Want an easy way to fill your home with the warm comforting scents of the harvest season? Make this cozy Autumn simmer pot and it’ll instantly boost your mood and bring fall vibes to life! I love making different simmer pots because it’s requires minimal effort, smells so good, can last for days and is non-toxic! Try this simple hack using your stovetop, a handful of fresh ingredients and some water to bring the pleasant aromas of the fall into your home.

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What is an Autumn Simmer Pot?
An autumn simmer pot is basically homemade potpourri. It’s typically a combination of aromatic herbs, spices and/or fruit that you simmer on the stove in water. As it warms, it emits a sweet smelling fragrance that creates a warm and cozy atmosphere for hours. It’s a simple way to get your home smelling like a pumpkin-scented haven in a very natural way.
Ingredients Needed:
The ingredients needed for this simmer pot create the perfect essence for fall. There are many variations of ingredients you can use to make a simmer pot, but this one is tried and tested to have just enough of each to create more of an autumn scent. Feel free to adjust the amounts to your preferred liking, but note that too many cloves and cinnamon sticks can make it smell a bit more Christmasy than Fall/Autumn.
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- 2-3 apple slices
- 2 orange slices
- 2 lemon slices
- 3-4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tbsp whole cloves
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- About 6 cups of water (depending on the size of your pot)

How to Make It:
Making an autumn simmer pot is so simple and will have your home filled with the warm and cozy fragrance of Fall in no time.
Step 1
First you will want to gather the ingredients. You will need a pot, a dutch oven or a crockpot and your preferred spices and fruits.
Step 2
Next, you will need to prep your ingredients. You will need to slice the orange, lemon and apple and measure out the correct amount needed of each spice as well as the pumpkin puree.
Step 3
Add the pumpkin puree and water into the pot first and mix together. Then, add in the remainder of the ingredients to your pot.
Step 4
Turn on the simmer function of your stove and allow the ingredients to warm in the water and the aromas to permeate throughout your home. It’s THAT simple!

FAQ’s about Simmer Pots:
- What other ingredients can I use? Other ingredients include ginger, mulling spices, vanilla extract, rosemary, bay leaves, star anise, allspice or pine needles.
- How long can I let it simmer? You can let it simmer for hours, but keep an eye on the water level and add water as needed so the ingredients don’t burn. Pro Tip: Use a crockpot for a worry-free simmer pot!
- Can I re-use the ingredients? If the citrus doesn’t get too mushy, yes. Keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When ready, add back to the pot with water and re-simmer. You can do this 1 or 2 more times depending how long you simmer for.
- Can I use ground spices instead of whole? You can use either. If you see above, I used pumpkin pie spice ground obviously and while it does take away from the aesthetic a bit, it adds so much to the aroma that it’s worth it!
BONUS: GIFT IT!
Simmer pot ingredients make fabulously festive gifts and are super easy to make! Gift them to family, friends, teachers or co-workers. This is a gift that will suit just about anyone!
Make The Gift
First, collect all of the ingredients. You can use fresh, but dried is always a great option if you’re gifting. I like these dried oranges and lemons from Amazon. They even have dried apple slices. You can then add all of the ingredients to a small mason jar or a plastic bag with a festive ribbon and a gift tag. That’s it! So easy!
Autumn Simmer Pot
Equipment
- 1 Stainless Steel Pot, Dutch Oven or Crockpot
Materials
- 1/2 Cup Pumpkin Puree
- 2-3 Orange Slices
- 2 Lemon Slices
- 3-4 Cinnamon Sticks
- 1 TBSP Whole Cloves
- 1 TSP Nutmeg
- 1 TSP Pumpkin Spice
- 6 Cups Water
Instructions
- Gather and measure out ingredients.
- Add water to the pot and mix in pumpkin puree.
- Add the remainder of the ingredients to the pot.
- Put pot on stove and simmer at a low temperature.
- Enjoy the fragrant aroma in your home!
Try out this holiday simmer pot recipe for Christmas!
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