How to Make Easy Simmering Homemade Potpourri for Fall

The smell of fall. There aren’t too many scents that can instantly make my heart sing. Apple cider, pumpkin spice, cinnamon and cloves all bring with it the memories of my childhood and the hope that spring; with it’s new birth and growth is right around the corner. This easy DIY simmering potpourri for fall brings those scents to my home anytime I want them.

Now, I don’t know how you feel, but canned air fresheners are full of things that I don’t want in my home or around my kids. Not only are they full of those things, but they never last for long.

I want my home to smell great, but I want that scent to last! A 60-second scent burst never really does anyone any good at all; especially if you’re trying to figure out how to make your home smell good all the time.

How to Make Easy Simmering Homemade Potpourri for Fall

Homemade potpourri, however, usually has a scent that lasts because of the method we use to fill the air with the scent.

It’s all in the ingredients of your DIY potpourri recipe. 

When you make a simmering potpourri, having just the right mixture of ingredients helps to create that amazing fall scent you and I love so much!

Homemade Fall Potpourri

Know what I really love about a potpourri that simmers on the stove? It’s that they are so easy to customize!

This batch of ingredients helps you make your home smell like fall.

Want a Christmas scent? Use ginger, peppermint and other Christmas scents.

Just want to make your house smell amazing? Lemons and oranges by themselves work great!

How to Make Your Home Smell Like Fall

By the way, before I go all scatterbrained and forget, these make amazing fall centerpieces. They’re so pretty when they’re done! To use one that way, simply place in the center of your table and add a floating candle. Remove the candle when you’re finished.

You will need: This will make 5 batches of fall potpourri

• 5 quart sized mason jars
• 5 quart sized lids and rings
• 1 orange, large
• 10 cinnamon sticks
• 10 whole cloves
• 1 large apple
• 2-3 lemons
• 2-3 limes

To begin, wash and clean the fruit. You will be simmering this fruit on the stove. Dirt and other nasties could possibly be released into the air of your home in the steam.

I don’t know that for sure. I have no actual proof of that statement. I could just be talking out of my rear end on it. 

It just seems like a good idea to wash the fruit. Yeah no, I’m definitely talking out of my rear. 

Wash your fruit. 😀

After you have washed your fruit, use a sharp kitchen knife (these are what I use in my kitchen) to slice each piece into medium sized slices. You’ll want to have an even amount of slices for each fruit so keep that in mind when you’re cutting.

Leave the cinnamon sticks and whole cloves whole.

How to Make a Simmering Potpourri on the Stove

Once you have all the fruit sliced, divide it into equal amounts and add it to your jars. Fill the jars to the bottom of the rim, add a lid and ring and tighten. Refrigerate your homemade fall potpourri up to 10 days.

To use, pour 1 jar into a medium heavy bottom saucepan. Place on low heat and allow the mixture to simmer uncovered. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t boil dry. Refill with water with it gets low to reuse the fruit.

Now you understand why I love using a simmering potpourri to make my house smell good. They’re so easy and are really budget friendly!

I can typically get 2 or 3 uses out of each one. Sometimes even more than that. It just depends on the fruit.

Do you have any favorite scent combos that would be good as a stove top potpourri?

Did you enjoy this fall themed post? If so, you may also like these upcycled Starbucks bottle fall vases.