Homemade Potpourri with all Natural Ingredients

This post may contain affiliate links which won't change your price but will share some commission. Read more here.

Here’s a great idea that uses simple ingredients found in most kitchens. This homemade potpourri is made with all natural ingredients and doesn’t take much time to prepare!

Homemade potpourri in sauce pan with oranges, cinnamon sticks and cranberries

When you walk into your home what do you see? Is it cluttered or clean? Messy or orderly?

What sounds do you hear? Is it the pitter patter of your beloved pets welcoming you home or the laughter (or bickering) of children?

What do you smell? Pet odors or air freshener? Your spicy garlicky dinner or the scent of flowers?

Potpourri in sauce pan with oranges, cranberries and cinnamon sticks

A pleasant scent immediately makes me feel welcome while an overpowering odor grabs my attention.

Does anyone else feel the same way?

With this easy DIY homemade potpourri the worry about how your home smells is gone!

I love to make this stovetop potpourri because it’s easy, smells amazing and adds to the festive party atmosphere when I’m entertaining. (If you could drink what you smell this Instant Russian Tea recipe with cloves would be the one!)

Fruits and scents in sauce pan for potpourri

Just a few ingredients

Instructions

(I’ve included some affiliate links for your convenience.  Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)

Ingredients for homemade simmering potpourri

Quarter the orange and add to a small saucepan (or just use the orange peel).

Chop oranges to make homemade potpourri

Place in a small saucepan (or just use the orange peel).

Oranges added to simmering potpourri

Add cranberries to saucepan.

Cranberries added to homemade stove top potpourri

Add in cloves.

Cloves used in homemade simmering potpourri

Add cinnamon sticks.

Cinnamon sticks used for homemade potpourri

Fill pan with water.

Pour water over natural ingredients for potpourri

Allow to reach a boil and then reduce to lowest burner setting.

Homemade potpourri simmering on stove

As the potpourri simmers, add water as necessary.

FAQs about homemade potpourri

Potpourri can be a mixture of dried flowers, fruit, oils and other natural scents. Made with four ingredients, this potpourri will have your home smelling like the holidays in no time! 

Of course you can! If you have a favorite oil just add a few drops while it’s simmering. If oils are your thing think about which ones would go well with dried fruits and spices.

Turn the stove off before all the liquid is drained and add a bit more water, freshen with oils or additional fruits and spices and you’re good to go the next day!

Substitutions

This is the perfect recipe for experimenting to get the perfect scent for your occasion. Think sliced citrus fruits, lemon peel, dried bay leaf, rosemary, vanilla extract, star anise, nutmeg or allspice. Try these one at a time or a couple together. You’re the boss!

If natural elements are your favorite expression for hosting guests try adding flower petals, fragrant leaves or pine cones to your simmering pot.

I would recommend just trying a teaspoon at a time of the spices to create a fragrance you’ll enjoy and want to use over and over.

Tips & Tricks

Don’t allow the water to evaporate. I check the water and refill as necessary every time I use it.

Buy extra bags of cranberries when they’re available around Thanksgiving and Christmas and freeze them for later.

Potpourri will last several weeks, but you can add more ingredients to freshen the scent as necessary.

It’s also possible to make this a slow cooker potpourri. I would double the water and add enough ingredients to you don’t have to keep watch over it as diligently as on your stove top.

Homemade Potpourri with All Natural Ingredients

Here’s a great idea that uses simple ingredients found in most kitchens. This homemade potpourri is made with all natural ingredients and doesn’t take much time to prepare!
Course Essential Oil
Keyword Homemade Potpourri
Calories 52kcal
Author Marty’s Musings

Equipment

  • 1 small sauce pan

Ingredients

  • 1 whole orange or orange peel
  • ½ cup cranberries
  • 1 tbs whole cloves
  • 3 sticks of cinnamon

Instructions

  • Quarter the orange and add to a small saucepan (or just use the orange peel).
  • Add cranberries, cloves and cinnamon sticks.
  • Fill pan with water and and allow to reach a boil and then reduce to lowest burner setting.
  • As the potpourri simmers, add water as necessary.

Video

Notes

I used frozen cranberries. Money saving tip: buy extra bags around Christmastime to save for later.
Do not allow the water to evaporate. I check the water and refill as necessary every time I use it.
Potpourri will last several weeks, but you can add more ingredients to freshen the scent as necessary.
This mixture will fill your house with the warmth of the holiday season!
DIY Homemade Simmering Potpourri

Decorating Tips and Hacks
Get my FREE guide: How to decorate your home for practically nothing!
Featured Image

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

40 Comments

  1. Hi! I’ve tried using my small crock pot but I can’t get the scent to fill the room. I’m using sliced lemons, cloves, a bit of vanilla and cinnamon sticks. I’m putting those with some water in the small crock pot on high for a bit, then lowering the temperature. What am I doing wrong!?! Lol

    1. Hi, Holly. I’ve never used a crock pot so I’m wondering if it just doesn’t dispense the smell like a small pot. In the post I’ve added some things you can also try to add to the scent in addition to what’s in the original recipe. Hope this helps!

  2. What a great idea! I need this in my life. With 4 kids running around sometimes I can’t always pin point smells, so this would help until I could! Lol. Thank you for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday.

  3. I love to simmer potpourri on the stove top or in my dip crockpot. It’s so easy to adjust the flavour to suit your mood. Love the addition of the cranberries.

  4. Pingback: Holiday Party Planning Ideas | Blue Mountain Blog
  5. I make a very similar mix. As I use oranges, I set out the peels and dry them completely and then store in an airtight juar. I have kept them for months with no problem and as soon as you open the jar, the wonderful orange aroma greets you. I also use a simmering size or dip size crock pot for mine. I continue to add water as necessary and have added ground cinnamon as needed. It lasts for at least a couple of weeks.

    1. Hi, Angel. I just leave it in a pan on the stove and add some water the next time I use it. It doesn’t stay pretty for very long, but that’s okay. It’s the scent of Christmas! I just throw it out when it looks really bad and start another batch. Hope that helps!

      1. I PEEL THE ORANGES AND CUT THE PEELS INTO STAR SHAPES THEN CONTINUT AS YOU HAVE DONE….GREAT ALSO IN A TABLE TOPHEATER OR DRIED AND MIXED WITH THE OTHER INGRD

  6. Made this potpourri today and radio station here is already playing Christmas music, so it just made me feel happy ! I do the same as you, leave the pot on the stove ( no heat on ) and use it until it looks too gross and then I toss it and start a new batch

  7. Natural scents are the way to go. My mother died of cancer, and I really try to eliminate chemicals as much as possible. And really who can beat cinnamon sticks 🙂

    1. I’m so sorry about your loss, Deborah. I have not lost anyone in my immediate family to cancer, but my sister died of a heart attack in 2000 and both my parents are gone, with my mom’s death due to nursing home neglect. Losing a loved one, especially during the holidays as everyone is celebrating, is so hard. (((hugs)))

  8. Hey friend.
    What do you do to with this in order to keep it for several weeks? I have made mixtures like this but throw them out at the end of the day. Thanks.
    Marcy

    1. Hey, gal. I just leave it on top of the stove and simmer when I want to. Now it won’t look pretty but it will still smell good. You can always add some fresh peel or cinnamon sticks to replace the old ones.

      1. I use cinnamon sticks, allspice whole, nutmeg whole,ginger,add Al little water in a tin foil pan,put on burner on high until starts to simmer ,turn off and enjoy the aroma,this will last a week,just add Al little water each day. Enjoy?