Smells are surer than sounds and sights to make heartstrings crack.
~Rudyard Kipling
The twinkling of lights, the shimmer of gold-dusted ornaments, the rustling of wrapping paper and the sounds of holiday tunes are designed to tug at our heartstrings. But there’s nothing quite like the aromas of Christmas to transport us ~ as if on a magic carpet ride.
Whether it’s cookies baking or spices simmering, seasonal scents are as warm and cozy as a fluffy down-filled blanket on a cold and snowy night.
Building a simmer pot is as easy as 1-2-3. Simply combine tap water with ingredients like fresh pine, tangerines, cinnamon sticks, cranberries, ginger, vanilla and apple cider in a small pot; bring the colorful mixture to a slow simmer, then enjoy the sweet perfume that will radiate throughout your holiday house for hours on end.
I want to take this moment to wish everyone a warm and wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year! I’ll be taking a little time away to enjoy the season with our family but will return after the holidays with stories and new recipes to capture the coziness of winter.
Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo!
- 2 small branches fresh pine
- 1 - 2 small tangerines, halved
- 3 - 4 whole cinnamon sticks
- 1 - 2 cups fresh cranberries
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger
- A large splash of vanilla
- 1 cup apple cider
- water
- Using a small pot, combine all the ingredients and water to about 1 inch from the top of the pot.
- Place the pot over medium heat on the stove and bring to a gentle boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and let simmer for a few hours.
- Remember to keep adding water as it diminishes.
- When you're done for the day, let cool overnight and use it again the next day.
Wishing you and yours a beautiful and festive holiday that brings peace and joy into your homes today and always…
Annie xoxo
What a beautiful post Annie and love the simmer pot ingredients. Hope you and the family had a wonderful Christmas, my friend. xoxo
Thank you, Karrie! We had a lovely day…I hope you and your family did as well! xoxo
Now this is my kind of air freshener. I’ve been slowly getting into candles recently but I think this is totally up my alley and I love how you can combine different things to make different scents!! Happy holidays 🙂
This is too fun and pretty! Happy holidays, friend!
This is such a great idea for the holidays! Hope you had a great Christmas Annie!
Thank you, Mira! I hope you did as well, my friend! 🙂
I absolutely love love this idea. There’s something so special about the warm perfumed smells.
I almost have all the ingredients, gonna try this out. I’m so happy for this.
Thank you and I’m so glad we met this year. Truly feels good. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!! Enjoy with family.
xx
Hi Asha! Thank you so much, dear! I hope you had a chance to try it and loved it! Wishing splendid holidays to you and your family! xo
oh wow, this is such a fantastic idea Annie! 🙂 Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas my friend!
Thank you, my friend! Happy Holidays!! 🙂
I do this too, but in a small crock pot just with water, Christmas tree branches and cinnamon. This is over the top and I love the citrus, cranberry addition. Merry Christmas to you and your family Annie.
That sounds divine! I love the use of the small crock pot. Merry Christmas to you and yours, my friend!
OMG, words can not express how much I love this idea, Annie!!! The scent of smell truly does transport and can make one nostalgic. Having a simmer pot of delicious aroma wafting through the house is amazing!! Why have I never heard of this before?? Off to the store to pick up these goodies so I can transform my house into smelling like a winter wonderland! Warm wishes for a beautiful Christmas, my dear friend! Lots of hugs and love! Xoxo
I hope you loved your simmer pot! Merry Christmas, my dear! Lots of hugs and love! XO
This is just what I need to put on the stove to make it feel like Christmas over here! I’m home in San Diego and we have another bright and shiny day today 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful break and an amazing holiday!
Hi Rachel! I didn’t realize you were in San Diego…Oh my! So lovely! Thanks for your kind words, dear! Merry Christmas! 🙂
I’m totally throwing this pot of wonderful on my stove tonight. Enjoy your break and have a fantastic holiday with your family!
Yes! You will love it! Holiday House in a snap! Enjoy your holiday, my friend! 🙂
Mmm I really want to sit on my couch cozied up with this! Enjoy your holidays!!
I can think of nothing better! Happy holidays, Sues!
This is such a great idea, Annie! I’ve always wanted to make something like this. I bet your house smelled amazing when this was simmering! I hope you enjoy your holidays, friend!
It smelled so good yesterday and even better today! Thank you, Gayle! Happy holidays, my friend!
I think I can smell this already! There is nothing better than walking into a house filled with wonderful smells! Great idea!
There really is nothing better…like sauce on Sunday! Thank you, my friend! Happy holidays!
Heck that sounds so good I want to drink the simmer pot 🙂 Yes indeed!! There is something about a warm welcoming aroma that teases our senses for the goodies to come. Have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. See you after your break — I’ll be here waiting to here your stories and look at your gorgeous photos! Abbracci!
Hahaha! I thought for a moment to say – good enough to eat – but don’t! Wishing you a lovely Christmas and New Year, my friend! xo
Enjoy a much-deserved break, my friend. And I love that quote from Kipling. I always think that smells and scents are humankind’s oldest form of time travel. This looks worthy of some memories and nostalgia! Happy holidays, Annie!
I love that..humankind’s oldest form of time travel…oh yes. So happy to have met you this year – looking forward to the next, my friend. Happy holidays, Mir!