Simple Autumn Simmer Pot Recipes for the Kitchen Witch (2024)

There is nothing quite like the scents of Autumn. Am I right? Cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves, pumpkin spice and apple pie. Autumn has, without a doubt, some of my favourite aromas. And nothing creates a warm cozy atmospheremore than having these wafting throughout your home. Enter the simmer pot.

Now while I am a huge fan of scented candles and room sprays (natural ones of course), there is nothing quite like the way aromas created by a simmer pot fill your home.

Simmer pots are an efficient and non-toxic way to have your home smelling like autumn in a few short minutes.

And, added bonus, they also have wonderful magickal properties attached to them.

Read on to discover a few delicious recipes to have your home smelling lovely and your kitchen magick brewing this autumn season.

The Simmer Pot

Simmer pots are like boiled potpourri. Which sounds a bit weird, but it’s an accurate description lol.

You choose your ingredients, put them in a pot with water, bring to a boil and then turn down to a simmer and let it do its thing.

They couldn’t be any easier, just be sure you don’t let your pot boil dry! If you want to keep the pot going simply add more water when it gets low. And obviously never leave your stove on when you aren’t home. Let’s use our common sense here friends.

Simmer pots also lack the harsh toxins that are packed into conventional air freshener sprays and scented candles. Just fresh ingredients from your kitchen! Fake fragrance oils need not apply.

One more benefit, they are economical. Simmer pots are cost effective and can be thrown together with things you likely already have in your kitchen.

Just Say No to Chemicals

So let’s be real, generic scented candles and air fresheners are some pretty serious toxic offenders.

Paraffin candles give off toxic fumes on their own and now lets add mystery ingredient fragrance oils on top of that. Cause you know, they can just say they use ‘fragrance oils’ and be done with it. What exactly is in the ‘fragrance’? We really have no idea.

And air fresheners are a whole other ball game. You are literally just breathing in toxic fumes. That are almost always overpowering enough to have you choking on them. How refreshing! Note the sarcasm there.

My favourite ways to naturally freshen up my space are room sprays (non-toxic that I blend myself), soy essential oil scented candles, using my diffuser, and you guessed it, simmer pots!

There are so many natural ways to have your home smelling divine. You can most definitely skip the artificial stuff.

Simmer Pot Magick

Another great thing about a simmer pot is they can be used to assist in your magickal goals. You just need to choose the right ingredients to fit your agenda.

Items that create those autumn vibes have a wide array of magickal properties attached to them that can be used to your advantage.

When I do a simmer pot with a magickal goal in mind, I follow these simple steps to incorporate my magick and intention into the process:

  1. Fill pot with water about 3/4 full.
  2. Add ingredients to the pot and bring to a boil.
  3. Reduce to a simmer, stir the pot clockwise. Unless you are doing a banishing or releasing spell, in that case stir the pot counter clockwise.
  4. Visualize your desired outcome or goal for the magickal work you are doing. Are you aiming to create happiness in the home, or more money in your wallet? Whatever it may be focus on what you want the outcome to look like. Continue with the visualization and stirring until it feels right to finish. You’ll know when!
  5. You may recite your goal, a chant, or ritual words while you stir as well. Something pertaining to your desired outcome.
  6. When you finish I would let the pot boil down until there is about an inch of water left and then turn it off. Your work is now complete

Note: You may also trace runes or symbols related to your goal in the air above the pot if you feel so inclined. Feel free to be inventive and really personalize the experience!

Simple Autumn Simmer Pot Recipes for the Kitchen Witch (1)

Simmer Pot Recipes

Apple Pie – for peace, harmony and love

  • 3 apple slices
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tbsp all spice
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Pumpkin Spice – for prosperity, success, and wealth

  • 1 tsp pumpkin spice
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tsp cloves
  • 2 orange slices
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

A Taste of Autumn – for protection and releasing negative energies

  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tbsp whole cloves
  • 2 orange slices
  • 1 lemon slice
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Witch Spice – for balance and inner strength

  • 1 tsp star anise
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 tbsp all spice
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp ginger

These amounts are simply guidelines and ratios that I enjoy. Use more or less to suit your own tastes. Be creative and mix things up!

What to do with your simmer pot ingredients when you are finished?

Another awesome thing about simmer pots is that they don’t create waste. You can simply compost your ingredients or dry them out and store in an airtight container to be used in future spells or for potpourri.

A note on using essential oils in your simmer pots.

Many people recommend essential oils as a good ingredient for your simmer pots. I fully have to disagree for a couple of reasons.

Essential oils are expensive and why use Lemon EO when you can use leftover lemon rinds? Or Clove EO when you have the spice sitting in your cupboard?

Another big reason for me is that essential oils are all flammable and have their own flashpoints (point at which the vapours formed can ignite if exposed to spark or flame). This caution is especially true if you have a gas stove.

I simply don’t use them in the kitchen at all when I have the stove on, call me paranoid, which I most definitely can be lol. Some people use them all of the time for their pots and it’s totally fine.

If you do decide to use them just use caution, common sense, and know well the oils you are working with.

But really an unnecessary addition to your simmer pots in my opinion when there are so many whole, natural, and affordable ingredients already in your kitchen.

Final thoughts.

Do you already do simmer pots at home?If so, what is your favourite recipe?

As always, I love to hear from you,so please leave a comment or connect with me on socials.

If you enjoyed this post and for more Autumn inspiration you can check out my newly released Autumn Kitchen Witch Handbook for recipes, rituals, and autumn correspondences. You can find full details HERE.

And you canSUBSCRIBEto The Wholesome Witch Mailing Listto receive a 20% OFF discount code for myAutumn Kitchen Witch Handbook,as well as my full Wholesome Kitchen Clean-up Guide as a thank you!

Until next time friends!

Yours in health and magick,

Krystle xo

Simple Autumn Simmer Pot Recipes for the Kitchen Witch (2024)

FAQs

What items are best for simmer pot? ›

CLASSIC SIMMER POT INGREDIENTS
  • Citrus fruits like orange, lemon, lime.
  • Apples.
  • Cranberries.
  • Cinnamon sticks.
  • Whole cloves.
  • Nutmeg.
  • Rosemary.
  • Pine or other conifers.
Nov 30, 2022

How long does a fall simmer pot last? ›

If there are no fresh fruit slices in your recipe, simply turn off the stove and cover the pot with a lid in between uses. Reheat when you need another dose of stovetop potpourri. According to the Happier Homemaker, with this method, your simmer pot can last four days.

How do I make my house smell good in a simmer pot? ›

Natural way to make your home smell amazing. For this recipe you need 3 cups of water, one sliced lemon, one sliced lime, 2 cups of fresh Rosemary, one and 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla extract. and 2 cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce to simmer and continue to simmer on low.

Can you use essential oils in a simmer pot? ›

A teaspoon of vanilla extract also makes a simmer pot smell divine; or, add a few drops of your favorite therapeutic essential oils to create a custom scent. To start your simmer pot, fill a small pot halfway with water and stir in your spices, herbs, peels, or fruits.

How many times can you reuse a simmer pot? ›

A: Depending on what ingredients you've used in your simmer pot, you can reuse the same one for several days! Simply continue to replace the water as needed.

How often should you do a simmer pot? ›

Your simmering pot should last 24 hours on the stovetop. If you only use peels and spices without fresh food, it can last up to four days! All you have to do is replenish the water about every 30-45 minutes. That way, you'll constantly have the simmering aromatics filling your house with all the scents of fall.

Can I use powdered cinnamon in a simmer pot? ›

And to give it a nice, rich aroma, you'll need: 2 cinnamon sticks (or 1 tsp ground cinnamon), 2 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Here's how it's done: Slice your orange and apple (keep the peel on both). Add all your ingredients to a small pot and fill with water until it's about ¾ full.

Do you leave a simmer pot on all day? ›

You can keep you Autumn Simmer Pot on the stove all day long if you like! Just remember to keep adding water to prevent the ingredients from burning, and never leave the house while it's simmering on the stovetop.

Should you simmer pot open or closed? ›

Simmering and Boiling

Keep the lid on if you want to bring something to a simmer or a boil for two reasons. "One, heat escapes through an open lid, so it would take longer for water to come to a boil," says Ronna Welsh of Purple Kale Kitchenworks.

How can I make my house smell like autumn? ›

Combine two cups of water, a few slices of fresh oranges, two sprigs of rosemary, two cinnamon sticks, two whole cloves, and one teaspoon of vanilla.” Simply combine everything in a crock and set to low heat. To keep the aroma going, add more water every couple hours.

Can you use a crockpot as a simmer pot? ›

Simmer pots, or stovetop potpourri, can be made in the crockpot too!

What does the cinnamon simmer pot mean? ›

Herbs & Spices for the Simmer Pot

Bay: protection and the consecration of wishes (You can write wishes or intentions on them before adding them to teh pot) Oranges: Lemon: cleansing & purification. Cinnamon: comfort, success, strength & prosperity. Cloves: drive away negativity and attract positivity.

Can you put flowers in a simmer pot? ›

I made my simmer pot with roses and chamomile, but feel free to try it with any fragrant spring flowers of your choice! I think hyacinths and daffodils would work wonderfully here, too.

Are simmer pots worth it? ›

It's a natural way to freshen your home without chemicals. And if you live in a dry climate, it also adds a little moisture and humidity to the air.

Are simmer pots better than candles? ›

Plus, candles can also be a fire hazard, especially around children. But simmer pot recipes are a fantastic solution. Because they use natural ingredients without any additives or chemicals, you won't have to worry about any toxins being released into your home. And the scent will linger for longer.

How do you get a perfect simmer? ›

To get to a simmer, wait until your water boils and then reduce the heat to medium or low. You should still see a few tiny bubbles making their way to the surface, but it shouldn't be as agitated as a complete boil.

Why doesn t my simmer pot smell? ›

Once you get your water hot and simmering, it should take 10 minutes for everyone in your house to smell it. I usually let it simmer for a couple of hours, topping up the water level every once in a while to make sure it doesn't go dry. If you want it to simmer for hours and hours you could use a larger pot too.

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