This Holiday Hosting Hack Is Going Viral on TikTok

If you are hosting friends and family for the holidays, you know that the level of clean for a holiday celebration is entirely different from a normal day-to-day clean. So, after you have dusted, mopped, and scrubbed every inch of your house, there’s one special touch that will make your home smell amazing. This holiday hosting hack is going viral on TikTok and if you aren’t hosting and need a gift for the host or hostess, you’ll want to steal this idea.

It’s the simmer pot, and while it’s not a new idea, it’s gaining a lot of interest online because it's super simple to put together, it fills your home with amazing smells of the season, and you don’t have to worry about letting a candle burn for hours.

Here’s how it works. A simmer pot is also called stovetop potpourri or a simmering potpourri, and it’s a mixture of aromatic ingredients and water that simmer on the stove to release delicious fragrances.

While the pot simmers, the scent fills the air in your home and creates a cozy and inviting aroma for your guests. Simmer pots typically consist of a variety of ingredients such as fruits, herbs, spices, and sometimes essential oils. You can use a small metal pot or a glass pot for the simmer pot.

This glass simmer pot on Amazon is a top seller and it’s aesthetically a great option.

Here are a few tips for a great simmer pot:

• Keep the heat low. The water should just barely be bubbling.
• Once the water is simmering, reduce the heat to the lowest setting to maintain a gentle simmer. You want to release the fragrance without evaporating the water too quickly.
• You can use a crockpot instead of a pot. Just make sure you are refilling the water throughout the day.
• You can reuse the ingredients for a second or even third simmer. Just store them in the refrigerator between uses.

Try these recipes:

Winter Simmer

• 1 cup cranberries, fresh or frozen
• 3-4 cinnamon sticks
• 2-3 sprigs rosemary
• 1-2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 1 orange, quartered or sliced
• 4-6 cups water or apple juice

Woodsy Scent

• 1 cup pine needles or cedar twigs
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1 orange, sliced
• 4-6 cups of water

Peppermint and Cinnamon Blend

• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 handful of fresh peppermint leaves or 2 tablespoons of dried peppermint
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 4-6 cups of water

Lemmon Citrus Simmer

• 2 lemons, sliced
• 2 limes, sliced
• 1 handful of fresh basil leaves
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 4-6 cups of water

How can you give a simmer pot as a gift?

First, you can snag a glass simmer pot for the host. Here’s another option from Amazon:

Next up, the ingredients. Grab a mason jar and fill it with all of the items that go into the simmer pot (minus the water). Attach a note that describes how to use the simmer pot and you’ve got a perfect hostess gift for the holidays.

Storage Tips

Keep fresh ingredients refrigerated between uses to prevent mold or spoilage, and store dried ingredients in airtight containers to maintain their potency. If you notice any signs of spoilage, such as mold or an off smell, it's best to discard the ingredients. Remember that the potency of the scents may diminish over time, so you might need to add more or refresh the ingredients if you're reusing them for multiple simmering sessions.

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