Want to make your house feel like Fall, no matter what it feels like outside? The quickest and easiest way to capture that feeling is to make a simmer pot. If you’re ready to get that Fall feeling permeating every inch of your house, head to your kitchen and make a simmer pot with me!
What is a simmer pot?
A simmer pot is really just a pot of simmering water with a bunch of stuff that smells good thrown into it. It’s basically wet potpourri, and it makes your house smell amazing with very little effort.
Of course, we live in a capitalist society, so they absolutely make products that are specifically marketed as “simmer pots.” If you have your heart set on one of these (usually glass) pots, knock yourself out and buy one in which you can make your simmer pot concoctions. But you don’t need one. If you have a Dutch oven or another large pot that you use on your stove for cooking things like soup, you’re equipped with a simmer pot already. I absolutely just use my Dutch oven when I make a simmer pot.
Why make a simmer pot?
Although you’re not restricted to making simmer pots only in the Fall, there is just something about a simmer pot that screams Fall. I think it’s the use of the stove. We all get the itch to use the stove when the weather turns even the teensiest bit cooler. That usually results in things like chili or soup for dinner, but you can also direct that big stove energy into making your house smell divine.
I think it’s especially worth exploring the use of a simmer pot if you want to feel the Fall feels but the weather outside isn’t exactly cooperating. If you’ve been a reader of Sara in Season for any length of time, you’re probably aware that I grew up in Florida. If you haven’t spent much time in Florida, let me let you in on a little secret: Fall does not occur in Florida.
Seriously, it’s like the whole peninsula (or at least the part of the peninsula that’s considered tropical) just skips a season. Summer can be experienced most of the year, of course. There is also a brief mild Winter and an allergen coma Spring, but Fall isn’t really a thing. It can be hard to get in the mood for Fall activities or holidays (especially Thanksgiving) when it’s warm and green outside. Enter the simmer pot! If you get some Fall smells emanating from the stove, you turn the air conditioning down to 65°F, and you close the blinds, you can almost get yourself in the mood to eat pumpkin pie.
I haven’t experienced this firsthand, but I can guess that this hack would also work if you’ve recently moved to the southern hemisphere. November is Spring down there, but you might be missing those Fall feels of the November you’re used to. Make yourself a simmer pot and be transported north of the equator!
I hope I’ve brought you on board with the idea of a simmer pot making your house feel like Fall. But you might ask why a simmer pot is a better way to do this than lighting a scented candle.
For me, that’s a no-brainer. I can’t handle scented candles. They set off my asthma. I end up doubled over, straining to breathe. If you don’t suffer from allergies and/or asthma, scented candles are also not awesome for houses with kids and pets. First off, let’s not forget the whole fire thing. Also, some fragrance compounds can cause things like breathing issues and skin irritation for your small and furry family members. A whole bunch of water with fruits and spices simmering away on a back burner of your stove comes with none of these issues.
How to make a simmer pot?
If I’ve got you convinced that you need a simmer pot in your life this Fall, then you need to know how to make one. The good news is that there isn’t one way to make a simmer pot. You can largely use the stuff you have on hand or the stuff you think smells delicious. That’s not really helpful, though, so I’ll give you some ideas of what you can use in a great Fall simmer pot.
Water
First, you need to fill the pot you’ve selected with water. I fill it up almost to the top, leaving about an inch or two of room.
Aromatics
Then you just add your good-smelling things to the water in the pot. I like to add a mix of fruits and spices to get that perfect Fall smell, but you can mix and match to your heart’s desire!
Fruits
Halved apples
Orange slices
Fresh cranberries
Spices
Cinnamon sticks
Whole cloves
Pumpkin or apple pie spice (yes, from the jar)
Star anise
Bay leaf
Other additions
Vanilla extract
Tea bags (then you can drink your simmer pot as long as you keep your other add-ins consistent with something you’d want to consume)
Stove
Once you’ve concocted the brew you’d like to smell, just pop it on the stove. Turn a back burner on low and let it simmer away. You’ll have your house smelling like a Fall dream in no time!
Other posts
Looking for more Fall inspiration? Check out these posts:
Whether you have people coming over, you’re trying to sell your house, or you just want to grab a book and a blanket and enjoy that Fall feeling, I hope you’ll make a simmer pot this Fall. What’s your favorite Fall smell? Let me know in the comments or over on Instagram @sarainseason!