New Year’s Simmer Pot Recipes: 10 Stovetop Blends for New Year’s Eve and Day

A simmer pot is a pan of water with fruit, spices, or herbs added, kept at a low simmer on the stove so the steam carries their scent through your home instead of a candle or spray. Below are 10 different New Year’s blends with exact ingredients, water amounts, and timing, plus the method, safety rules, and storage guidance you need to make one today.

What Is a Simmer Pot

A simmer pot works by gentle evaporation. As the water heats, it carries the natural oils and aromatic compounds released from citrus peel, spices, and herbs into the air. It’s not a diffuser and it’s not potpourri you burn; it’s closer to making a very fragrant, non-edible tea that you never drink, just smell. It requires no special equipment beyond a saucepan or a slow cooker, and it costs a few dollars in fruit and pantry spices per batch.

Quick Recipe Comparison Table

The Basic Stovetop Method

1. Fill a small to medium saucepan with 4 to 6 cups of water, following the specific recipe’s amount.
2. Add the fruit, spices, or herbs called for in the recipe.
3. Bring the water to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, uncovered.
4. Once it’s bubbling, reduce the heat to low so the water holds a gentle simmer, small bubbles breaking the surface rather than a rolling boil.
5. Check the pot every 20 to 30 minutes. As water evaporates, top it off with 1/2 to 1 cup of hot water to keep the ingredients covered and the pot from running dry.
6. Simmer for the recipe’s suggested time, generally 2 to 4 hours per sitting.
7. Turn the burner off completely any time you leave the room for more than a few minutes, leave the house, or go to bed. Never let a simmer pot run while unattended.

Slow Cooker Method

A slow cooker gives you a gentler, more hands-off version of the same thing, and it evaporates water more slowly than a stovetop pot, which is useful if you want scent running through a longer party.

1. Add the same ingredients and water amount as the stovetop version to a slow cooker.
2. Set it to low heat and prop the lid open slightly with a wooden spoon or leave it fully off, so the fragrance can escape into the room.
3. Check the water level every hour or so and top it off as needed; a slow cooker on low evaporates water more gradually than a stovetop simmer, but it can still run low over several hours.
4. Turn the slow cooker off and unplug it whenever you leave the house or go to sleep. A slow cooker still poses a burn and fire risk if left running unattended, so the same rule applies as the stovetop method.

The Recipes

Fresh Citrus and Rosemary

A clean, green-citrus scent that reads more like a fresh kitchen than a holiday candle. This is the blend to reach for on New Year’s Day itself, when the goal is a fresh start rather than a repeat of Christmas spice.

• Scent profile: Bright, clean, green, lightly herbal
• Best for: New Year’s Day reset, daytime gatherings
• Water: 4 cups
• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Simmer time: 2 to 3 hours
• Total use time per batch: up to 3 hours before the ingredients lose most of their scent

Ingredients

• 1 orange, sliced into rounds
• 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 4 cups water

Directions

1. Add the orange and lemon slices and rosemary sprigs to a saucepan.
2. Pour in the water.
3. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a low simmer.
4. Simmer 2 to 3 hours, checking every 20 to 30 minutes.

Water-refill guidance: Top off with 1/2 cup hot water every 30 to 45 minutes once you notice the level dropping below the fruit.

Substitutions: Lime works in place of lemon. Fresh thyme can replace rosemary for a slightly softer herbal note.

Storage and discard: Use fresh the same day you make it. If you want a second round, strain out the solids, refrigerate them in an airtight container up to 2 days, and simmer again in fresh water; the scent will be noticeably lighter the second time. Discard the liquid after each simmering session rather than storing it, since a sitting pot of fruit water at room temperature isn’t something to keep around.

Slow cooker option: Yes. Use the same ingredients and water amount on low, lid cracked.

Nutrition: Not applicable. This simmer pot is for fragrance and is not intended to be eaten. Do not consume the ingredients or liquid.

Orange, Cranberry and Cinnamon

The most classic-feeling blend on this list, warm and fruity with a cinnamon backbone. It’s the one to put on when guests arrive for a New Year’s Eve gathering.

• Scent profile: Warm, festive, fruity-spiced
• Best for: New Year’s Eve party, guests arriving
• Water: 4 cups
• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Simmer time: 3 to 4 hours
• Total use time per batch: up to 4 hours

Ingredients

• 1 orange, sliced into rounds
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 cups water

Directions

1. Combine orange slices, cranberries, and cinnamon sticks in a saucepan.
2. Add the water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
4. Simmer 3 to 4 hours, checking every 20 to 30 minutes and topping off water as needed.

Water-refill guidance: Cranberries absorb some water as they simmer, so check this one slightly more often in the first hour, adding 1/2 cup hot water as needed.

Substitutions: Pomegranate arils can replace cranberries for a similar tart-fruity note. Dried cranberries work in a pinch, though they release less scent than fresh or frozen and can make the water look cloudier. Ground cinnamon is not recommended here; it clouds the water and sinks to the bottom without adding much more scent than the sticks.

Storage and discard: This mixture is fine to simmer for a full evening in one sitting. Discard the solids and liquid afterward rather than keeping them overnight; cranberries in particular start to break down and turn mushy, which doesn’t reheat well for a second round.

Slow cooker option: Yes, and this is a good one to run for a long party. Same ingredients and water, low heat, lid cracked.

Nutrition: Not applicable. This simmer pot is for fragrance and is not intended to be eaten. Do not consume the ingredients or liquid.

Apple Pie Spice

A warm, bakery-like scent from apple and whole baking spices, no oven required. This is a good one for a slow morning at home on January 1.

• Scent profile: Warm, sweet, bakery-like
• Best for: Quiet New Year’s Day at home
• Water: 4 cups
• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Simmer time: 3 hours
• Total use time per batch: up to 3 hours

Ingredients

• 1 apple, sliced
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 4 whole allspice berries
• 4 cups water

Directions

1. Add the apple slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice berries to a saucepan.
2. Pour in the water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
4. Simmer 3 hours, checking every 20 to 30 minutes.

Water-refill guidance: Top off with 1/2 cup hot water every 30 to 40 minutes. The apple slices will soften and darken as they simmer; that’s expected and doesn’t affect the scent.

Substitutions: A pear can replace the apple. A few gratings of whole nutmeg can be added if you have it, though it’s optional.

Storage and discard: The apple slices break down fairly quickly and are best used fresh in one sitting. Discard after simmering rather than trying to reuse; softened apple doesn’t hold scent for a second round the way citrus peel does.

Slow cooker option: Yes. Same ingredients and water, low heat, lid cracked. This is a particularly good slow-cooker candidate since the low, steady heat prevents the apple from scorching if the water runs a little low.

Nutrition: Not applicable. This simmer pot is for fragrance and is not intended to be eaten. Do not consume the ingredients or liquid.

Lemon, Ginger and Rosemary

A crisp, wake-you-up blend that leans savory-fresh rather than sweet. Good for New Year’s Day mornings when you want something other than another cinnamon-and-clove pot.

• Scent profile: Crisp, spicy-fresh, herbal
• Best for: New Year’s Day morning, energizing
• Water: 4 cups
• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Simmer time: 2 to 3 hours
• Total use time per batch: up to 3 hours

Ingredients

• 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
• 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 4 cups water

Directions

1. Add the lemon slices, ginger, and rosemary to a saucepan.
2. Add the water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
4. Simmer 2 to 3 hours, checking every 20 to 30 minutes.

Water-refill guidance: Top off with 1/2 cup hot water as the level drops, roughly every 30 to 45 minutes.

Substitutions: A lime can replace the lemon. Sage can stand in for rosemary for a slightly earthier note.

Storage and discard: Fresh ginger holds its scent reasonably well; you can strain and refrigerate the solids up to 2 days and simmer a second time in fresh water, though the scent will be milder. Discard after the second use.

Slow cooker option: Yes. Same ingredients and water, low heat, lid cracked.

Nutrition: Not applicable. This simmer pot is for fragrance and is not intended to be eaten. Do not consume the ingredients or liquid.

Orange, Vanilla and Star Anise

An elegant, dessert-adjacent scent for a New Year’s Eve dinner where you want something that smells more like mulled wine than a craft store candle.

• Scent profile: Warm, sweet-spiced, slightly floral
• Best for: New Year’s Eve dinner party
• Water: 4 cups
• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Simmer time: 3 hours
• Total use time per batch: up to 3 hours

Ingredients

• 1 orange, sliced into rounds
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 whole star anise
• 4 cups water

Directions

1. Add the orange slices, split vanilla bean, and star anise to a saucepan.
2. Add the water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
4. If using vanilla extract instead of a vanilla bean, stir it in after removing the pot from heat at the end of a simmer session rather than boiling it the whole time, since its scent fades faster under prolonged heat.
5. Simmer 3 hours, checking every 20 to 30 minutes.

Water-refill guidance: Top off with 1/2 cup hot water every 30 to 40 minutes.

Substitutions: A cinnamon stick can stand in for star anise if you don’t have it, though the scent will lean more classically spiced than licorice-sweet.

Storage and discard: The vanilla bean can be rinsed, dried, and reused in a second batch within a few days; star anise also holds scent for a second simmer. Discard the orange slices after one use.

Slow cooker option: Yes. Same ingredients and water, low heat, lid cracked.

Nutrition: Not applicable. This simmer pot is for fragrance and is not intended to be eaten. Do not consume the ingredients or liquid.

Apple, Bay and Cinnamon

A warm, herbal blend built around bay leaf. In some folk customs, a bay leaf inscribed with a wish and burned at midnight is part of New Year celebrating, a practice separate from cooking with bay leaf. This recipe simply borrows the leaf itself as a nod to that tradition rather than claiming the simmering water carries any of that meaning.

• Scent profile: Warm, herbal, woodsy
• Best for: New Year’s Day, a blend with symbolic meaning
• Water: 4 cups
• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Simmer time: 3 hours
• Total use time per batch: up to 3 hours

Ingredients

• 1 apple, sliced
• 3 dried bay leaves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4 cups water

Directions

1. Add the apple slices, bay leaves, and cinnamon sticks to a saucepan.
2. Add the water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
4. Simmer 3 hours, checking every 20 to 30 minutes.

Water-refill guidance: Top off with 1/2 cup hot water every 30 to 40 minutes.

Substitutions: A pear can replace the apple. Two or three whole cloves can be added alongside the cinnamon for a slightly deeper spice note.

Storage and discard: Bay leaves and cinnamon sticks can be dried off and reused in a second simmer within a couple of days, though the apple should be replaced with a fresh slice each time. Discard the apple after each use.

Slow cooker option: Yes. Same ingredients and water, low heat, lid cracked.

Nutrition: Not applicable. This simmer pot is for fragrance and is not intended to be eaten. Do not consume the ingredients or liquid.

Grapefruit, Rosemary and Mint

A sharper, more herbal citrus blend than the sweeter orange-based recipes on this list, good for a New Year’s Day brunch when you want something bright rather than heavy.

• Scent profile: Bright, herbal, slightly bitter-fresh
• Best for: New Year’s Day brunch, daytime gatherings
• Water: 4 cups
• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Simmer time: 2 to 3 hours
• Total use time per batch: up to 3 hours

Ingredients

• 1 grapefruit, sliced into rounds
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• Small handful fresh mint leaves
• 4 cups water

Directions

1. Add the grapefruit slices, rosemary, and mint to a saucepan.
2. Add the water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
4. Simmer 2 to 3 hours, checking every 20 to 30 minutes.

Water-refill guidance: Top off with 1/2 cup hot water every 30 to 45 minutes.

Substitutions: An orange or two limes can replace the grapefruit. Basil can stand in for mint.

Storage and discard: Grapefruit pith can turn slightly bitter the longer it simmers, so this one is best used fresh in a single sitting rather than reheated for a second round. Discard after use.

Slow cooker option: Yes. Same ingredients and water, low heat, lid cracked.

Nutrition: Not applicable. This simmer pot is for fragrance and is not intended to be eaten. Do not consume the ingredients or liquid.

Cranberry, Orange and Winter Greenery

A festive, fuller-bodied blend for New Year’s Eve when you want the pot itself to double as a centerpiece scent near the party.

• Scent profile: Festive, fruity, lightly resinous
• Best for: New Year’s Eve centerpiece scent
• Water: 5 cups
• Prep time: 8 minutes
• Simmer time: 3 to 4 hours
• Total use time per batch: up to 4 hours

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 orange, sliced into rounds
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (a fine, safe stand-in for evergreen if you don’t have unsprayed greenery on hand)
• 4 whole cloves
• 5 cups water

Directions

1. Add the cranberries, orange slices, rosemary, and cloves to a saucepan.
2. Add the water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
4. Simmer 3 to 4 hours, checking every 20 to 30 minutes.

Water-refill guidance: Check this one every 25 to 30 minutes in the first hour, since the larger batch and cranberries pull water down faster than smaller recipes. Top off with 3/4 cup hot water as needed.

Substitutions: If you want to use real evergreen trimmings from a fresh tree, only use a small sprig from a tree you know hasn’t been treated with flocking, fire retardant, or pesticide spray, and rinse it first. When in doubt, skip real evergreen and use rosemary, which gives a similar green note safely.

Storage and discard: Best simmered in one long sitting for a party rather than saved for reuse; the cranberries and greenery both lose their scent quickly once cooked down. Discard after use.

Slow cooker option: Yes, and this is a strong slow-cooker choice for a party that runs several hours. Same ingredients and water, low heat, lid cracked.

Nutrition: Not applicable. This simmer pot is for fragrance and is not intended to be eaten. Do not consume the ingredients or liquid.

Pear, Cardamom and Ginger

A cozy, warmly spiced blend that’s a little less common than cinnamon-apple, good for a slow New Year’s Day when you’re not rushing anywhere.

• Scent profile: Cozy, warmly spiced, slightly floral
• Best for: Slow New Year’s Day morning
• Water: 4 cups
• Prep time: 5 minutes
• Simmer time: 3 hours
• Total use time per batch: up to 3 hours

Ingredients

• 1 pear, sliced
• 5 whole cardamom pods, lightly crushed
• 3 to 4 slices fresh ginger
• 4 cups water

Directions

1. Add the pear slices, crushed cardamom pods, and ginger to a saucepan.
2. Add the water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
4. Simmer 3 hours, checking every 20 to 30 minutes.

Water-refill guidance: Top off with 1/2 cup hot water every 30 to 40 minutes.

Substitutions: An apple can replace the pear. A cinnamon stick can be added alongside the cardamom for extra warmth.

Storage and discard: The ginger and cardamom can be strained, refrigerated up to 2 days, and reused once in fresh water with a new slice of pear. Discard after the second use.

Slow cooker option: Yes. Same ingredients and water, low heat, lid cracked.

Nutrition: Not applicable. This simmer pot is for fragrance and is not intended to be eaten. Do not consume the ingredients or liquid.

Budget Citrus Peel and Spice

A practical, nearly free option built entirely from citrus peels you’d otherwise throw away, good for using up the oranges and lemons left over from New Year’s cooking.

• Scent profile: Warm citrus, simple and clean
• Best for: Everyday use, zero-waste, low-cost
• Water: 4 cups
• Prep time: 2 minutes if peels are already saved
• Simmer time: 2 to 3 hours
• Total use time per batch: up to 3 hours

Ingredients

• Peels from 2 to 3 oranges or lemons, saved from other cooking
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
• 4 cups water

Directions

1. Add the citrus peels, cinnamon sticks, and cloves to a saucepan.
2. Add the water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
4. Simmer 2 to 3 hours, checking every 20 to 30 minutes.

Water-refill guidance: Top off with 1/2 cup hot water every 30 to 45 minutes.

Substitutions: Any citrus peel works here, including grapefruit or lime. If you only have ground cinnamon, use a tea infuser or a scrap of cheesecloth to hold it so it doesn’t cloud the water and settle at the bottom.

Storage and discard: Save peels in a bag in the freezer over a week or two until you have enough for a batch; frozen peels work the same as fresh. After simmering, the peels can be dried on a towel and reused once more for a lighter second batch. Discard after that.

Slow cooker option: Yes. Same ingredients and water, low heat, lid cracked.

Nutrition: Not applicable. This simmer pot is for fragrance and is not intended to be eaten. Do not consume the ingredients or liquid.

Fresh vs. Dried Ingredients

Fresh ingredients give the fullest scent but only really work well for one or two simmering sessions. Dried citrus slices and whole spices are the better choice if you want to premix a jar of ingredients ahead of time or put together a few as gifts.

Storage and Reuse

Fresh, wet simmer pot mixtures and dried gift mixes need different handling.

Fresh mixtures (already simmered): Use the same day you make them. If a recipe’s storage note says you can reuse the solids, strain them out, refrigerate in an airtight container, and use within the timeframe given in that recipe, generally 1 to 2 days. Discard the liquid after each session rather than storing it at room temperature. Don’t assume every recipe reuses the same way; cranberries and grapefruit break down faster than citrus peel, ginger, or whole spices, so check the specific recipe’s guidance above.

Dry gift mixes (not yet simmered): Dried orange or lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise can be combined dry in a jar or cellophane bag and kept in a cool, dark cupboard for 2 to 3 months. Label the jar with simple instructions: empty into a saucepan with 4 cups of water, bring to a simmer, and follow the safety guidance below.

Safety

A simmer pot is an open pan of hot water on an active heat source, so it comes with the same basic risks as anything else on your stove.

• Never leave it unattended. Turn the burner or slow cooker off completely any time you leave the room for more than a few minutes, leave the house, or go to bed.
• Check the water level every 20 to 30 minutes. Top it off before it gets low, and never let the pot boil dry; an empty, scorching pan is a fire and damage risk and will also smell burnt rather than pleasant.
• Keep it out of reach of children and pets. Use a back burner when possible, keep pot handles turned inward, and don’t set a simmer pot where a curious child or pet could reach or knock it over.
• Do not consume the ingredients or liquid. These recipes are for fragrance only. They aren’t food safe once simmered for hours, and some ingredients, like whole cloves or star anise, aren’t meant to be eaten in the quantities used here.
• Be cautious with citrus around cats. Cats can be sensitive to citrus, and concentrated citrus oil is generally considered something to keep away from them. Keep the simmering pot, and any spilled liquid or discarded peels, out of a cat’s reach, and don’t let a cat drink from or lick the pot.
• This article does not include essential oils. Concentrated essential oils carry their own safety considerations, including risks to pets and young children, that go beyond what a simple fruit-and-spice simmer pot involves. If you choose to add essential oils on your own, research pet and child safety for that specific oil first; that guidance is outside the scope of this article.
• A simmer pot does not disinfect, detoxify, or purify your air, and it isn’t a medical or air-quality product. It’s a way to add a pleasant scent to a room, nothing more.

FAQs

How long should I simmer a pot in one sitting?

Most of these recipes are designed for 2 to 4 hours per session, as noted in each recipe card. Simmering longer than that doesn’t add much more scent since the ingredients have already released most of what they have, and it increases how often you need to check and refill the water. If you want scent running longer than a single session, it’s better to start a fresh batch than to keep the same pot going all day.

Can I reuse the ingredients for a second simmer pot?

It depends on the ingredient. Whole spices like cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cardamom pods hold onto scent well and can usually go through a second simmer. Softer produce like cranberries, grapefruit, and apple breaks down and loses most of its scent after one use. Each recipe above notes whether its specific mix is worth reusing.

Does a simmer pot actually clean or purify the air?

No. A simmer pot adds a pleasant scent to a room through steam and evaporation, but it doesn’t disinfect, detoxify, or improve indoor air quality in any measurable way. Treat it the same way you’d treat a scented candle: a nice smell, not an air treatment.

Is it safe to simmer citrus if I have a cat?

Cats are generally considered sensitive to citrus and concentrated citrus oils, so the more cautious approach is to keep any simmer pot, including the citrus-based recipes on this list, somewhere your cat can’t reach the pot, drink from it, or get to any spilled liquid or discarded peels. If your cat seems bothered by the smell at all, even from a distance, that’s a good sign to skip citrus blends and choose a recipe like the apple pie spice or pear and cardamom instead.

Can I add essential oils to make the scent stronger?

You can, but it changes the safety picture, which is why this article’s recipes stick to fruit and whole spices instead. A few drops of essential oil is far more concentrated than what naturally evaporates out of orange peel or a cinnamon stick over several hours, and some oils, citrus and pine ones especially, are considered risky around cats in particular. If you still want to add a drop or two, research pet and child safety for that specific oil first rather than assuming all oils carry the same risk level.

What happens if the water runs out while I’m simmering?

An empty pot left on heat can scorch the remaining ingredients, damage the pan, and create a burning smell rather than a pleasant one, and in the worst case it’s a fire risk. This is exactly why the water-check guidance in each recipe matters: set a timer for every 20 to 30 minutes so you don’t lose track of time, and turn the heat off immediately if you notice the water has gotten low or the pot starts to smell burnt.

Can I make a simmer pot in a wax warmer instead of on the stove?

A wax warmer is designed for wax, not water and fruit, and using it for a water-based simmer pot isn’t something this article recommends since it isn’t built or tested for that use. Stick to a saucepan on the stove or a slow cooker, both of which are designed to safely heat liquid.

How do I make a dry simmer pot mix to give as a gift?

Combine dried orange or lemon slices with whole spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves, or star anise in a small jar or cellophane bag; the Budget Citrus Peel and Spice or Orange, Vanilla and Star Anise recipes above both work well dried. Attach a tag with simple instructions: empty the jar into a saucepan with 4 cups of water, bring to a simmer, and never leave it unattended. Stored in a cool, dark cupboard, a dry mix like this keeps for 2 to 3 months.