Stovetop Potpourri with Pomegranates and Cranberries

Last year, I constantly simmered it on the stove, week after week, and whenever I found myself in the kitchen I would silently ask, “what’s that smell?” Then I would remember the joy of the stove top potpourri.

Stove top potpourri’s are one of my favorite ways to scent the house because I don’t care for the toxins of artificial candles (not to say that I don’t burn them, but I do prefer a potpourri or essential oil candle). 

The combination of cinnamon, rosemary, cranberries, and pomegranates fills the whole house with a smell that really cannot be recreated artifically.

I start simmering in the morning, and add water as needed. One pot of this generally lasts 3-4 days. The ingredients are very affordable (in fact, I think cheaper than a candle), and you can breathe easy knowing that you’re not burning any artificial perfumes.

My grocery store starts selling whole cranberries around Thanksgiving time, so I buy multiple bags of them, and throw them in the freezer to use throughout the year, in fact, the bag I used for this batch was still good from last year! Also, if you don’t have pomegranates available, sliced orange is just as good.

Ingredients Needed

• Pomegranate – make sure to buy fresh, whole pomegranate
• Cinnamon Sticks
• Cranberries – make sure to find fresh cranberries!
• Cloves – this recipe calls for whole cloves
• Vanilla Extract
• Rosemary – Fresh rosemary adds a wonderfully herbaceous note!

How to Make Stovetop Potpourri

1. Combine all ingredients into a large pot. Fill the pot about halfway with water. Bring to a very low simmer, and leave simmering for an hour or two.
2. Keep a close eye on the pot as the water evaporates, add more water as needed so as to not burn ingredients.
3. Try using a variety of herbs, or adding different spices such as all-spice! This recipe is very adaptable to your tastes!

How Long Do I Simmer Stovetop Potpourri?

I simmer stovetop potpourri for hours on end, but I prefer a nice strong scent throughout the house. If you are more sensitive to smells, you may find that simmering stovetop potpourri for 30 minutes is sufficient. You can simmer the potpourri for as long as desired! If you feel that the scent is becoming too strong, simply turn off the stove and cover the pot.

Can I Use Dried Fruit?

Absolutely! You can use dried fruit or herbs in stovetop potpourri for just as wonderful of a smell! In fact, you can even dry your own fruit and give stovetop potpourri as a gift to neighbors and friends!

How Long Does It Last?

I find that I can use the same batch of stovetop potpourri for 3-4 days. Of course after day 1, the potpourri does not look as beautiful as it does when you begin simmering it, but the scent is still very lovely. After 3-4 days, the potpourri will become mushy and will not look pleasant, simply drain out the excess water and discard the fruit & herbs.

The Recipe

Homemade Stove Top Potpourri with Pomegranates and Cranberries

Use this easy recipe for homemade stove top potpourri to make your whole house smell like Christmas all year long!

Print Pin Rate

Cook — 2 hours hrs

Total — 2 hours hrs

Ingredients  

• 1 Pomegranate quartered
• 3-4 Cinnamon Sticks
• 1 cup Fresh Cranberries
• 1 tablespoon Whole Cloves
• 1 splash Vanilla Extract
• 3 sprigs Fresh Rosemary

Instructions 

• Combine all ingredients into a large pot. Fill the pot about halfway with water. Bring to a very low simmer, and leave simmering for an hour or two.
• Keep a close eye on the pot as the water evaporates, add more water as needed so as to not burn ingredients.
• Try using a variety of herbs, or adding different spices such as all-spice! This recipe is very adaptable to your tastes!