Make Your Home Smell Like a Holiday Wonderland with Stovetop Christmas Potpourri

Photo: Shutterstock / Anna Hoychuk

We all love the warm smells that go along with the holiday seasons, like the scent of fresh-made gingerbread or mulled apple cider. But what happens after the baking and cooking are done and you want to capture those amazing, cozy smells?

Well, it turns out that creating these comforting Christmas and holiday fragrances is easy! By simmering your favorite aromatics—think cinnamon, clove and pine—and even a few leftovers (like your orange and apple peels) over the stove, you can fill your house with the sumptuous scents of the season.

How to Make Christmas Simmering Potpourri

These homemade stovetop potpourris are simple to cook up. To get the scents wafting through your home, all you need to do is fill up a saucepan with water and your aromatics—just leave about an inch of room at the top.

As for the aromatics themselves, the options are endless! If you’re cooking up a storm over the holidays, be sure to save any orange peels, apple peels, Christmas tree clippings, and stray herbs and spices. You can use all these to make your home smell incredible.

Once you put your ingredients on the stove, just bring them to a low simmer while you spend the day at home watching your favorite Christmas movies (here’s the complete 2021 Hallmark schedule!). Be sure to never stray too far from the stove, and remember that you can always add more water to keep the scents going. For a low-maintenance version, add your aromatics and water to an uncovered slow cooker and keep it on the low setting.

With the method down, you can create your own custom blend of favorite scents. If you’re looking for a place to start, though, we’ve got a few stovetop potpourri combinations you can try.

Our Favorite Sents:

Winter Forest

• Pine sprigs; clip a few from the base of your Christmas tree!
• Cinnamon sticks
• Bay leaves; one or two should do
• Lemon peel or even a lemon that’s been juiced for your lemon meringue muffins
• Orange or grapefruit peel

Cinnamon Bun

• Cinnamon sticks
• Vanilla extract; a teaspoon of this pricey ingredient is plenty
• Almond extract; same here—a teaspoon is a good place to start
• Nutmeg

Warm and Fuzzy

• Apple peels
• Orange peels
• Cinnamon sticks
• Whole cloves

Apple Chai

• Apple peels; if you don’t have apples or their peels on hand, substitute a cup of apple cider
• Cinnamon sticks
• Cloves
• Cardamom
• Ginger, fresh or ground
• Nutmeg

Cozy Cranberry

• Fresh cranberries
• Orange peel
• Cinnamon sticks
• Sprigs of fresh rosemary

Trust us, these fabulous scents will have you feeling warm and cozy all season long. So grab a good book and a Christmas cookie or two (or three!) and snuggle in.

Or fill your home with the aroma of fresh-baked cookies!

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Buttery 3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies With only a few ingredients, these butter shortbread cookies are so simple to prepare. —Pattie Prescott, Manchester, New Hampshire Go to Recipe

Almond Spritz CookiesThis almond spritz cookies recipe can be left plain or decorated with colored sugar and frosting. In our house, it just wouldn't be Christmas without some cookie press recipes.—Tanya Hart, Muncie, Indiana

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Gingerbread Men CookiesNo holiday treat platter would be complete without a gingerbread men cookie recipe! This is a tried-and-true recipe I'm happy to share with you. —Mitzi Sentiff, Annapolis, Maryland

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They're also one of the most popular Christmas cookies of all time.

Vanilla-Butter Sugar CookiesThese butter sugar cookies are one of my favorite cookies to bake for Christmas. The dough recipe is versatile, so you can use it for other holidays, too. Children like to help with the cookie decorating. —Cynthia Ettel, Glencoe, Minnesota

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If you're a fan of snowmen and sugar cookies, these TikTok melted snowman sugar cookies offer the perfect cookie combination.

Chocolate Thumbprint CookiesMy group of friends had a weekly "movie night" during winters on Martha's Vineyard, and we'd take turns making a chocolate treat to share. These terrific chocolate thumbprint cookies were an instant success. Once they debuted, I had to make them many more times. —Laura Bryant German, W. Warren, Massachusetts

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Cranberry Shortbread CookiesMy family loves shortbread and I love cranberries, so I decided to put the two together to make cranberry shortbread cookies. The star shape is a festive addition to my holiday cookie tray. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California

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Peppermint BiscottiDipped in melted chocolate and rolled in crushed peppermint candy, these flavorful biscotti are a favorite. They are among the many sweets I make for Christmas. —Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania

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Italian Rainbow CookiesMy family has made these classic Italian rainbow cookies for generations, and this homemade version is so much better than the bakery version. They are always a special treat during the holidays or any time of year! —Cindy Casazza, Hopewell, New Jersey

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Taste of Home

Peanut Butter Christmas MiceWith their black licorice tails, candy noses and peanut ears, these chewy "mice" were always a hit at classroom parties. My children are in their teens now, but they still ask me to make these cookies for the holidays. —Nancy Rowse, Bella Vista, Arkansas

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Christmas Sandwich CremesThese melt-in-your-mouth sandwich cookies have a scrumptious filling. I helped my sister make these in high school when she needed a project in her home economics class. My guess is that these were some of the best Christmas cookies in her class. She got an A+! —Janice Poechman, Walkerton, Ontario

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Triple-Chocolate Peppermint CookiesSanta is sure to stop by your house if you leave these minty triple-chocolate peppermint cookies waiting for him. They're quick and easy for the whole family to make together. —Teresa Ralston, New Albany, Ohio

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Buttery Spritz CookiesThis tender spritz cookie recipe is very eye-catching on my Christmas cookie tray. The dough is easy to work with, so it's fun to make these spritz cookies into a variety of festive shapes. This is hands down the best spritz cookie recipe ever. —Beverly Launius, Sandwich, Illinois

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PizzelleThis recipe was adapted from one that my Italian-born mother and grandmother followed. They used old irons on a gas stove, but now we have the convenience of electric pizzelle irons. These delectable cookies are still a traditional treat in our family. —Elizabeth Schwartz, Trevorton, Pennsylvania

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Coconut CloudsCoconut lovers will have extra reason to celebrate when they taste these cakelike drop cookies. The generous frosting and coconut topping make them a hit at holiday cookie swaps. —Donna Scofield, Yakima, Washington

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Photo: Taste of Home

SnickerdoodlesThe history of these whimsically named treats has been widely disputed, but their popularity is undeniable. Help yourself to one of our soft cinnamon-sugared cookies and see for yourself. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Peppermint MeltawaysThis recipe for peppermint meltaways is very pretty and festive-looking on a cookie platter. I often cover a plate of these peppermint cookies with red or green plastic wrap and a bright holiday bow in one corner. And yes, they really do melt in your mouth! —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan

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Frosted Eggnog CookiesEggnog stars in both the cookie and frosting in this new-found recipe, imparting a subtle holiday flavor.—Amanda Taylor, Glen Ewen, Saskatchewan

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Gingerbread Oatmeal CookiesCookie butter and ground ginger add a new layer of flavor. The recipe makes about 2 dozen cookies, and they go fast. You may want to make a double batch. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio

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Jeweled Coconut DropsRed raspberry preserves add a festive flair to these tender coconut drops. Perfect for potlucks and cookie exchanges, the shaped cookies never last long when I make them for my husband and two sons. —Ellen Marie Byler, Munfordville, Kentucky

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Dipped GingersnapsI get tremendous satisfaction making and giving time-tested yuletide treats like these dipped gingersnaps. Dipping them in white chocolate makes much-loved gingersnaps even more special. —Laura Kimball, West Jordan, Utah

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Pistachio-Cranberry RugelachTraditional rugelach gets dressed up for the holiday with pistachios, cranberries, and snow-white icing. Rich but not too sweet! — Deborah Hinojosa, Saratoga, California

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Chocolate-Covered Cherry CookiesAlthough these cookies require a little extra effort, they’re worth it. I make them for every family gathering—and they never last long! —Marie Kinyon, Mason, Michigan

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Scottish ShortbreadMy mother, who is of Scottish heritage, passed this shortbread recipe, along with other favorite recipes, on to me. When I entered this treat at our local fair, it won a red ribbon. —Rose Mabee, Selkirk, Manitoba

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Holiday Almond TassiesI make so many of these fancy tassies, I use up a 7-pound container of almond paste every year! They’re one of my family’s holiday favorites. —Donna Westhouse, Dorr, Michigan

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Lemon SnowflakesYou’ll need just four ingredients to make these delightful lemon snowflake cookies. Confectioners’ sugar highlights the cracked tops to give them their snowflake appearance. —Linda Barry, Dianna, Texas

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Taste of Home

Jolly Ginger Reindeer CookiesI made gingerbread cookies for years before realizing my gingerbread-man cutter becomes a reindeer when turned upside down. They’re super crispy and fun! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

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Italian Pignoli CookiesCookies are the crown jewels of Italian confections. I can’t let a holiday go by without baking these traditional almond cookies rolled in mild pine nuts. —Maria Regakis, Saugus, Massachusetts

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Fig & Almond CookiesIn our family, holiday cookies—like these nutty fig ones—are a big deal. I'm so proud to be passing on this Italian tradition to my two boys. —Angela Lemoine, Howell, New Jersey

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Whipped ShortbreadThese whipped shortbread cookies melt in your mouth. Mostly I make them for the holidays, but I'll also prepare them year-round for wedding showers and afternoon teas. —Jane Ficiur, Bow Island, Alberta

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Italian Christmas CookiesA single batch of these ricotta cheese cookies is never enough. I usually make one to give away and two more to keep at home. The ricotta cheese makes the morsels extra moist. —Doris Marshall, Strasburg, Pennsylvania

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Peanut Butter Blossom CookiesHere's proof that peanut butter and chocolate just belong together. These peanut butter blossom cookies are an easy family favorite and never fails to make my children smile. —Tammie Merrill, Wake Forest, North Carolina

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Brandy SnapsThese cream-filled brandy snaps are the perfect sweet treat. Include them on a holiday cookie platter or serve them at the end of a meal with coffee or tea. —Natalie Bremson, Plantation, Florida

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Touch-of-Gold Christmas TreesYou can decorate these pretty Christmas trees with other types of sprinkles if you don't have the gold dust. The filling alone makes the cookies special and so delicious! —Linda Sweet, Cornwall, New York

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Fruitcake Christmas CookiesAs holiday gifts, these rich fruit-and nut-filled cookies are pretty and practical. These are great make ahead Christmas cookies —the taste actually gets better over time! —Julia Funkhouser, Carson, Iowa

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Callahan Christmas WreathsWhen my family asked for good old Norwegian wreath cookies, I studied several recipes for ideas, then added my own special touches. — Cassidy Callahan, Fitchburg, Massachusetts

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Peanut Butter Cornflake Cookies"These simple saucepan cookies are a snap to make," assures Marg Mitro of Grafton, Ontario. "In fact, I can whip them up in 10 minutes for school lunches. The little treats are a big hit with any crowd—young or old," she adds.

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Rum BallsI make these rum balls for special occasions with my wonderful family and friends. The treats are so easy to make and pack a festive punch. — Diane Duschanek, Council Bluffs, Iowa

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Christmas Sugar Cookie RecipeI add a hint of lemon to these delightful sugar cookies. For make-ahead convenience, freeze the dough up to three months, then thaw in the fridge before baking and decorating them. —Katie Koziolek, Hartland, Minnesota

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Haystacks RecipeMy grandmother used to make this haystacks recipe to give to my cousin Vonnie and me when our parents didn't want us to have any more sweets. —Christine Schwester, Divide, Colorado

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Shortbread Cut Out CookiesI found this recipe in a magazine over 30 years ago and have made these shortbread cutout cookies for Christmas ever since. They're an oh-so-simple recipe to whip up during the hectic holidays. —Jean Henderson, Montgomery, Texas

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