Make a simmer pot

A simmer pot is the quickest way to make a small place smell like fall. There’s nothing to bake and nothing to buy that you can’t find in a normal grocery shop. You put some fruit and spices in water, turn the heat down low and let the steam do the rest. It takes about ten minutes to set up, and it suits an evening when you’re at home anyway.

What you need beyond the list

The list above covers the basics. Two small extras make it easier:

• A sharp knife and a chopping board, for slicing the orange.
• A kettle, so you can top up with hot water instead of cold. Cold water drops the temperature and stops the simmer.

Use whole spices. Cinnamon sticks and whole cloves release their scent slowly and stay put. Ground spices cloud the water and settle at the bottom, where they can catch and burn.

A simple fall simmer pot

1. Fill a small pot about two-thirds full with water.
2. Slice one orange into rounds, about as thick as your finger. Add them to the pot. Apple slices work too, or use both.
3. Add two or three cinnamon sticks and a small handful of whole cloves. A teaspoon or so is plenty to start with, because cloves are strong.
4. Bring it to a boil on the stove, then turn the heat right down until you see a few small bubbles and a thin curl of steam. That’s a simmer. A rolling boil boils the water away faster and doesn’t make it smell any better.
5. Leave the lid off so the scent can escape.
6. Check the water about every 30 minutes and top up with hot water so the fruit stays covered.

Within ten minutes or so, the smell reaches the rest of the room.

Make it your own

Once you have the basic pot, change one thing at a time so you can tell what you like.

• Apple and cinnamon. Sliced apples, cinnamon sticks and a splash of apple juice or cider.
• Orange and clove. Orange slices with cloves pushed into the peel.
• Cranberry. A handful of fresh or frozen cranberries and an orange. Cranberries pop as they warm, which is part of the fun.
• Vanilla. A splash of vanilla extract or a split vanilla bean for something softer and sweeter.
• Rosemary or bay. A sprig of rosemary or a bay leaf gives a more woodsy, herby smell. Use a small amount.
• Star anise or nutmeg. A star anise or a few gratings of nutmeg adds warmth.

Citrus peel, apple cores and the ends of cinnamon sticks that would otherwise go in the trash are all good here.

Keep it safe

A simmer pot is a pot of hot water on a hot stove, and it needs the same care as anything else you cook.

• Never leave it unattended. If you leave the house or go to sleep, turn it off.
• Keep the water topped up. When the water runs out, the fruit and spices scorch, and the pot can be damaged or catch fire.
• Keep it on low. A gentle simmer is all you need.
• Turn the handle in. Keep the handle from sticking out over the edge of the stove, especially in a shared kitchen.
• Keep it away from pets and children. The steam and the water are hot.

If you want a hands-off version, a slow cooker on low with the lid off does the same job, though you should still stay home and keep an eye on the water.

If something goes wrong

• It doesn’t smell like much. There’s too little spice or the heat is too low. Add another cinnamon stick, bring it back to a gentle simmer and give it ten minutes.
• It smells burnt. The water has run low. Turn off the heat, let it cool and start again with fresh water and a clean pot.
• The water has gone cloudy and brown. That’s normal with citrus and spices. If it looks murky and smells sour after a day or two, throw it out.
• The pot is stained. Soak it in hot water with a little bicarbonate of soda or washing-up liquid.

Keeping and reusing it

When you’re done, switch off the heat and let the pot cool. You can strain it, keep the liquid and fruit in a covered container in the fridge, and use it again the next day with a bit of fresh water. After a day or two, make a new one. The fruit gets soft and the smell fades.

Don’t eat the fruit. It’s been sitting in spiced water and it’s not meant for eating.

Make it a fall evening

Put the pot on when you get home, then light a candle you made earlier, put a playlist on and do something slow. A simmer pot goes well with a movie night, or with the first evening you turn the heating on. It’s also a nice thing to do before friends come over: the place smells good the moment they walk in.