r/homemaking • u/LibsnZeus23 • 4d ago

Help! Simmer pot advice

Edit: I re did the simmer pot with just cinnamon, star anise and orange and it was gorgeous! It must’ve been the apples and vanilla 😓

Ive seen lots of simmer pots recently online so I decided to try one. I used oranges, apples, vanilla and nutmeg as that’s all I currently have in my house (I will use cinnamon and maybe some cloves next time). Unfortunately it made the whole house stink of pee?? No clue why but it wasn’t as pleasant as the internet made it out to be. Did it smell wrong because I didn’t use cinnamon ect? Please I need some advice I really want my home to smell nice but can’t light candles due to the chemicals, I really want to give simmer pots another go but I don’t want to make the house stink again

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6

u/Expensive_Ducks 4d ago

Be very careful with simmer pots if you have pets and make sure whatever you put in is safe for them too.

Citrus is toxic to cats so if you have any do not use oranges, lemons, limes ect in your pot.

The pee smell may be from something coming up through the floors due to the humidity from the simmer pot. That's the other big issue with them, they cqn make the house humid

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u/LibsnZeus23 4d ago

I don’t have cats :) yeah I mean I don’t think it’s the humidity as I have a dehumidifier running 24/7 (I used to have a very humid room) and the pee smell is coming directly from the simmer pot 😢

1

u/Expensive_Ducks 4d ago

I know some apple flowers smell like that, maybe its the kind of apples you used?

4

u/chernaboggles 4d ago

You might have combined too many things, or had the simmer up too high. Look for a very simple recipe with just a few ingredients to start with.

Other ways to bring faint scents into the house without using chemicals or having to use the stove at all: pomanders (fresh oranges studded with cloves), balsam fir pillows, boxes made of cinnamon bark, pine needle baskets.

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u/LibsnZeus23 4d ago

Thankyou !

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u/HomeAndLedger 4d ago

Oranges + cinnamon/clove are the magic base nutmeg allne can turn sharp. Try adding a few warm spices next time and it'll smell cozy instead of weird

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u/LibsnZeus23 4d ago

Thankyou :)

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u/marion_mcstuff 4d ago

I'd stick with a just citrus, or just spices blend next time. Combining acidic and alkaline ingredients can sometimes create weird chemical reactions. My grandmother always just kept a pot of water on her wood stove that she would throw her orange and lemon peels into. Easy and smelled AMAZING.

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u/Money-Low7046 4d ago

I think the apple might have been the problem. Citrus plus spices usually works very well for me.

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u/tidyteatime 4d ago

I love doing a simmer pot with instant coffee and cinnamon. I also do one with just cinnamon sticks after frying it gets the smell out of the house so well. But really I'm just waiting for cooler temps so I can air out my house which is the best!!!