4 Simmer Pot Recipes You Need to Try Out This Spring (They Smell So Good!)

The start of springtime typically comes with a temperate breeze, fresh flowers, and deep cleanings. To set the mood for a rejuvenating season, consider making a spring simmer pot with bright and fresh ingredients. Simmer pots are a great way to add some natural scent throughout your home, and they can be themed around the season.

“There are so many ingredients that are beneficial during spring, from the aromatic citrus scents and bright colors that uplift and energize one’s mood to the leafy green botanicals that release their antimicrobial herbaceous scents into the air,” says Amber Meyers, co-director at Herbal Academy.

“Stimulating colors and scents can help to lift one out of the slower winter season, invigorating the mind and body to be more active, whereas the antimicrobial volatile oils that are released in the air can help combat any lingering spring pathogens in the nearby vicinity — spring cleaning, so to speak!”

To make a simmer pot, you’ll need to grab a saucepan or small pot, fill it 3/4 of the way with water, put in your preferred ingredients, and then let it sit and simmer for a couple of hours (or your desired amount of time). Simmer pots can be heated off and on for three or four days before the scent becomes less pronounced, according to Meyers, who recommends refrigerating your pot at night and pulling it out again in the morning.

“After you’ve extracted as much scent from the plant material as possible, compost the botanicals and, if desired, use any remaining water, diluted with an equal amount of fresh water, to give your houseplants a fresh-scented drink,” she adds.

Below, find four spring simmer pot recipes (including two of my own that I keep on yearly rotation) to enjoy throughout the season.

My mom’s simmer pot recipe has been my go-to, although I do prefer it in the fall. To make my mom’s recipe a springtime version, simply make a few adjustments, like swapping cinnamon sticks for dried lavender. The best part of this simmer pot? You can serve it over ice once it has cooled and raise your glass to the start of the spring season.

• 2 chamomile tea bags
• 2 sprigs of fresh mint
• 2 slices each of orange and lemon
• 1 tablespoon of dried lavender
• 1/3 cup of dried hibiscus

Meyers recommends this floral and fresh spring simmer pot for those who prefer a slightly sweeter and more floral aroma for their home. If you opt for lavender or rose for this simmer pot, it will have a more soothing effect, whereas gardenias and jasmine tend to awaken the senses a bit more.

• 2-3 sprigs of eucalyptus
• 2 sliced lemons
• A floral option of choice: a handful of fresh lavender buds, rose petals, gardenias, jasmine, or lilac flowers; or 1/4 cup of dried lavender or rose buds or petals

Spring cleaning might not be everyone’s favorite, but with the right simmer pot you can feel transported to a lush garden. Meyers calls this simmer pot recipe the ultra green clean for its verdant ingredients and herbaceous scent. Put it on as you’re cleaning or after you’ve finished all your tasks to fill your home with an uplifting natural fragrance.

• 4-6 sprigs of thyme
• 3 sprigs of rosemary
• 2 sliced limes 
• A handful of dried or fresh spearmint, peppermint, or lemon balm

For years I’ve loved making my own simple syrups to use in cocktails, mocktails, and even some coffee drinks. After stumbling upon this strawberry syrup recipe last spring, I was inspired to create my own simmer pot that would then become a delicious syrup for every springtime lemonade, matcha, or gin and tonic. To ensure this simmer pot becomes a syrup, add one cup of granulated sugar for every cup of water; muddle the strawberries; simmer for another 10 minutes, let cool, and then strain into a separate jar with an airtight lid. It’s good for about two weeks in your fridge!

• 1 cup of sliced strawberries with stems removed
• A few leaves of fresh lemon balm
• A small handful of fresh basil