This holiday season, a fragrant new trend is bubbling up in kitchens across the country, and it has nothing to do with baking cookies. People are turning to social media platforms like TikTok to discover the simple magic of Christmas simmer pots. These stovetop potpourris are an easy, natural way to fill your entire home with the quintessential scents of the holidays, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that smells just like Christmas morning.
The appeal is easy to understand. Instead of relying on synthetic air fresheners or artificially scented candles, a simmer pot uses wholesome, natural ingredients. By gently heating a combination of fruits, spices, and herbs in a pot of water, you can release a continuous, layered fragrance that transforms your living space.
A Viral Sensation on “ChristmasTok”
The simmer pot trend has found a perfect home on social media, where users share their favorite scent combinations in short, mesmerizing videos. One particularly popular example comes from creator Kate_cleanhome (@Kate_cleanhome) on TikTok. Her video, which has gathered over 250,000 likes and thousands of comments, showcases a beautifully simple recipe for holiday cheer.
In the clip, she fills a pot with water and adds slices of apple and orange, a handful of fresh cranberries, a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and whole cloves. As the pot gently simmers, the ingredients combine to create a visual and aromatic masterpiece. The comment section is filled with excitement, with one user perfectly capturing the sentiment: “I LOVE CHRISTMASTOK.” It’s a testament to how a simple pot of simmering ingredients can evoke such strong feelings of holiday joy.
Crafting Your Own Holiday Simmer Pot
Creating your own simmer pot is incredibly simple and allows for endless creativity. The basic principle involves combining a few key elements in a saucepan filled with water and letting it gently simmer on low heat. Just remember to keep an eye on the water level, topping it up as needed to prevent the ingredients from burning.
For that classic “Christmassy” aroma, focus on a blend of citrus, spices, and fragrant greens.
- Citrus: Orange, lemon, or even grapefruit slices add a bright, clean note that cuts through the richness of the spices.
- Spices: Whole spices work best as they release their scent slowly. Cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, and nutmeg are holiday staples that provide warmth and depth.
- Aromatics: Fresh elements tie everything together. Sprigs of rosemary, thyme, or even a few fir or pine tips clipped from your Christmas tree can add a wonderful, woodsy fragrance that makes it feel like you’re walking through a winter forest.
Feel free to experiment with other ingredients like fresh cranberries for a pop of color and tartness, a splash of vanilla extract for sweetness, or slices of ginger for a zesty kick.
@kate_cleanhome First Christmas simmer pot of the season🎄🎅🏻🎁💫 #Christmas #simmerpot #christmasvibes #christmascountdown #cozyathome ♬ Holly Jolly Christmas – Michael Bublé
Making Home Feel Special
The simmer pot trend is about more than just making a house smell good. It’s about engaging the senses to create a feeling of home and comfort. The simple joy of choosing what to include your simmer pot, can feel like a small, cozy ritual that makes the holiday season feel more intentional and special. It’s a simple, inexpensive way to build new traditions and make lasting memories with the people you love. This year, let the scent of Christmas simmer on your stove, welcoming everyone who walks through your door into a home filled with warmth and holiday spirit.
