I may have mentioned more than once how much I love the fall. But it is true! Now I know that I’m sharing a Christmasy post today, but I think this stove top potpourri is not only perfect for Christmas, but I like it in the fall too. I just love the scents of the season and I couldn’t wait any longer to have my home smelling festive. 
We were given this stove top potpourri for Christmas one year from one of our neighbors. I absolutely loved it! I decided to mix up a batch of my own. I’ve had it simmering on the stove all day and my house smells amazing!
All you need for this stove top potpourri is: an orange, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, cranberries and water.
Slice or quarter your orange and put into a small pot. Add 2 or 3 cinnamon sticks, 1 TBL whole cloves and a handful of cranberries. Then add 2 cups of water or until everything is covered. Set it on your stove and simmer. Add additional water as it cooks down. DO NOT forget to add more water. TRUST ME! 😉 That is not a fun pot to clean.
I leave mine on the stove for just a couple days and turn it on when I’m working in the kitchen or family room so I can keep an eye on it.
I decided that I would wrap up a batch and take it to a friend. So I put everything into a cellophane bag and tied it with bakers twine. Look at those fall colors!
Then I decided to go one step further and create a cute printable so that if you wanted to take it to your friends and neighbors this holiday season, you could make up a couple cute packages, attach a tag and deliver. Just download this stove top potpourri Christmas printable for your gifting purposes. 🙂 I also made up a printable that doesn’t say Merry Christmas. It is just blank on the bottom so you can add any message you want. You can download those printables here.
If they’re like me, they will love this gift! Bonus: it is super simple to put together!
Happy Gifting!
Liz
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How long does it last in the bag after being gifted? Can it be frozen? I want to let them know if they should use them ASAP. Thanks for the card too, I just made a bunch for my teacher friends.
I think they can last a week if they are not refrigerated, and the oranges are still whole. But they will last a couple weeks in the fridge. I have never put them in the freezer. It’s the cranberries and oranges that can go bad.
Does this need to be refrigerated with the cranberries in it before you gift it?
I keep them in the refrigerator if it’s going to be a day or so before I gift them. Just to be on the safe side.
This is wonderful!!! I’m simmering a pot right now as I assembled these for Christmas gifts for some dear friends. Thank you so much for sharing! And so pretty!!! 🙂
I have it simmering on my stove too! I’m so glad you like it.
I need to change the word orange to lemon how can I do this on the printable?
Unfortunately this printable is not editable.
I just made these as gifts and they look so great! I’m so proud of myself for making it by following your directions. I put a pot on while making them and its not too strong, its a light scent which is great. The labels were sure convenient too. Thank you so much for sharing!. Merry Christmas!
Thank you! I’m glad you found it helpful. I’m sure they were a hit!
Thanks for sharing your printable for the Stove Top Potpourri! This is the second year I have put this together for neighbors and friends. Love that I can bless them with a gift that does not clutter up their homes.
I’m so glad you were able to use the labels! I’m sure they were everyone’s favorite gift! 🙂
Please excuse my naivety, but could you please advise on how/where to download the printable tag? I’m not on pintrest. BTW, I had to try it for myself before giving away, DELICIOUS SCENT!!!
There is a clickable link toward the bottom of the post that says stove top potpourri tags. Click and you should be able to print.
Aloha Liz!
Pinned this last year and will make some for my friends this year. Thanks so much for the wonderful idea! Also love the printable! Appreciate your unselfish sharing.
Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas!)
Aloha! I’m so happy that you are able to put it to use this year!
Thank you SO much for this, I just made 10 to give away for Christmas. I especially appreciate the printable instructions! I did the math and they only cost me around $3 each to make.
They are the best gift!! I’m so glad you were able to use the tags. I love an affordable gift idea. Especially when you need make a lot. Merry Christmas!
Do you use consumable cinnamon sticks from the spice isle or decorative ones from craft stores (which are much cheaper)?
That is a great question Heidi. I’ve only ever used the ones from the spice aisle. I’m not familiar with the ones from the craft store and don’t know how they would work in this recipe. Are they the ones you put in your trees to make them smell good?
Thanks for the quick reply. Correct-I’m not sure what the difference is between them, but there are craft ones that also smell amazing, but are not to be eaten, and they are much cheaper. I think I’ll give it a try once before I gift that version, but I would imagine they would smell just the same. 😉
Has anyone tried the craft cinnamon sticks yet? I’m planning to make these for my friends and neighbors and would buy the cheaper kind if they work just as well! Liz, thanks so much for the idea, and especially for the printable! Love it! 🙂
Oh so glad you can use it Elizabeth! I had another reader ask the same question and I asked her how the other craft sticks worked. I haven’t heard back. I say give it a try and see if you like it before you make a whole bunch. And let me know how it goes! 🙂
Hi Heidi! I had someone else ask about using the craft cinnamon sticks. I was wondering if you tried it? Did it work?
Thank you for this! On a tight budget and was looking for a Christmas gift for a teacher. This was perfect. Instead of a bag I put ingredients in a decorative mason jar.
I bet that turned out so cute Kathy! I’m so glad it worked out for you! 🙂
Have you tried using a slow cooker (small ones), so you can put it in different areas of the house?
I haven’t tried a small slow cooker, but that is a great idea! I’d just make sure to keep putting water in it so it doesn’t burn all the stuff inside. And make sure to be safe and turn it off if you leave the room. 😉
thank you so much! this was the perfect gift for my neighbors! i am not creative with tags, and i always am so appreciative of a free printable! thanks for sharing your talents and merry christmas!
Thanks Kate! I’m so glad they worked out for you. Merry Christmas!
made these up for my neighbors and friends. I absolutely love this pin. Thank you so much for sharing and for the printables too. How long can it set on the stove before it needs to be thrown out? Also do I need to drain the water after every use or let it set in the liquid?
Hi Dorene! Your friends and neighbors will love it! I usually leave mine on the stove for about a week before I feel it doesn’t smell anymore. I actually have never drained the liquid. I leave the liquid in the pot the entire week. It may last longer with the liquid drained off every night. I might just give that a try!
Thank you so much for this recipe and printable! I had a friend drop one off to me last night and it is simmering right now and smells divine. Can you tell me how long this lasts before it goes bad? Also, I’ve never bought any cranberries besides the frozen kind. Where can I find these? Thanks so much!!!
Hi Jenny! I usually use it for about a week and then throw it out. I buy the cranberries in a bag and they are usually in the produce section.
I saw this yesterday and made some, which I put in a mason jar, as a gift to my sister who was visiting from out of town. I am making more tonight to give to ladies in my office. Thanks so much for sharing and for the cute printable labels!!
Oh I’m so glad you are able to use it! I’m getting ready to make more to take to my neighbors!
Hello! I love this idea and I am going to do this for my coworkers – thank you! What size bags did you use?
The size of the bag is determined by the size of your orange. But I would buy a bag that is at least 5 inches wide. My bags are 5 inches by 11 inches. But when it opens up, the sides open another 3 inches on each side. Hope that helps! 🙂
Liz Thanks so much for sharing can’t wait to make these for some very special friends- reminds me of past Christmas times spent with my Mom (:
Glad this brings back so many memories! I’m sure your friends will love these. Thank you.
Thank you!!! I just made these for my daughter’s preschool teachers and they turned out fantastic. The tag really completes it so thank you for making that available to print out.
Rebecca you just made my day! 🙂 I’m so glad it worked out for you. We just made a whole bunch of these with the young women from my church group last night and delivered them to our neighbors. It was so fun. I hope the teachers love it!
This smells great! We put this on as we were making them! Also, love the ready to go labels! Thank you!
Thank you Crissy! So glad they worked out for you. I love having this on my stove during the Holiday season!
If i were to give this as a gift, how far in advance can they be made? Would they have to be used in a specific amount of time. Just wondering how the cranberries would be after being in the bag? Thanks!
Hi Amber. I wouldn’t make them too far in advance, maybe a week. What I did for the cranberries was actually take out the bad ones that were squished, and rinsed the rest. Then let them dry before putting everything together. If you do that, I think they would be ok. Good luck!
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Your photos are fantastic. I can almost smell the stove top potpourri. I MUST try this! What a fantastic homemade holiday gift!
Thank you Jen! I have this on my stove right now! It smells divine.
I bet this makes your house smell heavenly!!! What a great idea for a gift for others or myself (lol). Thanks so much for the awesome idea 🙂
It does smell delicious! Thanks Crystal! I’ve already made up a couple to give to friends and they love it. But it is hard to give away. 🙂
I just came across this awesome idea. I’m not a crafty person, but definitely trying to be ? For the labels , do you print out on cardstock and cut each individual one or print out on label paper (like for mailing labels)?
I actually print them on card stock and cut them out. I need to find some label paper that would work. It would be so much easier. 🙂