As you get ready to open your windows for some much-needed air after the dreary days of winter, why not boost the fresh scents of the season with simmer pots?

What's a Simmer Pot?

Simmer pots, also known as stovetop potpourri, freshen the air naturally.

Fragrant ingredients like fresh fruits and herbs are simmered in water over the stovetop, infusing a space with gentle aromas.

If you're not familiar with them, read up on the basics of making and using simmer pots.

Making a Spring Simmer Pot

Customize your simmer pot to the season by experimenting with scents that remind you of spring.

Who knows? You may come up with your own signature blend to welcome family and friends to your home.

At the very least, simmering natural fragrances can help cover up funky smells—especially those in the kitchen.

To capture the season, consider the scents of:

• lemon
• lime
• grapefruit
• ginger
• rosemary
• vanilla
• rose
• mint

When spring blooms become available outside, add unsprayed varieties to a simmer pot.

As the season progresses, look for fresh lavender or rose petals to infuse the fragrance of a lush garden indoors.

Simmer Pot Recipes for Spring

Here are some recipes that fit the season. They’re easy and inexpensive to make, and they help add pleasing aromas and comfort to the room you’re in.

• Pep in Your Step

  • 1 lime, sliced
  • 6 sprigs rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns

• Calming Breeze

  • 1 lemon, sliced 
  • 3 sprigs fresh or dried lavender
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Crisp and Clear

  • 1 grapefruit, sliced
  • 2 lemon slices
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme

• The Invigorator

  • 2 tablespoons sliced fresh ginger
  • 6 sprigs fresh mint

• Prime Thyme

  • 3 lime slices
  • 3 thyme sprigs
  • Handful of mint

Using Essential Oils

Some people add drops of essential oils to their simmer pot recipes. Essential oils add concentrated aromas as well as therapeutic benefits.

Consider adding a few drops of essential oil to your simmer pot.

For the fresh, floral scents reminiscent of springtime, we recommend:

• lemon
• lime
• orange
• lavender
• basil
• eucalyptus
• bergamot
• jasmine
• ylang-ylang

The choice is yours. Just remember that essential oils are strong, so use them sparingly.

Here’s a simple springtime recipe using essential oils:

• [q:1/2] cup dried lavender or 6 drops lavender essential oil
• A few drops eucalyptus essential oil