5 Household Ingredients to Make Your Home Smell Like a Crisp Autumn
As the leaves turn golden and the air takes on a cool, cozy edge, there’s nothing quite like the warm, comforting scent of autumn wafting through your home. Forget store-bought candles—your kitchen is already stocked with everything you need to create that perfect fall fragrance.
Here are 5 simple, natural household ingredients that will make your home smell like a crisp autumn day—no artificial scents required.
1. Star Anise – The Unexpected Spice of Fall
With its beautiful star shape and sweet, licorice-like aroma, star anise adds an exotic touch to your fall simmer pot. It’s a spice often overlooked, but when warmed in water, it fills the air with a scent that feels both grounding and festive.
Pro tip: Toss in 2-3 whole pods for a subtle, sweet-spice scent that lingers for hours.
2. Whole Cloves – Tiny Spices, Big Aroma
These tiny powerhouses pack a punch. Whole cloves give off a spicy, almost smoky scent that's unmistakably autumnal. They're commonly used in holiday cooking, but when added to a simmer pot, they release their fragrance slowly and richly.
Pro tip: Use about a tablespoon to avoid overwhelming the other scents.
3. Apple Slices – The Heart of Fall
Nothing says fall like apples. When simmered, sliced apples release a gentle, fruity scent that pairs perfectly with spices. Whether you’ve just come back from an orchard or have a few extras sitting in the fruit bowl, apples are the star of any fall scent blend.
Pro tip: Use older apples that are slightly past their prime—perfect for simmering!
4. Vanilla Extract – Sweet, Warm, and Inviting
A few drops of vanilla extract can transform your simmer pot from spicy to sweet in seconds. It rounds out the sharper spice notes and adds that bakery-fresh scent we all crave when the temperature drops.
Pro tip: 1 teaspoon is all you need. Too much can overpower the other ingredients.
5. Cinnamon Sticks – The Classic Fall Favourite
Of course, no fall scent would be complete without cinnamon sticks. This classic spice is the backbone of autumn fragrances. Warm, familiar, and nostalgic, cinnamon ties all the other ingredients together into one cozy bouquet.
Pro tip: Use 2–3 sticks for a strong, lasting scent. Bonus: they look beautiful floating in the pot.
How to Make Your DIY Autumn Simmer Pot:
Creating your own fall home fragrance is as easy as 1-2-3:
Fill a pot with about 4 cups of water.
Add your ingredients: a few slices of apple, 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tbsp whole cloves, and 2-3 star anise.
Simmer on low heat, uncovered, and let the magic happen.
Top off with water as needed, and never leave it unattended.
