Simmer Pots vs Natural Odor Removers: The Pros and Cons

The holiday season is almost upon us, and with that comes guests, tons of cooking and a lot of chores to get your home ready. At the same time, you want your home to have the perfect holiday atmosphere. Part of that is having your home smell fresh and clean, but you want to add a few festive odors, too. There are a lot of ways to achieve this, from natural odor eliminators to air fresheners, but a popular DIY method is to make a simmer pot to spread festive aromas through your house and cover the cooking odors, which can get overpowering. But what is a simmer pot, and how does it compare to other ways of improving your home’s smell? 

What is a Simmer Pot? 

Simmer pots are a method of making homes smell good that has been around for centuries and is starting to become popular again. They are thought to originate in pre-Christian pagan cultures as a way of celebrating the changing of the seasons and cleansing the home of bad energy. 

The basic premise is simple; you fill a saucepan with water, fruit and fragrant herbs and spices and gently heat it. Once the pan begins to simmer, the scents from your ingredients will start to spread around your home, adding whatever smells you choose. To make a Christmas simmer pot, here is what you need: 

• A reliable, strong saucepan. Alternatively, you can use a slow cooker 
• The peel and slices of one apple 
• 1 cup of cranberries 
• The peel and slices of one orange 
• 2 or 3 cinnamon sticks 
• 1 teaspoon of cloves 
• Between 2 and 4 star anise seed pods 

Firstly, half-fill your pan with water and bring it to a boil. Next, add the above ingredients and boil for a few minutes more before turning it down to a simmer. You can then leave it simmering for several hours, ensuring the water remains warm without boiling. If the water runs low, just add more room-temperature water — you may need to do this every 35 to 45 minutes. If using a slow cooker, add all the ingredients with the water and set on high heat with the lid on until the water boils, then set it to low heat and take the lid off. 

Of course, you don’t have to use these exact ingredients. If you have a particular spice you love to smell during the holidays, throw it in, or take out ingredients you’re not so keen on. 

How to Use a Simmer Pot for Cleansing Odor Removal

The great thing about a simmer pot is that it is an easy DIY air freshener and you can choose ingredients that fit the atmosphere you wish to create. In addition, there’s no need to worry about open flames as you would get with candles, and there is no risk of toxic chemicals. 

However, you’re not limited to holiday smells; you can even use them to eliminate odors. For example, you can use lemon and rosemary as a natural air freshener that will give you a fresh, clean smell or lime, thyme, vanilla and mint for a fresh smell with a hint of sweetness. 

However, it’s worth mentioning that there are drawbacks to using simmer pots as your main method of removing odors. Firstly, you need to maintain heat on them, which is going to use household energy. Although this might not seem much if you heat a simmer pot for a few hours, it can add up if you use it every day. They also don’t truly eliminate odors, merely covering them up with stronger odors. For these reasons, simmer pots are excellent for adding seasonal odors to your home on Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas but not so great as a long-term odor elimination solution. 

What Options Are There for Natural Odor Removal? 

So, if a simmer pot isn’t the solution for long-lasting natural odor removal, what is? Well, if you want something that lasts for a long time, absorbs nasty odors and needs little intervention, Fresh Wave’s odor-eliminating gels are probably the best solution for you. 

Fresh Wave’s odor-eliminating gels work by emitting molecules into the air that latch onto the nasty-smelling molecules and neutralize them. All you need to do is remove the lid, peel off the seal, replace the lid and place the gel pack where the smell is strongest. The gel will disappear as it absorbs bad odors so you’ll know when to replace it, usually after between 30 and 60 days. The gel is also made from all natural, plant-based ingredients, so there’s no need to worry about toxic residue or nasty chemicals in the air wither. 

So, if you’ve got a room that smells bad because of pet smells or a lot of food preparation, Fresh Wave’s gel packs are the perfect solution. And they’re great for clearing up those awful bathroom smells too! 

Which is Better? A Simmer Pot or Natural Odor Remover? 

If you want to know which is better, a simmer pot or a natural odor remover like Fresh Wave’s gel packs, the answer depends on what you want from it. If you want long-lasting odor protection that requires little intervention to keep it up, the gel packs are best. They also won’t add to your energy bill. However, if you want an occasional burst of seasonal smells, simmer pots are fantastic. It’s even fun to experiment with different ingredients, and you’ll have the satisfaction that comes with knowing you created something yourself. 

So go on, make yourself a seasonal simmer pot that makes your home smell gorgeous and festive — and back it up with some of Fresh Wave‘s gel packs for eliminating persistent odors.