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Ever wonder how to make your house smell like the coziest, chicest cafe in town, minus the chemicals and toxic fumes? Enter the simmer pot: a magical concoction of water, fruits, and spices that bubbles away, transforming your space into a fragrant oasis. This homemade nontoxic spring scent is perfect for any time of year or just because you’re fabulous.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Simmer Pot Recipe
Now, hold onto your mugs because I’ve gone rogue and tossed coffee beans into the mix. Yes, you heard that right! It’s like brewing your favorite blend without the caffeine kick. Your home will smell like the quaint little coffee shop of your dreams!
Ready to brew your own spring potion? Grab a pot (I’m partial to this swanky glass one for extra aesthetic points), some coffee beans, cinnamon sticks, and oranges. It’s nontoxic and smells divine. Let’s get simmering and make our homes smell unforgettably inviting!
🧽 Simmer Pot Ingredients
- Coffee Beans: Use whatever kind you like to drink. They are what make this home fragrance smell like your favorite coffee shop.
- Orange: Cut one or two oranges in half–any type will work.
- Cinnamon Sticks will make your home smell warm and inviting.
- Water: Simmering the other ingredients in water produces an incredible aroma for this nontoxic home fragrance.
- Pot: You can use any pot, but I love this glass simmer pot. The concoction looks so pretty, simmering on the stove.
🥣 How to Make a Nontoxic Spring Scent at Home
Making a DIY home fragrance couldn’t be easier!
- Put the oranges, coffee beans, and cinnamon sticks in a medium-sized pot.
- Cover the ingredients with a few inches of water.
- Turn the stove on high heat and bring the water to a boil.
- Reduce to low heat and let simmer for two to three hours.
Watch me make this easy homemade scent on Instagram!
🪄 Tips and Tricks
- Lid or no liid? When bringing the water to a boil, I keep the lid on, but once it begins simmering, I remove the lid so the aroma fills my house.
- Not enough water? If a lot of the water has evaporated, add more to cover the ingredients.
🗒 Variations
- Herbs: Use fresh mint or basil.
- Essential Oils: Add a few drops of your favorite essential oils, such as eucalyptus, lemongrass, or spearmint, to the mixture.
- Holiday Simmer Pots: For a fall scent, try my simmer pot recipe with cloves, vanilla, and apples. During the winter holidays, I love heating this homemade fragrance on the stove with cranberries, oranges, and pine.
- Love how Williams Sonoma smells? Well, you’re in luck! I have a Williams Sonoma home fragrance recipe that’s super easy to make and smells just like the store.
🗒 Substitutions
- Spices: Use any warm, whole spices, like cardamom pods, star anise, or whole cloves.
- Citrus: Swap oranges for lemons, grapefruits, or limes.
- Coffee: If you don’t have coffee beans or don’t like the smell of coffee, omit them.
🎁 How to Make Ahead
If you’re having guests over, you can prep this nontoxic spring scent up to a day early. Combine all the ingredients in your pot and refrigerate overnight. About 15 to 30 minutes before your guests arrive, put the pot on the stove, bring it to a boil, and then reduce the heat to simmer.
🤔 Common Questions
Simmering aromatic ingredients on the stove is one of the easiest ways to make a DIY home fragrance without any chemicals. It can simmer on the stove for a few hours, making your house smell delightful.
You can leave a simmer pot on the stove for about two to three hours. Keep it on low heat and do not leave it unattended.
Each simmer pot fragrance is good for one use.
Here’s how to dispose of the stovetop potpourri when you’re finished:
Pour it outside, returning it to the earth.
Compost it to use as fertilizer in your garden.
Drink it as tea: For home fragrances that contain edible ingredients (i.e., no outdoor plants, like pine, or ones with too many spices), you can strain the water and discard the other ingredients using one of the methods above. Then, heat the water on the stove for a cozy cup of tea.
Make a nontoxic home spray: Strain the liquid and store it in a spray bottle. Spray the scent high in the air so the particles dissipate before hitting the floor. This DIY home spray will last for one week in the fridge.
Nontoxic Spring Scent
Equipment
- Pot
Ingredients
- 1 heaping tbsp coffee beans
- 2-3 orange halves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- Water
Instructions
- Put the oranges, coffee beans, and cinnamon sticks in a medium-sized pot.
- Cover the ingredients with a few inches of water.
- Turn the stove on high heat and bring the water to a boil.
- Reduce to low heat and let simmer for 2 to 3 hours.
