Havdalah Aromatherapy Pot Simmer Recipe

Shabbat is more than just a day. It's an atmosphere - a sacred pause in time where we taste a sliver of Eden, together. It’s the smell of fresh-baked challah filling the home, the warmth of candlelight on the dining table, the laughter of children echoing in a slower rhythm. And when it ends, we mark that transition with Havdalah: a beautiful, sensory-rich ceremony that helps us carry the peace of Shabbat into the week ahead.

One of the most meaningful parts of Havdalah for our family is the spices, or b’samim (בְּשָׂמִים). This ancient tradition offers more than a pleasant aroma - it offers memory, emotion, and anchoring for the soul. And that’s exactly why today I’m sharing a special Havdalah Aromatherapy Pot Simmer Recipe - a cozy, fragrant blend of fruit and spice that gently fills your home with the warmth of Shabbat’s final moments.

Whether you’re observing Havdalah for the first time or looking for ways to enhance your family’s rhythm, this simmer pot is a beautiful way to enrich the experience.

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    What Is a Simmer Pot?

    A simmer pot is basically stovetop potpourri. It’s a natural way to fragrance your home using simple, whole ingredients. You fill a pot with water, add aromatic items like citrus slices, whole spices, and herbs, and then let it gently simmer on the stove. As the water warms, it releases steam infused with the scent of the ingredients, naturally filling your home with comforting aroma.

    Unlike candles or synthetic air fresheners, simmer pots use real, recognizable ingredients. They’re non-toxic, budget-friendly, and completely customizable. You can make them seasonal, festive, calming—or, in this case, holy.

    Related posts:
    How to Make a Homemade Havdalah Candle
    • Havdalah Sensory Activity for Children: Filling a Spice Pouch
    • How to Make Wassail for a Havdalah Celebration

    The Power of Scent and Memory

    Did you know that the sense of smell is the strongest linked to memory?

    It’s true—scientifically, our olfactory system (our sense of smell) is directly connected to the parts of the brain that process memory and emotion: the hippocampus and amygdala. This means that smells have the unique power to evoke memories instantly and vividly—often more powerfully than sights or sounds.

    This is why, when we pass around the b’samim box at Havdalah, we’re not just smelling something pleasant. We’re storing up memory. We’re telling our children’s little hearts, “This is what peace smells like. This is what rest feels like. This is what it means to be together with God and each other.”

    In our home, I often think of it this way: I want my children to grow up with a sense of muscle memory for the soul. When they smell cinnamon or clove years from now, I hope it brings them right back to this sacred moment: standing around our table, singing Havdalah blessings, holding the candlelight in their eyes.

    B’samim – The Fragrant Spice of Havdalah

    In Jewish tradition, b’samim are the aromatic spices passed around and inhaled during Havdalah. The blessing said over them is:

    "Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha'olam, borei minei v’samim."
    Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates varieties of spices.

    Traditional Havdalah Spices (B’samim)

    Here are some of the spices traditionally used for Havdalah and why they may have been chosen:

    • Cloves – Strong, sweet, and uplifting. Cloves were historically valuable and were believed to have purifying qualities.

    • Cinnamon sticks – Warm, cozy, and familiar. Cinnamon is often associated with abundance and hospitality.

    • Cardamom pods – Found in some Sephardic traditions, cardamom has a rich, slightly citrusy scent that’s comforting and unique.

    • Bay leaves – Earthy and grounding, bay leaves were used in ancient rituals for protection and peace.

    • Citrus peels – While not always traditional, dried orange or lemon peels are often added for their bright, clean scent that lifts the mood.

    • Star anise – Sweet, spicy, and a bit exotic—star anise is both beautiful and fragrant.

    While the Torah doesn’t specify exact spices, the goal is to choose ingredients that bring joy and refreshment to the soul.

    Buy the spices in bulk here!

    Why I Created a Havdalah Pot Simmer

    I’m always looking for ways to root special memories in the senses for my children. Shabbat isn’t something I want them to just know about—I want them to feel it, taste it, hear it, smell it.

    That’s why I created this Havdalah Aromatherapy Simmer Pot—a stovetop scent experience designed to echo the traditional b’samim but on a home-filling scale.

    This simmer pot recipe is perfect for lighting up the entire home with a signature scent that your family will come to associate with the beauty and holiness of Shabbat’s closing moments.

    It’s gentle, cozy, and deeply symbolic.

    How to Make a Simmer Pot

    Making a simmer pot is simple. Here's what you'll need:

    Supplies:

    • A medium-sized pot

    • Water (enough to fill the pot ¾ full)

    • Stove or slow cooker

    Havdalah Aromatherapy Pot Simmer Recipe

    Ingredients:

    • 1 orange, sliced

    • 2 cinnamon sticks

    • 1 teaspoon of whole cloves

    • 1 star anise pod

    Optional Add-ins:

    • A few cardamom pods

    • A splash of vanilla extract

    • A bay leaf for earthiness

    Instructions:

    1. Slice the orange into rounds and place them in a medium pot.

    2. Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise.

    3. Fill the pot about ¾ with water.

    4. Bring the pot to a gentle boil over medium-high heat.

    5. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer uncovered.

    6. Add more water as needed to keep the aroma going without burning the ingredients.

    The result? A warm, spicy-citrus scent that’s both calming and nostalgic—the perfect closing note to a restful Shabbat.

    Tips for Using Simmer Pots

    • Use a slow cooker if you don’t want to leave the stove on.

    • Reuse the same mix once or twice over the next few days (just keep it refrigerated between uses).

    • Involve your kids by letting them help slice the orange or drop in the spices—it becomes part of the tradition.

    • Pair it with music or the singing of Havdalah blessings for a truly sensory-rich experience.

    Building Scent Memories for Your Children

    As a mother, I’m always asking myself: What do I want my children to remember?

    I want them to remember the glow of the braided Havdalah candle, the way we lean in to smell the spices, the hush that falls over the room when we hear the first notes of the blessing melody.

    But even more than that, I want them to remember how it felt.

    That’s where smell comes in. It bypasses intellect and goes straight to the heart.

    I want my children to grow up and smell cloves or cinnamon and immediately think of us gathered around the table. I want them to smell fresh bread baking and feel the fullness of Shabbat—not just a day, but a sanctuary in time.

    The smells we cultivate in our homes today become the soul memories our children carry tomorrow.

    A Bridge from Sacred to Ordinary

    Havdalah is that sacred bridge between rest and rhythm, stillness and work. It’s a reminder that even as we re-enter the weekday world, we don’t leave Shabbat behind—we carry it with us.

    This simmer pot is just one way to extend the experience. It takes something so simple—an orange, a few cloves—and turns it into a vessel of memory, meaning, and peace.

    As the pot simmers and the aroma fills your space, may your home be filled with warmth, your week with purpose, and your hearts with the lasting beauty of God’s holy rhythm.

    Pin It or Share It

    If this post inspired you to create a Havdalah simmer pot, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @ourshabbathomestead or use the hashtag #OurShabbatHome so we can celebrate the sacred scent of Shabbat together.

    Shavua Tov – may your week be filled with sweetness, peace, and the lingering aroma of God’s rest.


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