Witchy Simmer Pots: Ingredient Meanings and Recipes by Intention

Quick answer: a witchy simmer pot is an ordinary simmer pot made with an intention. You choose the ingredients for what they’re traditionally associated with, such as bay and rosemary for protection, cinnamon and orange for abundance, or apple and vanilla for love, and simmer them the same way you would for scent. The method is in our simmer pot guide; this page covers the meanings and where they come from.

What makes a simmer pot witchy

A witchy simmer pot is made the same way as any other: water, fruit, spices and herbs at a low simmer. Practitioners choose each ingredient for what it stands for, and many state or write down what the pot is for as they make it. Kitchen witches often treat the stockpot as a cauldron and the kitchen as a place for everyday magic.

Many people learn it from friends or family. USC’s folklore archive has an interview with a practicing Wiccan who learned simmer pots from her mother. She uses rosemary, bay leaves, citrus, cinnamon, cloves and lavender for good luck and positivity, and lets the pot run until the scent reaches every room. The archive’s notes on the interview say that, for her, a clear intention matters more than when or where the pot is made.

Where the meanings come from

Some simmer pot associations are modern. These five have documented history behind them.

Bay laurel: victory, purification, protection. In ancient Greece a laurel wreath was the prize at the Pythian Games, and laurel was used in cleansing rituals in the cult of Apollo at Delphi. The Romans believed laurel trees were immune to lightning, and the emperor Tiberius is said to have worn a laurel wreath during thunderstorms. (Wikipedia: Laurus nobilis)

Rosemary: remembrance and faithful love. “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance,” says Ophelia in Hamlet. Rosemary has been used at funerals and in war commemorations across Europe and Australia, and in the language of flowers it means fidelity in love. (Wikipedia: Rosemary)

Cinnamon: wealth and offering. In the ancient world cinnamon was so valuable that it was considered a gift fit for kings. Hellenistic rulers gave it to temples, it went into kyphi, an Egyptian incense, and in Rome a pound of it could cost up to fifty months’ wages. (Wikipedia: Cinnamon)

Cloves and orange: protection. From the late Middle Ages to the 1600s, people carried pomanders, small balls or cases of perfume, as protection against infection in times of pestilence. Today the best-known pomander is an orange studded with cloves, a 20th-century take on the same idea. (Wikipedia: Pomander)

Apples: love and abundance. At Samhain, apples stood for fertility and abundance. Bobbing for apples was a way to see who would marry next, and a young woman who slept with the apple under her pillow was said to dream of her future spouse. (Wikipedia: Apple bobbing)

Simmer pot meanings at a glance

These are the associations most often given in modern witchcraft. They vary between traditions and practitioners, so treat them as a starting point. Scott Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs is a widely used reference for more detail.

Simmer pot for protection

• 3 bay leaves
• 3 sprigs of rosemary
• 1 Tbsp whole cloves
• 1 tsp black peppercorns

Smells herbal and peppery, with clove. Bay, rosemary and cloves are all commonly linked to protection, and bay’s link is the oldest.

Simmer pot for abundance

• 1 orange, sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 3 star anise pods
• A few fresh basil leaves

Smells like sweet spiced orange. Cinnamon’s link to wealth goes back to its history as one of the most expensive goods of the ancient world.

Simmer pot for love

• 1 apple, sliced
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• A small handful of dried rose petals (food-grade or homegrown, not florist roses)

Smells like apple pie with a soft floral note. Apples carry centuries of love folklore. For faithfulness, add a sprig of rosemary.

Simmer pot for cleansing

• 1 lemon, sliced
• 3 sprigs of rosemary
• 2 bay leaves

Smells clean and herbal. It’s a common choice after a move, an argument, or a hard week. Laurel was used in purification rituals at Delphi.

Simmer pot for calm

• 1 Tbsp dried lavender
• 2 chamomile tea bags
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Smells soft, floral and a little sweet. A good one for a quiet evening. Lavender and chamomile are both on the ASPCA’s toxic list for dogs and cats, so this one is best in a home without pets, or in a room they can’t get into.

Setting an intention

Practices vary. Many practitioners say or write down what the pot is for before they start, then add the ingredients one at a time while thinking about what each one stands for.

Seasonal simmer pots

Samhain (October 31) pots often start with apples, which have a long history in Samhain customs, plus cinnamon, cloves and a bay leaf.

Yule, at the winter solstice, usually brings in orange, cranberries, cinnamon, star anise and evergreen sprigs like fir or pine, for renewal as the days start getting longer.

The simmer pot ingredients guide has amounts and scent notes for all of these.

Safety still applies

A witchy simmer pot is still a pot of hot water on the stove, so the usual safety points apply: stay home while it’s on, don’t let it boil dry, and keep the handle turned in.

Several ingredients on this page need extra care if you have pets. The ASPCA lists bay laurel, lemon, orange, lavender and chamomile as toxic to dogs and cats, along with the seeds and stems of apples. Between them they turn up in every recipe on this page, so keep the pot and the leftovers well out of reach. Of the herbs here, rosemary and thyme are listed as non-toxic.

If you light candles as part of the ritual, keep them away from the stove and from the steam.

Frequently asked questions