Stovetop Potpourri

Left image: Orange Spice Stovetop Potpourri, right image: Lavender Lemon Stovetop Potpourri

Whether you've accidentally burned something, roasted a sulfur vegetable, cooked or fried some fish, etc., it doesn't take much effort to stink up the house with food smells. What smelled wonderful and mouth-watering while cooking, doesn't always smell great an hour or so later—and boy, can those odors stick around, too! You can remedy this with these simple stovetop potpourris to eliminate smells and return your home to an even nicer pre-meal state.

Cinnamon Stick Potpourri—the true OG

Place 8c or 2qts of water into a large saucepan, add 2-3 cinnamon sticks or 2T ground cinnamon to the water and bring to a boil over high heat. When the cinnamon water is boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer as long as you like. Set a timer to check on the water levels every hour and add more water as needed. Bring new water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for best results. You can halve the ingredients of any of these potpourris for smaller spaces, but set a timer to check water levels every 30 minutes.

Orange Spice

Place 8c or 2qts of water into a large saucepan, add 2-3 cinnamon sticks or 2T ground cinnamon, 1 star anise, 1T cloves, and 1 large orange cut into slices. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low and simmer for as long as you'd like. Set a timer to check on the water levels every hour and add more water as needed. Bring new water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for best results. 

Lavender Lemon

Place 8c or 2qts of water into a large saucepan, add several drops of lavender oil, 2 sprigs of rosemary, (or use 1T dried rosemary), 1T dried lavender, and 1 large lemon cut into slices. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low and simmer for as long as you'd like. Set a timer to check on the water levels every hour and add more water as needed. Bring new water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for best results. 

Caution: it is very easy to forget the potpourri is on the stovetop. You can boil off all of the water and if left unattended, eventually burn through the bottom of a pan (ask Nanna), so set timers as reminders to either check the water levels and add more water, or to turn the stove completely off!

Now simmer down...literally! haha xx