Fall Potpourri Recipe

This Fall Potpourri Recipe is one of those fun little touches to add for a festive holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have guests coming (or any fall or winter day when I want my house to smell really amazing!). Homemade potpourri uses just a handful of ingredients, is easy to make and customize, and is a great and natural way to make your home smell like a fresh autumn day.

Original post: November 2016 | Updated: October 2020 and October 2025

Why You’ll Love This Potpourri Recipe

I’ve included both a slow cooker potpourri and simple simmer pot recipe, but whichever version you choose, it fills your home with glorious fall scents. It’s so inviting, and the aroma is even kind of therapeutic.

Homemade stovetop potpourri is one of those fun little touches to add to any fall day (and especially a festive holiday like Thanksgiving!) So easy to throw together and a  little goes a long way.

I love this natural alternative of an air freshener because I know exactly what’s in it. No chemicals and the natural ingredients are all my favorite things I typically keep on hand. 

Fall Potpourri Ingredients

Simple ingredients create the basic recipe for my DIY fall potpourri, but feel free to customize it with any of the great options listed in the “Other Ingredients” section below. Your nose will thank you.

Water – Any size pan or crockpot will work. Add halfway with water.

Fresh apples – Slice, but don’t worry about coring or peeling. Any variety.

Oranges – Slice and keep the orange peels intact.

Cranberries – fresh, frozen or dried, depending on the season and what’s available.

Cinnamon sticks – or ground cinnamon if you don’t have sticks.

Cloves (whole) – These dried flower buds from a clove tree, look like a nail, and have a very fragrant and complimentary smell combined with the cinnamon and citrus.

Allspice (whole) – Allspice is a round ball, bigger than a peppercorn kernel and in this whole state will bring out a fall smell perfect to the recipe.

Nutmeg (whole) – This earthy smelling nut offers a unique scent similar to pine and will really round out your potpourri.

How To Make Fall Potpourri

Option 1 – Slow Cooker Version

Gather all of the ingredients, then place them into a slow cooker. Cover and cook for 2 hours on High heat.

Remove cover, turn to Low heat. Let it cook slowly on your counter and your home will smell amazing for HOURS! Stir occasionally to give the ingredients a good stir.

Option 2 – Easy Simmer Pot Recipe

Combine all ingredients in a large pot of water and bring to a boil on the stove top. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and let simmer for 4-6 hours for fresh-smelling potpourri. Top with fresh water as needed.

Other Ingredients to Add to Potpourri

Fresh potpourri is a great idea any time of year to make your house smell like the cozy scents of the season all year long. These are some other great ideas for dry and fresh ingredients you can add to your fall stovetop potpourri.

• Dried apple slices or other dried fruit slices
• Grapefruit slices (rind on)
• Lemon or orange slices or peels
• Fresh or dried lemon balm or mint leaves
• Dried or fresh herbs like rosemary or sage
• Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves 
• Vanilla or almond extract or oil
• Essential oils (any citrus scented oil is great)
• Star anise or dried fennel
• Cardamom pods
• Rose petals or other dried flowers like lavender buds or dried marigold flowers
• Pine cones or dried pine needles are great additions for winter season

Tips & Tricks

• Whole or ground spices can be used, but the scent from whole spices will last longer.
• Dried or fresh fruits and herbs can be used.
• Keep an eye on the water level when simmering potpourri on the stove top.
• You can “design” your own potpourri to create scents from earthy holiday forest to apple pie or pumpkin spice.

What is Potpourri?

Potpourri, though made with delicious smelling ingredients, is not an edible recipe. But it is an easy way to create an inviting and alluring scent into your home. Potpourri can be dried to emit a pleasant odor all throughout your home. 

Stovetop potpourri recipes can be easily and quickly made simply by simmering a mixture of fresh and dried ingredients over a low heat. The mixture creates an amazing scent that fills your entire home for hours. 

Fresh and dried fruits, cinnamon sticks and whole spices, plant materials and various essential oils will transform your home into a wonderful smelling fall forest!

How Long Does Potpourri Smell Last

It’ll take a few hours for the smell to subside. You can keep the potpourri going by adding water until the smell dissipates. This can take up to 8 hours. Toss remnants in the trash or com[post once the batch has lost its pungency.

How to Store Homemade Potpourri

You can make batches of the dry ingredients ahead of time and store in a mason jar or other container in a cool, dry space. Add fresh fruit or other wet ingredients when you’re ready to simmer.

Make This Potpourri Blend As A Gift

Give the gift of fall in a jar! Potpourri is a perfect gift idea for loved ones this holiday season. Simply fill a mason jar or cellophane bags with your favorite dry potpourri ingredients and maybe even a pine cone or two!

Place a gift tag on it and let the lucky recipients fill their homes with comforting and delicious scents.

More Gift Recipe Ideas

• Homemade Lemon Curd
• Holiday Potpourri
• Homemade Vanilla Extract
• Homemade Baileys

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