Nothing beats coming home to a house that smells amazing. The right blend of scents can help you feel more relaxed, cozy, energized or even nostalgic. But here’s the great news – you don’t need synthetic air fresheners. I have 8 amazing stovetop potpourri recipes that you can try today using things you probably already have at home.
I’m going to show you how to make your house smell good without adding any more chemicals to your life.
How to Make Stovetop Potpourri – The Basics
Worried that stovetop potpourri is complicated? Don’t be! It’s so easy. But you will need a few basic things:
- A pot. You can use a regular stovetop pot (I recommend using a stainless steel pot like this one), or you can get a fancy glass pot.
- Aromatic ingredients, like fresh herbs, citrus or baking extracts (vanilla, almond, etc.).
You can also use a slow cooker for your potpourri, but I recommend getting a small model like this one and using it only for your stovetop potpourri.
The most important thing you’ll need is your aromatics. Which ones should you use? The answer depends on what type of scent you’re trying to achieve.
Here are some of my top favorite recipes to try.
8+ Best Stovetop Potpourri Recipes to Make Your Home Smell Amazing
1. How to Make Your House Smell Like Christmas
There’s something warm and comforting about winter spices. Maybe it’s the memories of holidays past and the times spent with family. Either way, you can’t deny that festive Christmas scents make your house feel like a home.
But how exactly do you make your house smell like Christmas?
Try these recipes:
Classic Holiday Spiced Potpourri
For this stovetop potpourri, you’ll need:
- Star anise
- Whole nutmeg
- Dried cranberries
- Mulling spice
- Cinnamon sticks
- Allspice
Cranberry Apple Cinnamon
To make this festive potpourri, you’ll need:
- Orange slices
- Apple slices
- Cinnamon sticks
- Rosemary
- Star anise
- Fresh cranberries
Christmas Morning
For this recipe, you’ll need a blend of spices, citrus and essential oils:
- Sliced orange
- Sliced blood orange
- Sliced apple
- Star anise
- Lemon juice
- Putka pods
- Cinnamon sticks
- Whole cloves
- Clove oil
- Sweet orange oil
- Bay oil
- Cassia oil
- Balsam fir oil
You can dry the fruit slices first in the oven, a dehydrator or an air fryer (using the dehydrator function).
Related: 20 Cozy Room Ideas to Make Your Space More Homey
2. How to Make Your House Smell Like Fall
Like Christmas, fall scents bring comfort and a sense of coziness. They incorporate warm spices and herbs of the season.
You can capture the scent of fall with these stovetop potpourri recipes.
Apple, Citrus and Cinnamon
A simple recipe with all of your favorite fall scents. You’ll need:
- Orange slices
- Apple slices
- Whole nutmeg
- Vanilla
- Whole cloves
Citrus and Herbs
One of the most traditional stovetop potpourri recipes. You’ll need:
- Sliced apple
- Sliced orange
- Sliced lemon
- Whole cloves
- Cinnamon sticks
- Star anise
- Fresh rosemary
Bay and Allspice
A simple but divine recipe that will make your home feel like a fall afternoon. You’ll need:
- Whole cloves
- Cinnamon sticks
- Allspice
- Bay leaves
- Orange slices
3. How to Make Your House Smell Like Williams Sonoma
Who doesn’t love the smell of Williams Sonoma? It just feels like home and comfort. Now, you can copy their scent and make your home smell amazing.
Give these recipes a try.
Easy Sonoma Williams Simmer Pot Recipe
To recreate this iconic scent at home, you don’t have to complicate things. A few simple ingredients are all you need.
- Fresh rosemary
- Fresh lemon slices
- Vanilla extract
7 Ways to Make Your House Smell Like Williams Sonoma
Technically, you can find 7 different recipes to make your home smell like Williams Sonoma here.
Here are some of the ingredients you’ll need for them:
- Rosemary
- Fresh ginger
- Orange slices
- Almond extract
- Sliced lemon
- Vanilla extract
4. How to Make Your House Smell Like Spring
When the weather warms up, I like to switch my stovetop potpourri recipes from warm and comforting to fresh and breezy.
Here are some of my favorite recipes for spring-inspired scents.
Mint, Lime and Thyme
Fresh herbs, citrus and spices will make your home smell refreshing and comforting. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Slices of lime or lemon
- Fresh mint
- Ginger
- Fresh thyme
- Cinnamon sticks
Lavender, Lemon and Pine
These fresh ingredients will make your home smell like a spring breeze. You’ll need just a few simple ingredients:
- Dried lavender
- Sliced lemons
- Fresh pine clippings
If you can’t get your hands on fresh pine, you can swap in fresh mint.
Spring Flowers Simmer Pot
This simmer pot recipe is just as gorgeous as its scent is intoxicating. To make this, you’ll need a few special ingredients:
- Fresh rose petals
- Fresh chamomile flowers
- Fresh mint
- Sliced lemon
- Dried lavender
- Rose essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
Related: 25+ Best Housewarming Gifts to Celebrate Their Milestone
5. How to Make Your House Smell Like Summer
Fresh floral and citrus scents will make your home smell just like summer. Here are some of my favorite recipes for making your home smell refreshing and clean.
Lavender, Lemon and Vanilla
Relaxing, cooling and comforting, this recipe is perfect for warm summer days. You’ll need a few things for this recipe:
- Fresh lavender (or dried lavender)
- Sliced lemons
- Vanilla extract
Blueberry, Ginger and Mint
Fill your home with a fresh, fruity scent this summer. I always have this simmer pot in my rotation because the scent is so unique.
You’ll need:
- Fresh blueberries
- Sliced lemon
- Dried lavender
- Cinnamon sticks
- Fresh mint
- Slices of ginger
Rose and Strawberry Simmer Pot
How gorgeous is this stovetop potpourri? It’s loaded with everything you love about summer, like:
- Fresh roses
- Dried roses
- Cardamom pods
- Fresh strawberries
6. How to Make Your House Smell Like a Spa
Spas always have a fresh and intoxicating scent that helps you slip into a state of relaxation. With the right ingredients and stovetop potpourri recipes, you can make your home smell like a luxurious spa.
Lemon, Mint, Ginger
This recipe is the perfect blend of fresh and clean scents. Best of all, you need three simple ingredients that are more than affordable.
- Sliced lime
- Fresh mint sprigs
- Sliced fresh ginger
Lavender and Rosemary
The fresh floral scents of this simmering pot recipe will help you feel more relaxed and joyful. You’ll need:
- Rosemary
- Buds or petals of your favorite flowers (daisies, roses, etc.)
- Dried lavender
- Vanilla extract
- Sliced lemon
Refreshing Citrus, Herb and Cucumber
Want a fresh scent that you can use all throughout the year? For this recipe, you’ll need quite a few ingredients:
- Eucalyptus
- Basil
- Mint
- Chamomile
- Lemon slices
- Orange slices
- Grapefruit slices
- Lime slices
- Cucumber slices
- Ginger slices
- Dried lavender
- Vanilla
7. How to Make Your House Smell Like Coffee
Who doesn’t want their home to smell like a coffee shop? It’s easier than you think to make a simmering pot that will fill the air with the scent of coffee.
Here are some of my favorite recipes to try.
Coffee, Vanilla and Cinnamon
Make your home smell like your favorite latte by simmering three simple ingredients:
Cinnamon Hazelnut Coffee
I don’t know about you, but hazelnut is my favorite coffee flavor. With this recipe, I can fill my home with the scent of the coffee drink I love most.
And you only need three ingredients:
Coffee and Citrus
It may sound like a strange combination, but this recipe smells amazing. And you only need three ingredients:
- Orange peel
- Cinnamon sticks
- Coffee beans
Related: 15 Best DIY Gift Ideas That Everyone Will Love
8. How to Make Your House Smell Like Winter
Long after the holidays have passed, you can keep your home smelling cozy and comforting with these winter-inspired stovetop potpourri recipes.
Woodland Winter
Here’s a very simple recipe that smells like an enchanting winter forest. The best part? You only need three ingredients:
- Sliced lemons or limes
- Evergreen sprigs
- Juniper berries
Evergreens and Citrus
I love this simmering pot recipe for those cold winter days. It’s so simple yet it smells like comfort. To make this potpourri, you’ll need a few things:
- Orange slices
- Fresh evergreen sprigs
- Whole cloves
If you want to mix things up, you can add cranberries or apples for a fruitier scent.
Winter Solstice Simmer Pot
A beautiful winter simmer pot recipe that’s filled with color and comforting scents. To make this, you’ll need just a few things:
- Orange slices
- Fresh cranberries
- Apple slices
- Pine or rosemary sprigs (I prefer pine)
- Cinnamon sticks
- Whole cloves
- Star anise