Winter Pine Simmer Pot

Hey y’all!

I’ve been craving something that smells like fresh mountain air this winter — crisp pine with just a little warmth. I also have a full Christmas version that I make during the holidays (you can find that Holiday Simmer Pot here), but this one is nice because I can do it all season long. It’s lighter, more forest-forward, and still a simple non-toxic way to scent the house without synthetic or not-so-healthy fragrances.

I love making it on a quiet weekend when the house feels slow and we’re just home. It fills the whole place with that clean winter scent and feels just right for our mountain home. Here is the pot I love to use from Amazon!

See below for the ingredients and steps.

Ingredients

• 3–4 small sprigs of fresh pine, fir, or spruce (or a small handful of green needles)
• 1 tablespoon juniper berries
• 1 cinnamon stick
• ½ lemon, sliced (or a few strips of peel)
• Optional: a splash of vanilla extract (or a small piece of vanilla bean)
• 5 cups of water

Steps

1. Lightly crush or roll the pine needles to help release more scent.
2. Fill the pot with 5 cups of water — about ¾ of the way up. (Here’s the link to my glass pot.)
3. Add the pine, juniper berries, cinnamon stick, and lemon.
4. Bring to a gentle boil and let it bubble for 1–2 minutes.
5. Turn the heat down to a low simmer. Let it go for a few hours, topping up with water as needed. Add the vanilla toward the end if you’re using it.
6. Never leave it unattended — just keep an eye on the water level.

Your home will smell like a crisp winter forest. And it’s completely non-toxic. Enjoy!

Winter Pine Simmer Pot

I’ve been craving something that smells like fresh mountain air this winter — crisp pine with just a little warmth.

pin recipe print recipe

Prep time 10 minutes mins

cook time 2 hours hrs

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servings 1

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contents:

Ingredients Equipment Method

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ingredients 

• 3 –4 small sprigs of fresh pine fir, or spruce (or a small handful of green needles)
• 1 tablespoon juniper berries
• 1 cinnamon stick
• ½ lemon sliced (or a few strips of peel)
• Optional: a splash of vanilla extract or a small piece of vanilla bean
• 5 cups of water

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equipment

• 1 Pot

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instructions

• Lightly crush or roll the pine needles to help release more scent.
• Fill the pot with 5 cups of water — about ¾ of the way up. (Here’s the link to my glass pot.)
• Add the pine, juniper berries, cinnamon stick, and lemon.
• Bring to a gentle boil and let it bubble for 1–2 minutes.
• Turn the heat down to a low simmer. Let it go for a few hours, topping up with water as needed. Add the vanilla toward the end if you’re using it.
• Never leave it unattended — just keep an eye on the water level.

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