Bring some cozy cabin vibes to your home with this simmer pot recipe!

A white pot with water, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, and greenery sits on wood with dried oranges and a pine cone nearby.

If you want your home to smell like a warm, cozy cabin in the woods, give this simmer pot blend a try. It fills the whole house with warm spice and citrus notes, and it’s made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.

A slow bubbling simmer pot is one of our favorite cold-weather rituals, and a nice way to slow down, reset, and make your space feel extra inviting. Which is why it also makes a great DIY gift! Just bundle up dried orange slices and whole spices, add them to a small mason jar, add a tag and some twine to finish it up.

What Is a Simmer Pot?

A simmer pot is exactly what it sounds like. You add water and aromatic ingredients to a small saucepan, bring everything to a gentle simmer, and let the steam carry the scent through your home. It’s a natural alternative to scented candles and air fresheners, and it’s endlessly customizable.

Dried orange slices, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, whole allspice, and dried ginger pieces in a glass jar on a wooden surface.

Tips for making

Dried oranges can be purchased online, but they are so easy (and cheap!) to make at home using your oven or dehydrator. We have a whole tutorial for dried oranges here.
Keep an eye on your simmer pot when it’s on the stove, and add more water as needed. You can keep it going all day with the same batch of ingredients!
Play around with the spices and other ingredients to make your own signature blend. It’s hard to make mistakes here, so have fun with it.

A mason jar with dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and greenery sits on wood, tied with red and white string; items scattered nearby.

How to package it as a gift

Simmer pot kits make sweet, simple holiday gifts. To assemble:

Use a small mason jar or hinged glass jar.
Layer the dried orange slices, spices, and a evergreen sprig (I love pine or juniper in mine!).
Include a small handwritten tag with instructions: “Add contents to a small pot, cover with water, and simmer on low. Add more water as needed.”
Store the jars in a cool, dry place. They keep well for several months.

A white pot with a red handle holds water, orange slices, spices, bay leaf, and evergreen sprigs on wood, with decor nearby.

A mason jar with dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and greenery sits on wood beside a pinecone and extra dried orange slices.

Fresh Off The Grid

Citrus & Spice Simmer Pot

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Bring some cozy cabin vibes to your home with this simmer pot recipe.

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Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Makes: 1 simmer pot

Ingredients

3-5 dried orange slices
5 allspice berries
1 cinnamon stick
1 bay leaf
2 inch piece of dried or crystallized ginger
A sprig of juniper, pine, or rosemary

Instructions

Add everything to a small saucepan, cover with water, bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat so it bubbles gently. Keep an eye on the water level and top it off as needed.

To Package as a Gift

Layer the dried oranges in a jar and add the spices and pine/juniper sprig (skip using fresh rosemary for gifts—it could go bad before it’s used).
Make a little tag with instructions and tie it all together with some baker's or jute twine.

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