Thursday, January 19, 2017 • Recipes
There are fewer things more welcoming than a delicious scent filling your home. Whether you're hosting a birthday party or Christmas with the family, the quick and simple action of lighting a candle can change the entire atmosphere of your home. However, with more and more people avoiding synthetic fragrances and utilizing more natural approaches to a smell-good home (e.g. essential oils), we wanted to offer up a few simple, quick, and easy ideas for stovetop potpourri that, most likely, you already have the ingredients for. These are far more budget-friendly than many of the alternative options out there, too!
If you've never put together a stovetop potpourri recipe before, they're very easy. Simply pull out your largest pot and fill with water until 3" from the top. From there, add all of your chosen ingredients, cover, bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low and simmer on the stove with no lid. All you have to do is make sure your water never runs out (check every hour), and an amazing fragrance will fill your home all day! This technique is excellent during the dry winter or summer months, as it will fill the air with moisture, as well.
Year-Round Stovetop Aroma Recipes: These are all customizable to your preferences!
Winter Spice: 2-3 Large Pine Sprigs 2-3 Cinnamon Sticks 3-5 Bay Leaves 1 Whole Nutmeg, freshly grated A handful of Whole, Fresh Cranberries
Coffee Addict: 1 1/2 C. Coffee Beans 1/2 C. Cocoa Powder 3 Cinnamon Sticks 2 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract or 2 vanilla beans, halved
Spring Clean: 5-10 Rosemary Sprigs 1-2 Lemons, sliced into rounds 1 Grapefruit, sliced into rounds
Summer Thyme: 4 Limes, sliced into rounds 5 Sprigs of Thyme 3 Sprigs of Mint 2 tsp. Vanilla Extract 1 Lemon, sliced into rounds
Relax: 2 C. Lavender Buds or 5 fresh Lavender Sprigs 3 Whole Nutmegs 3-5 Bay Leaves 1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract or 1 vanilla bean, halved
Apple Pie Spice: 3 Cinnamon Sticks 3 Apples, sliced into wedges 1 Lemon, sliced into rounds 2 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract or 1 vanilla bean, halved 2 Tbsp. Whole Cloves 1 Whole Nutmeg, freshly grated
Classic Gingerbread: 1 Ginger Root Knuckle, freshly grated 3 Cinnamon Sticks 1 Whole Nutmeg, freshly grated 2 Tbsp. Whole Cloves 2 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract or 1 vanilla bean, halved 2 C. Slivered Almonds, or 2 Tbsp. Almond Extract
Cozy Christmas: 3 Cinnamon Sticks 1-2 Whole Nutmeg, freshly grated 2 Tbsp. Whole Cloves A handful of Whole, Fresh Cranberries 1 Large Orange, sliced into rounds 4 Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary
Snow Day: 2 C. Mint or 2 Tbsp. Peppermint Extract A handful of Whole, Fresh Cranberries 2 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract or 1 vanilla bean, halved 2 Tbsp. Whole Cloves
Might we add that these recipes may serve as great inspiration for cocktail recipes, or even some amazing sangria recipes? Experiment a little, and if you come up with something clever, we'd love it if you shared your recipe with us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! If you're not hosting the holiday events, don't forget to send a thank you gift basket.
