Scents of The Season

There is nothing better than walking around in your home and smelling Christmas all around you. So, I have found several recipes for simmering potpourri for your home to do for yourself or as gifts. Enjoy!

Spicy Simmering Potpourri

• 1 oz. can cinnamon sticks, broken into small pieces 
• 1 (1.12 oz.) can whole cloves
• 1 (1.25 oz.) can whole allspice

Mix all ingredients in Ziploc bag or airtight container. Place 1 heaping teaspoon to 1/2 cup of water in simmer pot and heat.
Fruity-Fresh Simmering Potpourri

• 1 lemon
• 1 orange
• 3-3 inch cinnamon sticks
• 6 bay leaves
• ½ cup whole cloves

Cut lemon and orange into slices or place in pot or slow cooker or saucepan. Cover with water and then top with a few bay leaves, whole cloves and cinnamon sticks. Cook on low heat. You can refrigerate and reuse any leftovers.
Christmas-y Simmering Potpourri

• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 3 bay leaves
• 1/4 cup whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoons dried lemon peel
• 2 tablespoons dried orange peel
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Mix all ingredients and store in Ziploc or airtight container. I’d use 1/3 mixture at a time (making sure I get one cinnamon stick and one bay leaf). Place your potpourri–along with about a quart of water–in a medium saucepan or slow cooker. Simmer on low heat, adding water as needed.

Credit:  http://www.curbly.com/users/diy-maven/posts/2588-easy-homemade-simmering-potpourri-recipes

Edible Simmering Potpourri
Apple cider to fill a large soup pot
One apple, cut horizontally to make circular round slices 1/2-inch thick
One orange, cut into round slices 1/2-inch thick
3 whole cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
6 whole allspice berries
One 2-inch piece of fresh gingerroot, cut into small rounds Place all ingredients in a large soup pot and bring to a simmer, then reduce and allow to simmer uncovered, adding cider as liquid evaporates.
When guests arrive, ladle out a mug full of the hot cider for each person, adding a splash of bourbon or brandy, if you like, and serve with an additional cinnamon stick in each mug.

Christmas Simmering potpourri
Simple and great smelling. I like to mix the dry ingredients up in little Ziploc's to have them ready to add to water during the holiday season.

3 cinnamon sticks
3 bay leaves
1/4 cup whole cloves
1 teaspoon ground cloves
2 lemon slices, fresh or 2 tablespoonsdried lemon peel
2 tablespoons orange peel or dried orange peel
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 quart water

Mix all ingredients in medium saucepan. Simmer on low heat. Add more water as needed.

Spicy Simmering potpourri

* 3 1/2 cups anise star, whole
* 1 3/4 cups allspice, whole
* 1 3/4 cups orange peel
* 1 3/4 cups juniper berries
* 1 3/4 cups nutmeg, whole
* 1 3/4 cups cloves, whole
* 3 1/2 cups cinnamon chips
* 1 3/4 cups lemon peel
* 3 1/2 cups rosehips
* 3 handfuls bay leaves, whole
Use oil fragrances such as French vanilla, old world spice, and vanilla fragrance. This recipe makes 24 cups.

Citrus Simmering potpourri

* 1 cup cinnamon sticks, whole, 1"
* 1 cup orange petals, whole
* 1/4 cup lemon or grapefruit peel
* 1/8 cup allspice, whole
* 3 cups lemon verbena leaves, whole
* 1 cup chrysanthemum flowers, whole
* 1 3/4 cups orange peel, cut and sifted, 1/2" - 3/4"
* 1/8 cup cloves, whole
* 2 cups lemongrass 1/2" cut
For oil use 1/8 ounce lemon essential oil, 1/2 ounce sweet orange essential oil, 1/8 ounce tangerine essential oil, and 1/8 ounce cinnamon bark essential oil. This recipe makes 12 1/2 cups.

Floral Simmering potpourri

* 1 cup rosebuds and petals, pink
* 1 cup rosebuds and petals, red
* 1 cup Balm of Gilead buds, whole
* 1 1/2 cups orange peel, cut and sifter, 1/2" - 3/4"
* 16 nutmegs, whole, cracked with a hammer
* 1 cup oak moss
* 1/4 cup allspice, whole
* 2 cups cinnamon chips
* 1 vanilla bean, cut into small pieces
* 1/4 cup fenugreek seeds, whole
* 1/4 cup cloves, whole
Use 3/4 ounce of your favorite floral fragrance oil. This recipe makes 8 1/2 cups.

Fruity Simmering potpourri

* 1 1/2 cups orange peels, cut and sifted, 1/2" - 3/4"
* 1 cup anise star, whole
* 1/4 cup cardamom pods
* 2 cups cinnamon chips
* 1 cup apple pieces
* 1/2 cup mace, whole
* 1/4 cup allspice, whole
* 1/4 cup cloves, whole
For oil, use 1/2 ounce apple fragrance, 1/8 ounce cinnamon bark essential oil OR use 3/4 ounce spicy apple fragrance. This recipe makes 6 3/4 cups.

Credit:  http://www.easy-homemade-recipes.com/simmering-potpourri.html