Holiday Stovetop Potpourri Mason Jar Recipes (Free Printable Gift Tag) (2024)

Are you looking for a simple yet beautiful homemade gift idea? Follow along and learn how to make homemade stovetop potpourri in a jar, with free printable gift tag labels and instructions included! I’ve been making them for years – it’s really fun and easy to do.

This guide will share the best dry simmer pot ingredients to use for mason jar gifts, along with five delectable holiday stovetop potpourri recipes using dried fruit, spices, herbs and more. Stovetop potpourri can be enjoyed any time of year, but these cozy combinations are especially perfect for Christmas, fall, or the winter holiday season.

What is Stovetop Potpourri?

Also known as simmer pots, stovetop potpourri is made by combining a variety of delicious-smelling natural ingredients and spices in a pot with water, simmering it over low heat on the stove, which then slowly releases aromatic steam. This is a fantastic way to make your home smell wonderful without toxic chemicals, and also elevate your mood.

What scents remind you of Christmas or the holiday season? Gingerbread cookies, mulled apple cider, Christmas tree pines, pumpkin spice, hot chocolate, warm baked goods… It’s possible to recreate similar aromas in simmer pots!

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Supplies Needed

• Mason jars. Wide-mouth 12 ounce or 16 ounce pint jars are ideal, especially if using dried fruit. For smaller sizes, choose a wide shallow jar instead of a tall and narrow one – like these 8 oz jars.
• Dried fruit, herbs and spices. See stovetop potpourri recipes and ingredient list below.
• Jute twine, string, or ribbon
• Free printable gift tag with instructions (at the end of this post!) plus paper of choice. I like to use 80 lb kraft brown recycled cardstock paper. It makes the perfect sturdy, rustic, and attractive stovetop potpourri jar tag!
• Optional festive embellishments to tie to the jar

The best ingredients for stovetop potpourri in a jar

We’ve been making simmer pots for many years using fresh seasonal ingredients like apples, oranges, herbs, and more. Yet for stovetop potpourri in a jar, it’s best to use all dry ingredients.

I’ve seen some mason jar stovetop potpourri recipes calling for a whole tangerine, fresh rosemary, or other perishable ingredients in the jar. While that’s an option, it also makes it more time-sensitive… Using dry ingredients extends the shelf life, making it an easy handmade gift that you can put together in advance. Plus, the lucky recipient can add optional fresh goodies to the pot at the time of use, such as fresh fruit, herbs, or a splash of vanilla extract.

Here are some of the best smelling ingredients to use in homemade stovetop potpourri in jars. Once you choose a handful of ingredients to use, it’s easy to create many DIY gifts at once.

Dry spices:

• Cinnamon sticks
• Cloves (whole)
• Star anise
• Cardamom pods
• Nutmeg (whole)
• Allspice (whole)
• Pumpkin spice seasoning

Dried herbs:

• Rosemary*
• Sprigs of pine or cedar
• Bay leaves
• Lavender buds
• Chamomile
• Peppermint
• Lemon verbena
• any aromatic herbs are welcome!

*I cut sprigs of fresh rosemary from the garden a few days in advance and simply let them air dry, though you can also dry herbs in a food dehydrator or extra-low temp in the oven.

Dried fruit (see tips on drying fruit to follow)

• Oranges
• Apples
• Lemons
• Grapefruit
• Cranberries
• Pears

Other stovetop potpourri ingredients:

• Vanilla beans or vanilla powder
• Dry cocoa nibs
• Ginger, either cut dry ginger or crystalizedginger
• Candy canes – mini ones are especially cute
• A few drops of sweet orange, peppermint, or eucalyptus essential oils is always a nice addition to the jar.

As you can see, the options are nearly endless!

How to dry fruit for stovetop potpourri

It’s easy to dry fruit in either the oven or a food dehydrator. Start by cutting the fruit into thin even slices, about ⅛” to ¼” thick is ideal. See photos below. The fruit will shrink a bit as it dries, so it should be able to fit nicely inside the stovetop potpourri jars (with a little squeezing and bending if needed).

Next, spread the fruit out in a single layer either on food dehydrator trays or baking sheets lined with parchment paper. If you have a wire baking sheet, that works very well too! The fruit slices can be touching side-to-side, but shouldn’t be overlapping.

• In the oven: dry sliced fruit on a low temperature (180-200F) for several hours until they’re fully dry and crisp. Plan to flip the fruit and rotate the trays every hour to promote even drying.
  
• In a food dehydrator: use a medium heat (about 135F) or fruit setting and dry the sliced fruit until it’s fully dry. This can take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours or longer, depending on your particular food dehydrator. Rotate trays if needed.

Related: How to Dry Orange Slices for Holiday Decor and How to Make Dried Cinnamon Apple Rings

5 Stovetop Potpourri Recipes and Combinations

Here are 5 drool-worthy holiday stovetop potpourri recipes for mason jars. As you can see, many of them have similar ingredients, so it’s really easy to swap ingredients or mix and match. Also, measurements don’t need to be exact. It’s going to smell great no matter what you do, so get creative and have fun! (You can find a printable version of these stovetop potpourri recipes at the end of this post too.)

Apple Cider-Pie Vibes

• A handful of dried apple slices
• 3-4 cinnamon sticks
• 3-4 whole star anise
• 1-2 whole vanilla beans
• 1 tsp cardamom pods
• 1/2 tsp whole cloves
• Optional: dried ginger

This stovetop potpourri recipe is especially delicious-smelling with fresh cut apples added to the pot at time of use!

Warm Citrus Cranberry

• A handful of dried orange slices (and/or grapefruit or lemon)
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 2-3 whole star anise
• 1 Tbsp dried grated ginger (or 6 to 8 crystallized ginger pieces)
• 1/2 tsp whole cloves

Earthy Christmas Spice

• A few sprigs of pine, cedar, and/or rosemary (semi-dry) or a few tablespoons dried
• Several dried pear, lemon, and/or orange slices
• 2-3 bay leaves
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp whole allspice or cloves
• a few drops of pine essential oil or Douglas fir essential oil

I like adding a splash of vanilla extract to the simmering pot to add some sweetness to this blend!

Chocolate Peppermint Patty

• A few dried orange or apple slices (mostly for bulk and appearance)
• 1/4 cup dry cocoa nibs
• 3-4 mini candy canes
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• 1-2 vanilla beans
• 1-2 whole nutmegs (or 1 tsp ground)
• Optional: a handful of whole dry mint leaves (or 2 tbsp dried) and/or a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Definitely add these if you skip the candy canes!

Calm and Cozy Delight

• A handful of dried pear and/or lemon slices
• 3 Tbsp dried lavender buds
• 2 Tbsp dried chamomile flowers
• 1 Tbsp dried grated ginger (or 6 to 8 crystallized ginger pieces)
• 1-2 vanilla beans

Free Printable Mason Jar Stovetop Potpourri Gift Tag Labels

After packing the jars with goodies, it’s time to add a cute little label to your mason jar stovetop potpourri gifts. I created this free printable gift tag with instructions for you, which will fit on most 8 to 16 ounce jars. Get it below!

Simply print one page on your paper of choice (I like kraft brown cardstock), cut along the faint dotted line, and then follow the lines to cut a “V” at each end for a little extra flair. Next, place the gift tag label strip over the top of the jar lid, and secure it in place by tying twine around the rim of the jar just below the lid.

Feel free to tie a dried orange slice, sprig of rosemary, cinnamon stick or other festive embellishment to the jar with twine too.

Directions: How to Use Stovetop Potpourri

This is the easiest part of all! To use mason jar stovetop potpourri, simply pour the jar of ingredients into a pot about halfway full of water with any optional fresh additions you desire (e.g. 1 tsp vanilla extract, cut oranges or apples), and then simmer over low heat without a lid.

Be sure to keep a close eye on the pot so it doesn’t run dry! It may be a good to set a timer if you’re forgetful. Add more water to the pot as it evaporates. To get the maximum use out of it, we often continue to simmer the same pot of stovetop potpourri off an on for many days! Compost the ingredients once you’re finished with it.

It’s as simple as that!

All in all, I hope you love this fun and easy handmade gift as much as I do. If so, please consider leaving a comment or review below!

For even more DIY gift ideas, check out this Homemade Holiday Gift Guide – it’s full of over 30 ideas including edible food gifts, more mason jar gifts, recipes for self-care goodies like natural lip balm and bath salts, sustainable craft projects, and more! Or, pop over to our Homestead Gift Guide to see all our top favorite garden, kitchen, and green home supplies. Thank you so much for tuning in today.

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