See how to make a DIY stovetop potpourri gift! These simmer potpourris make your house smell like Christmas and dry potpourri recipes are wonderful homemade holiday gift ideas. The tutorial for Christmas potpourri in a jar comes with free printable labels and gift tags for packaging and gifting.
And I have more good things for you as I’m sharing more amazing DIY beauty and aromatherapy gift from my blogger friends. Scroll to the end of the post and check out their wonderful holiday projects!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Learn more
Stovetop potpourri gift ideas – Easy simmering potpourri recipe gift ideas
With Christmas just a couple weeks away, it’s high time to share more DIY holiday gifts. And that’s where my easy stovetop potpourri gift ideas come in! Not only are these 6 Christmas potpourri jars super easy to make, but potpourris in a jar are also very gorgeous to look at.
Holiday simmer potpourri DIYs bring the holiday spirit to your home. And because these dry potpourri recipes are only made with dry ingredients, they have a long shelf life and are wonderful make-ahead Christmas gifts for your family, friends, helpful neighbours, your kid’s teacher and, of course, yourself!
Christmas Potpourri in a Jar
How do you make your house smell Christmassy? Try my 6 dry potpourri recipes! They are like Christmas in a jar! The instructions for how to make stovetop potpourri gifts are beyond simple: just grab a clean empty jar and fill it with a fragrant blend of spices, dried fruits and herbs.
For ingredients, you can use almost anything that is dry and won’t spoil. Think dried citrus and apple slices, dried cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, pine needles and dried herbs. One simmer pot recipes uses even candy canes.
So, let’s get into the simmering potpourri recipes and try 6 stovetop potpourri ideas! And if you like to know how to make festive simmering pots with fresh ingredients, check out my fall stovetop potpourri or this Christmas stovetop potpourri.
Easy Christmas Potpourri Gift – Merry Christmas Boil
This Merry Christmas boil is the quintessential homemade holiday potpourri recipe. This dry potpourri recipe combines our favourite Christmas scents: spices, oranges, dried cranberries, and woodsy conifers. This potpourri blend also looks very festive, and I used holly leaves to decorate the jar.
Check out the materials for this simple Christmas potpourri gift recipe:
To learn how to dry cranberries for potpourri, check out Cyna’s tutorial on how to dry cranberries at home. Fresh cranberries will shorten the shelf life but can be included if you know that the potpourri will be used soon.
Spices & Apple Potpourri Recipe
Baked apples are one of my favourite holiday treats, and this spices and apple potpourri recipe pays homage to the popular Christmas dessert. Dried apple slices, cinnamon, star anise and cloves make your home smell like Christmas instantly. Dried bay leaves add a herbaceous note that is very pleasing to the senses.
Here is how to make a homemade potpourri with apples and warming spices:
Citrus & Orange Potpourri with Spices
A refreshing citrus and orange potpourri! This stovetop potpourri gift is made with dried oranges and cinnamon sticks. I also added dried lemon and blood orange slices, as well as cardamom pods. The combination of citrus and spices is perfect to deodorize your home naturally and clean the air of stale or bad smells.
Here is what you need for this homemade potpourri with oranges:
Candy Cane & Vanilla Stove Simmer
This Christmas potpourri in a jar is one for candy lovers. Fresh vanilla beans, cinnamon and real candy canes give this candy cane vanilla stovetop simmer a sweet and minty aroma. While the candy canes will melt quickly as the holiday stovetop potpourri simmers, the peppermint fragrance will scent your home for hours. Coconut flakes provide extra cuteness, but you can omit them if preferred.
Here’s the ingredient list for this yummy peppermint vanilla stove simmer recipe:
Homemade Pine Potpourri
I live in a city, and perhaps that is why I find the scent of pines, spruce and other conifers so appealing. This homemade pine potpourri smells a little like a walk through a wintery forest and is a perfect handmade gift for nature lovers. The balsamic conifer smell blends with the spices and a hint of lemon – so refreshing and relaxing!
Let’s see what we need to make a homemade pine potpourri:
Although I called this a homemade pine potpourri, other conifers such as spruce, fir, cedar or cypress, are perfect for a fragrant dry holiday potpourri, too. I added small pinecones purely for decoration, they don’t smell and you can skip them.
Gingerbread Holiday Stovetop Potpourri
Want your house to smell like cinnamon? This stovetop potpourri gift is packed with spices, that make your home smell like you have been baking gingerbread and Christmas cookies all day long. Cinnamon sticks, anise stars, and chunks of dried candied ginger make this dry potpourri recipe very appealing, and the warm, spicy Christmas scent is just heavenly.
If you have, I also recommend adding whole almonds with the skin on as the benzaldehyde in the almond skin creates a nice bitter almond fragrance.
Want to know the ingredients in this gingerbread Christmas simmer pot recipe? Here they are:
- dried crystallised ginger (regular dried ginger works too)
- cinnamon sticks
- vanilla bean
- star anise
- whole cloves
- nutmeg
- cardamom pods
- whole almonds (with skin!)
By the way, you don’t have to include all of the suggested materials. It’s perfectly fine to customize the dry potpourri ingredients and use the spices you have at hand. You can also add ground spices or a ground spice mix.
How to package DIY Christmas stovetop potpourri gift ideas – Potpourri jars
Who doesn’t love mason jar gifts? When it comes to packaging stovetop potpourri gift ideas, you have options, my friends! Most likely, you won’t even have to buy jars. Simply recycle cleaned jam or salsa jars.
Here a few glass jars for gifts and Christmas potpourri in a jar recipes:
Homemade potpourri sachets
You can also create a Christmas sachet. How do you create a Christmas potpourri sachet? Easy, fill the contents of a dry potpourri recipe into a small cotton bag, organza bag or treat bag and tie with a pretty ribbon. Optionally, attach a gift tag and decorations.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a CHC blog post without printable stovetop potpourri labels and gift tags. The printable labels and gift tags come in different shapes and sizes so that everyone can find a label for their jar. I have included the steps on the printable potpourri labels, so recipients know what to do.
You can download the printable Christmas potpourri labels at the end of the post.
How do you simmer potpourri?
So, how do you simmer a dry potpourri recipe? Stovetop potpourris can simmer for several hours and the steps for how to use these stovetop potpourri gift ideas are pretty easy:
- Fill a small saucepan or pot with 2 to 3 cups of water.
- Add the simmering potpourri mix.
- Simmer uncovered over low flame.
- To avoid burned ingredients, replenish with fresh water as needed. Be careful that kids or pets don’t burn themselves.
- After cooking, take the saucepan/pot off the heat and let sit on the counter to fragrance your home further.
- You can reheat all simmering potpourri recipes except the candy cane vanilla simmer pot for 2 to 3 days.
How long do dry simmering potpourri gift recipes last?
Homemade potpourris in a jar are one of these easy make-ahead holiday gift ideas that you can prepare well in advance. This holiday project is perfect when you want to craft homemade Christmas gifts early and to have something ready whenever you need a present for surprise guests.
Store your homemade stovetop potpourri gifts in a dry, dark place away, from moisture and heat. Dry stovetop recipes last for many months, even years depending on the ingredients and how you store them.
6 Christmas Potpourri in a Jar Recipes
See how to make a DIY stovetop potpourri gift! These simmer potpourris make your house smell like Christmas and dry potpourri recipes are wonderful homemade holiday gift ideas. The tutorial for Christmas potpourri in a jar comes with free printable labels and gift tags for packaging and gifting.
Materials
Easy Christmas Potpourri Gift
- dried cranberries
- pine or spruce twig
- dried orange slices
- cinnamon sticks
- whole cloves
Spices & Apple Potpourri Recipe
Citrus & Orange Potpourri with Spices
- dried orange slices
- dried lemon slices
- dried blood orange slices
- cinnamon sticks
- cardamom pods
Candy Cane & Vanilla Stove Simmer
Homemade Pine Potpourri
- pine, spruce twigs or needles
- small pine cones
- cinnamon sticks
- dried lemon slices
- whole cloves
Gingerbread Holiday Stovetop Potpourri
Tools
- 8-oz mason jar
- printable labels (download below)
Instructions
How to make stovetop potpourri gifts
- Fill the holiday potpourri ingredients into are a clean jar and seal with a lid.
- Decorate the potpourri jar with printable labels, ribbon, and ornaments.
Howto use dry potpourri recipes
- Fill a small saucepan or pot with 2 to 3 cups of water.
- Add the simmering potpourri mix.
- Simmer uncovered over low flame.
- To avoid burned ingredients, replenish with water as need.
- After cooking, take the saucepan/pot off the heat and let sit on the counter to fragrance your home further.
- You can reheat all simmering potpourri recipes except the candy cane vanilla simmer pot for 2 to 3 days.
Notes
Storage and shelf life
Potpourris in a jar are one of these easy make-ahead holiday gift ideas that you can prepare well in advance. This holiday project is perfect when you want to craft homemade Christmas early and to have ready whenever you need a present for surprise guests.
Store your homemade stovetop potpourri gifts in a dry, dark place away, from moisture and heat. Dry stovetop recipes last for many months, even years depending on the ingredients and how you store them.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Free printable stovetop potpourri gift label
Tab or click the button below to download free printable stovetop potpourri gifts!
More holiday gift ideas
For more easy holiday gifts, try these projects from my blogger friends:
DIY Air Freshener with Essential Oils
These DIY air fresheners from Everything are made with essential oils, beeswax, and soy wax. They are perfect for closets, drawers, or anywhere that needs a little freshening up.
Honey and Goat Milk Soap Recipe
This honey melt and goat mils soap recipe from Life-n-Reflection makes easy handmade gifts for friends and family, and the rich lather and sweet scent make them irresistible not to keep one for yourself. The finished soaps have a classic bumblebee and honeycomb shape that makes each look expensive and elegant.
Christmas Ornament Bath Bombs
Handmade bath bombs always make for a fun gift, but turning them into Bath Bomb Ornaments like Lydi Out Loud make them the perfect holiday gift. Scented with the smells of the season and made festive with red and green sprinkles, they not only make a perfect holiday gift, but a full sensory experience.
8 Holiday Room Spray Recipes
Essential oil rooms sprays are so easy to make, smell amazing, and have aromatherapy benefits for you. Check out these 8-holiday room spray recipes from our Oily House to help you get into the Christmas spirit.
DIY Essential Oil Ornaments
Learn how to make DIY essential oil ornaments in 30-minutes or less to add a natural fragrance to your tree this holiday season. These quick &easy ornaments from Soap Deli News can be scented with your favorite holiday essential oil blend and make lovely DIY holiday gifts too!
DIY Holiday Cupcake Bath Bombs
Tweak & Tinker shares a festive holiday bath bomb cupcake DIY with two designs to choose from – one candy cane peppermint and one Christmas tree. This easy recipe contains nourishing oil, clay and essential oils and makes for a pretty handmade gift.
DIY Mocha Mint Cupcake Melt and Pour Soap Recipe
This mint chocolate cupcake soap recipe from Total Wellness Choices is easy to make with melt and pour soap. These soap cupcakes are adorable and are scented with a natural mocha mint fragrance oil. The unique soap mold makes the process easy. They make a great holiday gift for friends, teachers, or anyone who loves fun soap.
Over to you!
Thanks so much for visiting Country Hill Cottage – we’re so happy you’re here! Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!
If you enjoyed this post, please share it using the social media buttons you see next to the post.
For more crafts, beauty DIYs and recipe, follow us on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.
Irena xx
Hello! A couple of questions about the Gingerbread potpourri recipe. Can you tell me how much almonds you typically add to the jar? Also, the nutmeg, you mention ground nutmeg but the link is to whole nutmeg, so much whole nutmeg should be added? Thank you so much for these recipes. I am super excited to make them as gifts for Christmas this year!
Hi Lourdes! Nutmeg: You can use both ground or whole nutmeg, whatever you have available. I’d add 1 whole nutmeg per jar.
Almonds: 7 to 8 almonds per jar should be enough.
Happy crafting and Merry Christmas!
Hello! I am going to make the Gingerbread Holiday recipe to give out as gifts and I have a couple questions about the recipe. I see that you gave quantities for the ingredients, but I didn’t see how much almonds you normally add to the jar. So, do you not put whole almonds in and if you do, what is the amount? Also, you say that you put in ground nutmeg when listing amounts but the amazon link in the recipe is for whole nutmeg. How much of whole nutmeg do you put in or do you use ground instead? Thank you so much!
Hi Lourdes! Here are the quantities for the gingerbread mix: 5 cinnamon sticks, 7 chunks candied ginger, 1-2 vanilla beans, 5 star anise, 1/2 tbsp cardamom pods, 1 tsp cloves, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg OR 1 whole nutmeg, 7-8 almonds.
You can use either ground nutmeg or whole nutmeg – whatever is more convenient for you.
I hope this helps you out and please don’t hesitate to ask in case you have more questions. Happy crafting!
Hi! so excited to make these, I’m just curious on approximate quantitates for the candy cane& vanilla and the pine ones? Thanks so much!!
Hi Charlie! Of course, here are the quantities:
Candy Cane & Vanilla: 4 candy canes OR 12 starlight mints, 2 vanilla pods, 4 cinnamon sticks, 1/4 cup coconut chips, 3 star anise
Pine Potpourri: 3 to 4 pine sprigs (fresh is best), 5 cinnamon sticks, 4 dried lemon slices, 10 mini pinecones (optional), 12 whole cloves
These measurements are approximate. You can add more or less depending on the size of your jar.
I hope this helps you out and happy making!
Oh my gosh! These look so beautiful! I can’t wait to make these! Such a great idea! I can’t wait to make the Christmas, citrus and gingerbread ones!!
Is it possible to put quantities (for the 8oz jars since that is what is listed) or ratios in the recipe?
Do we use 1:1 for each ingredient? I don’t want to over power one scent over the others. Thank you!
Hi Lorinda. Thank you so much for your kind words!
Here is what I approximately used:
Christmas: 2 spruce sprigs, 5 cinnamon sticks, 4 dried orange slices, 1/4 cup dried cranberries, 2 tbsp whole cloves
Citrus: 6 of each dried orange and lemon slices, 3 blood orange slices, 4 cinnamon sticks, 2 tbsp cardamom pods
Gingerbread: 5 cinnamon sticks, 7 chunks candied ginger, 1-2 vanilla beans, 5 star anise, 1/2 tbsp cardamom pods, 1 tsp cloves, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
You may need a little less or more since your ingredients (e.g. cinnamon sticks, orange slices) may have a different size than ours.
I hope this helps and happy crafting!
Hi, I was wondering how much ingredients do you use for the apple and spice recipe?
Hi Nichole. The exact amounts depend on the size of the jar you’re using. For the 16-oz mason jars you see in the pictures, I used approximately 16 dried apple slices, 7-9 bay leaves, 5 cinnamon sticks, 6 anise stars, and 1 tbsp cloves. Hope this helps and happy making!
Awesome awesome post! I printed the potpourri tags but they came out in black and white not colored. What did I do wrong?
Hi Linda! I’m glad you like the post!
If the printables are black and white, you have to check your printing preferences/properties and deselect the option “Print in Grayscale”/”Print in black and white”. Every printer is different so I can’t tell you where exactly you will find this option, but it could be in the colour tab or the paper quality tab.
Please let me know how it goes!
How do you simmer these on the stove? Is there a certain amount of water? Do you dump the whole jar in? Thanks!
Hi Kim! This explained under the step “How do you simmer potpourris?” – You simply fill a pot with 2 to 3 cups water, add the whole or half jar, and let simmer for several hours. I hope this helps!
This is an amazing idea! These would make great gifts, too. Your photos are gorgeous!
Thanks so much for the kind words, Cari! I love easy and quick holiday gifts and potpourri jars fit the bill perfectly.
What a unique gift idea! I love potpourri and these recipes look amazing. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Many thanks, Carol! It was a delight coming up with these recipes.
These all sound so good! They look so pretty too! It’s hard to pick a favourite…maybe the apple and spices because it sounds like it smells like warm apple pie! Yum!
Thank you bunches, ladies! The apple and spices potpourri does indeed smell a little like apple pie.
These all look amazing! I wish I could smell through the screen 😉 They will make great gifts.
Thanks so much, Celine! These potpourris are really easy gifts, I’m already making more for my friends.
These are absolutely stunning! Such a beautiful collection of holiday gift ideas.
Thanks a lot, Rebecca! Putting these together was much fun and I love the holiday scents.