You don’t need a perfectly measured recipe to make a simmer pot. Some of my favorite combinations start with whatever is already in the kitchen, a general feeling I want to create, and sometimes a little curiosity.
If you’re new to simmer pots, think of this less like following a formula and more like building a pot the same way you might build a meal: choose a base, add a few supporting ingredients, and adjust as you go.
Start with the feeling
Before choosing ingredients, decide what you want the pot to feel like. Cozy? Fresh? Grounding? Bright? Protective? Abundant? That intention can guide the ingredients you reach for without making the process complicated.
Choose a simple base
Start with water, then add one or two ingredients that create the main scent or seasonal direction. Citrus, apples, herbs, spices, evergreen clippings, vanilla, or whatever else makes sense for the season can all work beautifully. I love pulling things from the garden, my spice cabinet, pantry, or my fruit bowl.
Layer in supporting ingredients
Once you have your base, add a few supporting ingredients for scent, symbolism, or both. This is where correspondences can be useful, but they don’t have to become a rulebook. Use them as inspiration, but trust your own associations too. A little trick is to add more of the ingredients you really love the scent of, and just a small amount of the ingredients you’re adding for symbolism but not necessarily the scent.
A rosemary sprig might feel protective because of traditional associations, or it might feel especially meaningful because it reminds you of someone you love. Both kinds of meaning can belong in the same pot. Just go by feel.
Let it simmer slowly
Bring the pot to a gentle simmer, reduce the heat, and keep an eye on the water level. Add more water as needed and let the scent slowly move through your home.
You can keep the ritual as simple as pausing for a moment when you add each ingredient, naming an intention, or just letting the process become a small act of seasonal attention.
No Stove? No Problem.
Simmer pots don’t have to be made in a big pot on the stove. You can make a mini version using a hot plate or even a candle warmer with a heat safe bowl. I love this candle warmer for making little simmer pots when I don’t want to leave something on the stove all day.
There is no perfect combination
The point isn’t to build the most elaborate simmer pot. It’s to make something that feels good in your home, smells lovely, and is meaningful to you.
If you want more structure, my Moon Phase Simmer Pot Guide includes moon phase-specific recipes, rituals, and an ingredient correspondence library. You can also find my constantly growing correspondence library here. But for everyday simmer pots, this simple framework is usually all you need.
A few of my favorite combinations:
- Orange + cinnamon + evergreen branches + vanilla + cranberries
- Apple + cinnamon + vanilla
- Lemon + rosemary + lavender
- Lemon + thyme + mint
- Lemon + orange + vanilla