Banish Stale Odors with a Powerful Homemade Winter Spice Potpourri
This simmering winter spice potpourri recipe will banish stale winter odors with simple ingredients from your kitchen cupboards.
Does your home feel stuffy by mid-winter?
It’s not uncommon for our homes feel stale as the winter months stretch on. With the windows and doors closed to keep the cold air out, everyday household odors are easily trapped inside.
I’ve noticed cooking smells can linger longer than we’d like with our open floor plan. And somehow, seafood night always hits when fresh air is not an option.
I feel it most after my husband fries a steak in his cast-iron skillet. The exhaust fan tries its best, but let’s be honest—it rarely wins.
Natural room sprays help for quick touch-ups. And I love using them after taking out the trash or freshening the bathroom. But some odors need more than a quick spritz.
Unfortunately, room sprays don’t always cut through deep kitchen smells. If you’ve had the same dilemma, you’re going to love this simple fix!
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Make Your Home Smell Amazing with a Simmering Winter Spice Potpourri
Did you know the Environmental Working Group rates the average room freshener at a D to F due to heavy synthetic formulas and hidden artificial ingredients? No worries, I’ve got it covered!
In fact, I challenge you to banish any odor in the home within ten minutes of simmering this winter spice potpourri! No joke, it is incredible, and it uses simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen cupboards.
If you’re unfamiliar with this cleaning hack, simmering potpourri (or simmer pot, if you prefer) is a simple blend of fresh or dried ingredients simmered gently in water on the stovetop.
What Do You Put In A Simmer Pot?
Each ingredient I use plays a role in its powerfully cozy scent!
Warm spices bring comfort. Citrus slices and juniper berries lift the air. Then coffee beans absorb stubborn smells while adding depth to the scent.
You can also personalize this simmer pot with what’s on hand in your cupboards. Swap in flavored coffee beans like hazelnut or vanilla for a bakery-style twist, or exchange grapefruit slices for orange slices. You get the idea!
Related: Surprisingly Easy Spiced Chai DIY Candle Melts
Easy Winter Simmer Pot Recipe for a Cozy, Fresh Home
Ready to clear the air?
If you’re struggling with stale winter odors, let me show you how to turn these simple ingredients into a simmer pot that works fast and smells incredible! It’s what I call coffee house cozy.
Simmer Pot Ingredients:
How to Make a Simmering Winter Spice Potpourri:
- Measure out each dry ingredient and add them to a medium stockpot.
- Pour 4 cups of water over the dry ingredients and bring to a boil over low heat.
- Boil potpourri 2 to 3 minutes. Then reduce the heat to a simmer.
- Simmer for up to 4 hours, adding 1/2 cup of water every half hour as needed to avoid burning the ingredients.
Tip: Because these ingredients are pantry-stable, you can make this simmer pot recipe ahead of time. Fill a jar or double the recipe to create handmade gifts.
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If you loved this winter blend, you’ll also enjoy my other simmer pot recipes for spring and summer. Each one is designed to refresh your home with simple ingredients and seasonal scents that feel just right.
Save this recipe for later, share it with a friend who loves cozy homes, and tag me on social #lifenreflection when you make yours. I’d love to see what you simmer up — every kitchen tells a story, and yours deserves to smell amazing.
Love this! I’ve been doing this for years…id like to take the credit but my mom taught me everything.. My mom (who’s in her 70’s) when she was younger in Germany her mother would do this when every someone was sick. Using certain ingredients help clean the air also. ?
Absolutely Michelle, there’s nothing like clearing the air after an illness in the family.
I am definitely trying this! I love homemade simmers and yours is different from any I have used. My husband always makes turkey burgers right before my piano lesson students arrive and the house smells! I will have some simmer made up on piano lesson nights so I can banish the burger scent!
Pinning and tweeting this post and also featuring you this week at Thursday Favorite Things!
That’s hilarious, I knew there had to be other wives out there that had the same issue. You’re going be amazed at the difference when you try this week! Thank you for the feature I will be there to share it when ups Thursday!!