Make Your Home Smell Like a Holiday Wonderland with Stovetop Christmas Potpourri
Updated: Feb. 09, 2024
Make your home smell like Christmas all season long with homemade potpourris. These simmering scents make use of your favorite holiday aromatics like pine, cinnamon, orange and more.
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
