begins as steam and intention in your kitchen may become something so much more layered, or a wonderful tradition for yourself. The pot is yours to stir anyway you desire, just have fun with it.

 

Want to create your own seasonal simmer pot moodboard? Share your favourite blends, photos of your simmering pots, or the books you’re pairing them with. Let’s make our homes—and our reading nooks—smell like the stories we love.