Simmer pots are not just for winter. When you use fresh herbs from the summer garden, simmer pots are a great way to freshen your home when you’re keeping the windows closed with the AC on. People have been scenting their homes with herbs for centuries and even used to sprinkle dried herbs on clean floors to keep their homes smelling fresh and clean. This is why Sarah Munro–my PhD historian and heroine in book 2 of the Deadly Force series, ONE DARK WISH–has a list for summer-scented simmer pots in her collection of DIY herbal recipes.
The recipe below uses fresh lemons, rosemary, and vanilla extract. But I have also used a few other combinations like:
- 6-10 pine or cedar twigs, 4 bay leaves, and 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg.
- 1 orange (sliced), 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract.
- 1 fresh lime (sliced), 4 thyme sprigs, ten mint leaves, and 1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
- 1 orange (sliced), 2 cinnamon sticks, and six cloves.
- 1 lemon (sliced) and 20 mint leaves,
When you put all of the ingredients in a glass jar to sit, these herbal room scents also make lovely gifts for friends and family.
Ingredients
Directions:
Fill the jar with the lemon slices, fresh rosemary, and a 1/4 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. Fill the jar with filtered water.
Cover the jar with a lid and let sit for 12-24 hours—or give as a gift to a friend.
When ready to use, pour the jar’s contents into a small pot on the stove. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer. This simmer pot should last about an hour and will spread the scent throughout the first floor of a house or apartment.
Watch the water carefully and turn off the pot just before all the water boils away. (You don’t want to burn the pot!)
You can double or triple this recipe if you want a larger, longer-burning simmer pot.
Important Disclaimer: Herbal Remedies, Wild Plants, and Foraging
The information shared in my Romance Herbalist posts is intended for educational, historical, and entertainment purposes only. I am not a physician, licensed herbalist, or other medical professional. Nothing on this website should be considered medical advice or a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare provider.
Herbs, flowers, spices, and other plants have been used for centuries in cooking, traditional remedies, and folk medicine. However, natural does not always mean safe. Some plants can be toxic, cause allergic reactions, interact with medications, or be unsuitable for certain medical conditions.
Before preparing, consuming, or using any herbal product, please keep the following precautions in mind:
- Medications and medical conditions: Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using herbs medicinally, particularly if you take prescription or over-the-counter medications, have an existing medical condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are preparing something for children.
- Allergies: Research potential allergic reactions and cross-reactivity, especially if you have known allergies to plants, herbs, or spices.
- Plant identification: Never harvest or consume a wild plant unless you can positively identify it and confirm that it is safe for its intended use. Some poisonous plants closely resemble edible or medicinal varieties.
- Harvesting and foraging: Avoid collecting plants from roadsides, chemically treated areas, contaminated soil, or locations where pesticides, herbicides, or other pollutants may be present. Always follow local foraging laws and respect private property.
- Preparation and consumption: Research appropriate preparation methods, potential side effects, and safe quantities before using any plant. Certain plants may be safe in food but dangerous when concentrated or prepared incorrectly.
- Food safety: Use clean equipment, properly stored ingredients, and appropriate food-handling practices when preparing herbal teas, infusions, syrups, or other homemade products.
A note about traditional remedies: References to historical or folkloric uses of plants do not establish that those uses are medically effective or safe. Any discussion of potential health benefits is provided for general information and should not be interpreted as a recommendation to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
By choosing to forage, prepare, or consume any plant or herbal product discussed on this website, you accept responsibility for your own research, decisions, and safety. The author makes no guarantees regarding the safety, effectiveness, or suitability of any plant, recipe, or preparation described.
When in doubt, consult a qualified professional before using any herb or wild plant.
