Research shows that sense, not touch or taste, is the strongest of our five senses. Unlike sight, hearing, and the others, that have to be rerouted through your neurological switchboard, smell has a direct link to your brain. For this reason, smell can often trigger strong memories, with a single whiff of a nostalgic sense catapulting you back in time.
Smell is also a key factor in setting moods and atmospheres. If you're going to be hosting a lot of people over the holidays, one of the best ways you can enhance the mood for get-togethers is by manipulating your guests' sense of smell.
Maybe "manipulate" is the wrong word to use in this scenario. After all, we aren't suggesting you do anything nefarious such as setting off a noxious candle when you want your guests to leave. Rather, triggering sense memories can heighten the mood.
Good or nostalgic smells can make a person feel comfortable in a space and facilitate conversation. If you're nervous about fire or frustrated with candles whose burn time far outweighs their scent, than a simmer pot may be the next best thing.
What Are Simmer Pots?
Simmer pots, also called stove-top potpourri are a natural alternative to candles that you can make with ingredients you probably have lying around. All you do is add your ingredients to a pot of water, let it simmer, and enjoy! Simmer pots are generally good for a few uses and, once you've strained the water, you can add the leftovers to your compost bin.
While you can buy simmer pots from specialty stores, they're easier and cheaper to make at home. Plus, you have full control over what scents you do and don't want to include. You'll be amazed at how easy simmer pots are to make!
Simmer pots are typically made by combining at least one ingredient from each of the following categories with water: citrus, spice, and herbs. Using these three essentials as your base, there are any number of simmer mixes you can put together. Simmer mixes can evoke a season, a memory, or a time and place.
Let's get into a few scents, starting with the basics.
Simmer Pot Suggestions
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One guaranteed way to have your guests fawning over how good your home smells is to make a holiday simmer mix. The ingredients for a holiday simmer mix are similar to those in mulled wine: orange slices, cranberries, clove, star anise, and rosemary. If you want a more rustic Christmas scent, feel free to throw in some pine or cedar sprigs.
Another mix combo you can't go wrong with is a classic chai mix. Toss a couple cinnamon sticks, cloves, and other warming spices in with a splash of vanilla. For a more authentic chai scent, you can add a couple of black tea bags to make your kitchen feel as comfy as a big cup of chai.
Our last recipe is something of a departure from the previous ones, it's a bright springtime mix. If those winter blues have you down, one of the best ways to bring you mood up is by simmering some scents that remind you of (literal) brighter days. Lavender and lemon provide a soothing base for this simmer pot that carries all the freshness of spring cleaning.
These simmer pots are just suggestions. Feel free to use them as jumping-off points for experimentation. Part of the fun of simmer pots is making up your own mixes, even if you may not get them right on the first try.
When making your simmer mixes, it's important that you keep them on low. Bringing them to a boil may ruin the scent. While simmer mixes can be stored covered on the stovetop overnight, don't leave your stove on while there's nobody awake to watch it.
