If you’ve never heard of simmer spices, it’s time to get acquainted. 

Simmering spices are homemade diffusers made from spices and produce such as apples or oranges that simmer on your stovetop to fill your home with an amazing, custom aroma. These are inexpensive, all-natural and non-toxic alternatives to store bought diffusers or essential oils, and can be made with ingredients you likely already own. 

To welcome the autumn season, toss together this easy, festive simmering spices pot to fill your home with the most intoxicating of scents. Feel free to substitute ingredients of your choice! I’ve included more simmering spice recipes for you below. 

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Autumn Simmering Spices

Ingredients

• Peels from 1 large orange
• 1 vanilla bean, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp whole cloves
• 2 star anise
• Freshly grated nutmeg, optional

Instructions

1. Add 6 cups of water to a medium pot and bring to a boil.

2. Stir in all ingredients and let boil for 2 minutes.

3. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and let simmer for as long as you'd like. For each hour you leave simmering, add in 1/4 cup of water to ensure spices do not burn.

Additional Simmer Spices Recipes

Cinnamon Apples

• 1/2 apple, sliced
• 2 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks

Pumpkin Patch

• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 2 star anise, whole
• 1/2 apple, sliced

Spiced Harvest

• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 2 star anise, whole
• 1 apple, sliced

Apple Pie

• 1 apple, sliced
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 whole cloves
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Spiced Citrus

• Peel from 1 large orange
• Peel from 1/2 lemon
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 whole cloves

Pumpkin Spice

• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp vanilla

Apple Cider

• 1 apple, sliced
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• 3 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks

Autumn Mornings

• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 star anise, whole
• 1/4 tsp almond extract

Autumn Evenings

• 1/2 cup cranberries
• Peel from 1 large orange
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 tsp vanilla

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