10 Ingredients to Simmer to Make Your House Smell Like Christmas

There’s really nothing better than walking into a home that smells of good things like warm spices and herbs. While you could time the baking of those gingerbread cookies for right when your family and friends come through the door, there’s an easier, simpler way to waft cozy aromas into the air. A quick stovetop potpourri, made by simmering water with your choice of aromatics, makes for a lovely addition to the holiday home.

It’s really as simple as filling a pot with water, adding a few spices and herbs, and bringing the whole thing to a simmer. Let it lazily simmer on the stove, and the smell will fill your kitchen and your home.

Go for a couple of different aromatics in the pot to make your own signature blend. Here are 10 of our favorites to mix and match.

They’re a classic potpourri spice for good reason — a few sticks in a simmering pot of water will make your house smell like you’ve got cinnamon rolls baking.

For something a little more exotic, a few cardamom pods will do the trick. They’ll lend a complex scent to the pot that’s both spicy and herbal.

Warm, intense cloves are one of the most traditional smells of the season. You’ll only need a few tossed in the pot of simmering water to enjoy their smell.

Whole star anise lends a wonderful licorice aroma to the pot, which pairs particularly well with cinnamon and cloves.

Save the peels from your clementine snack and toss them into the pot. Lemon, orange, and grapefruit peels are also lovely added to the mix for that refreshing, citrusy aroma.

Add slices of fresh ginger if you want that pungent-yet-warming smell to linger in the air. Pair it with a few other baking spices, like the ones above, and your house will smell like gingerbread.

Whether or not your house already smells like a Christmas tree, it doesn’t hurt to bump up the volume on that seasonal aroma.

If you’d rather not scrounge for a mix of whole spices, simply toss a few masala chai tea bags into a pot of simmering water for the same effect.

Herbs like woody rosemary and sage are prominent in the stews and roasts of the season, so it makes sense to add them to the pot for their great aroma.

A few drops of vanilla extract in the simmering pot and your home will smell of baked goods, while a few drops of almond extract will leave it smelling of marzipan. Neither are bad options.