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    Home » All Recipes

    Author: Donna | Published: Jul 21, 2021 | Modified: Aug 18, 2021

    How To Make Pot Pourri: In The Slow Cooker Or On The Stovetop

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    Perfect for making your house smell amazing during the Holidays, this homemade all-natural potpourri is also great for gifting or giving a hostess gift with a difference. Easily made in bulk, this potpourri displays just beautifully in a glass jar with a cute little gift tag and a pretty ribbon. Printable gift tags with instructions are included at the bottom as well, so you can give your homemade gift a lovely personal touch.

    overhead shot of natural potpourri in a glass jar with slices of dehydrated oranges surrounding it.

    This recipe for homemade potpourri is inspired by my Spiced Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider recipe, which is just gorgeous and brings so much color to the Holiday table.

    Jump to:
    • Homemade Potpourri
    • How To Make Natural Potpourri
    • How To Prepare This Potpourri For Gifting
    • Tips, Tricks and Substitutions For The Perfect Homemade Potpourri
    • Need More Inspiration For Creating The Perfect Atmosphere At Home During The Holidays?
    • Recipe

    Homemade Potpourri

    Ditch all of the harsh chemicals and weird ingredients found in store-bought potpourri and opt for this beautiful all-natural homemade potpourri using fresh ingredients instead.

    You will need:

    • Fresh Cranberries
    • Dehydrated Orange Slices 
    • Sprigs of fresh Rosemary
    • Cinnamon Sticks
    • Whole Cloves
    • Star Anise 

    If you plan on gifting the potpourri then you will also need a glass jar for storing, and some string or ribbon to tie on the gift tag.

    To use the potpourri mix you will need either a slow cooker or a stovetop pan.

    Overhead shot of ingredients required for homemade potpourri

    How To Make Natural Potpourri

    The best bit about this all-natural homemade potpourri is that it is super easy to bring together!

    Simply mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl and transfer them to a glass jar with a lid. If you plan on gifting then simply print off and tie the gift card to the jar.

    Done.

    You now have the perfect gift in a jar.

    When ready to use, simply add the contents of the jar to a slow cooker or a stovetop pan with about 4-6 cups of water.

    Simmer over a low heat on the stovetop, or on the high setting in the slow cooker, and get ready for some amazing smells to be wafting through your house.

    As the water reduces, simply add more a little at a time.

    Once used, the potpourri can then be stored in the fridge for about 5-7 days and reheated, again and again, to fill your house with that beautiful Holiday smell.

    The intensity of the fragrance may dissipate over the course of the week, but you can always add a splash of vanilla essence or orange essential oil to spruce things up a bit.

    Overhead shot of ingredients for natural potpourri in a slow cooker

    How To Prepare This Potpourri For Gifting

    If you plan on gifting your fresh potpourri, then you will want to print out a little gift tag to tie to the jar so that the recipient knows how to use it.

    You can either copy and paste these instructions below and make your own tag, or download the PDF here:

    Download Gift Tag Here!!

    Potpourri can be cooked on the stovetop or in a slow 

    cooker.  Add all ingredients to a saucepan or slow 

    cooker with 4-6 cups of water. Simmer on low if 

    using stovetop. If using slow cooker, set on high and 

    cook as desired. Add additional water as needed. Add a 

    splash of vanilla or almond extract for an added twist.

    Once activated store in refrigerator when not in use 

    for 5-7 days.

    Reheat as desired to fill your home with 

    a holiday scent.  

    Easy done.

    Why not use scraps of string or leftover ribbons or twine to tie on the gift-tag instead of buying new! And use old glass jars with the labels removed.

    gift tag instructions against a slate tray surrounded by dehydrated oranges

    Tips, Tricks and Substitutions For The Perfect Homemade Potpourri

    If you don't have the exact ingredients listed, feel free to make some substitutions using what you have on hand.

    • Substitute dehydrated grapefruit, clementine, tangerine or lemon slices, or use a combination of what you have on hand;
    • If you don't want to go to the effort of dehydrating oranges, you can easily substitute one fresh clementine in place of the dehydrated orange slices. Please note: that the smell won't be as intense as when using dehydrated orange slices, and the potpourri will need to be used straight away if you chose this option as the fresh oranges will go off a lot quicker. Thich is why we prefer to use dehydrated orange slices;
    • If your jar or container is larger or smaller than the amount of potpourri the recipe makes, you can simply add more or less ingredients until your container is filled to the desired amount, or you have enough for more than one jar;
    • This homemade potpourri can also be heated on the stovetop if preferred, just follow the slow cooker instructions and heat on low instead of high.
    Gift tag with cooking instructions added to a glass jar of homemade potpourri

    If you want to change things up you can always add a splash of vanilla extract or add a drop or two of orange or lemon essential oil.

    Need More Inspiration For Creating The Perfect Atmosphere At Home During The Holidays?

    Warm flavors and tones make for a perfect Holiday season at home.

    Try sprinkling some fresh rosemary sprigs, dehydrated oranges, and star anise in the middle of your Holiday table for a quick and easy decorating option.

    Try these recipes to also help set the perfect scene.

    • Dehydrated Orange Slices
    • Easy Instant Pot Apple Cider
    • Homemade Fall Harvest Hot Crockpot Apple Cider
    • Whole Wheat Cranberry and Pumpkin Bread
    • Vanilla Bean and Fresh Cranberry Butter
    • Cranberry and Honey Cornbread Muffin
    • Clove and Cranberry Apple Sauce in the Instant Pot
    • Spiced Pear Moscow Mule from A Southern Soul
    Up close shot of natural potpourri in a glass jar

    Happy eating, drinking and being merry.

    xx

    Recipe

    Overhead shot of natural potpourri in a glass jar

    How To Make Potpourri: Stovetop and slow cooker instructions

    Perfect for making your house smell amazing during the Holidays, this homemade all-natural potpourri is also great for gifting or giving a hostess gift with a difference. Easily made in bulk, this potpourri displays just beautifully in a glass jar with a cute little gift tag and a pretty ribbon. Printable gift tags with instructions are included at the bottom as well, so you can give your homemade gift a lovely personal touch.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Basic
    Cuisine Anytime
    Servings 1 jar
    Calories 95 kcal

    Equipment

    • Slow Cooker

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup fresh cranberries
    • 3-4 dehydrated orange slices
    • 2-3 sprigs of fresh rosemary
    • 2-3 cinnamon sticks
    • 2-3 teaspoon whole cloves
    • 2-3 star anise
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Instructions For Gifting

    • Put all of the ingredients in a jar or other container for gifting.
    • Print out the gift tag and tie onto it the jar, decorate the jar however desired.
    • The potpourri is ready to gift.

    Instructions For Use

    • If not gifting, add all of the ingredients into a slow cooker or stovetop pan.
    • Cook for as long as required on high in the slow cooker or low on the stovetop.
    • Once activated, the mix can be stored in the fridge for up to 5-7 days and reheated again and again.

    Notes

    After a few days, the scent coming from the heated mixture may not be as strong. Simply add a splash of vanilla essence or orange essential oil.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 95kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 237mgFiber: 10gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 184IUVitamin C: 35mgCalcium: 122mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword how to make potpourri, natural potpourri
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment HERE and let us know how it was!

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    « Baked Cinnamon Apple and Oat Muffin Cups
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristy says

      February 04, 2022 at 12:35 pm

      Had this one going over the weekend and the house smelled amazing. Looked pretty sitting on the bench before we used it too.

      Reply
    2. Alex Konigsburg says

      July 22, 2021 at 3:58 am

      Do the cranberries add to the scent as well as visual appeal?

      Reply
      • Donna says

        July 23, 2021 at 11:47 am

        Hi Alex, good question! Whole, fresh (or frozen) cranberries do not give off much of a smell, if any. When heated like this, and the skin breaks it does give off a subtle fruity smell. They do make the whole thing look a lot prettier, but if you are after a stronger smell, you could always sub out for some chopped apples instead!

        Reply
        • Heather says

          September 13, 2021 at 8:08 pm

          Will leaving out this fruit attract fruit flies?

          Reply
          • Donna says

            September 14, 2021 at 8:58 am

            Hi Heather, this is designed to be placed in a saucepan or slow cooker and heated through with water to let the aroma dissipate through the house. This should not attract fruit flies. When stored, it should be stored in an airtight container.

            Reply

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    Hello and welcome, I'm Donna!

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    Since I have a part-time job, 3 little kids, and a love of good food (as do you I assume), I have learned how to get the most out of the kitchen in the smallest amount of time.

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