Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Prepare the fruit. Wash the pear and orange thoroughly, removing any stems or seeds.
- Slice the pear. Cut into approximately ¼-inch slices, leaving the peel on.
- Combine ingredients. Place the pear slices, cinnamon sticks, and orange peel in a medium saucepan.
- Add liquids. Pour in 4 cups of water and add the vanilla extract.
- Warm the mixture. Heat over medium heat until gentle steam and small bubbles appear.
- Reduce the heat. Turn the burner to low and maintain a gentle simmer without vigorous boiling.
- Monitor the water. Check every 20–30 minutes and add more hot water before the liquid level becomes low.
- Continue simmering. Maintain the gentle simmer for 1–2 hours while staying nearby and supervising the pot.
- Turn off the heat. Switch off the burner when finished or whenever leaving the kitchen.
Notes
Recipe Notes
- Stronger fragrance: Add another cinnamon stick or a strip of fresh orange peel. Pear has a subtle scent, so aromatic spices help make the fragrance more noticeable.
- Lighter fragrance: Use one cinnamon stick instead of two, or reduce the vanilla extract to ¼ teaspoon.
- Ingredient substitutions: Replace orange peel with two strips of lemon peel for a fresher scent. Add one small rosemary sprig for a woodsy, herbal variation.
- Fresh or dried pears: Fresh ripe pears are ideal for immediate preparation. Fully dehydrated pear slices also work; use approximately four dried slices instead of one fresh pear.
- Reuse and storage: Cooled ingredients may be reused later the same day. For next-day use, cool promptly, transfer to a covered container, refrigerate, and use within approximately 24 hours. Discard if mold, fermentation, slime, or unusual odors appear.
- Slow cooker option: Add the ingredients and water to a suitable slow cooker. Heat on LOW, following the manufacturer's instructions for lid position. Monitor regularly and replenish water as needed. Never leave it unattended. Important: This simmer pot is for home fragrance only. Do not eat, taste, serve, or drink the mixture. Never leave a heated simmer pot unattended, and never allow the pot to boil dry. Keep the pot and hot liquid away from children and pets. If you have pets and are unsure about a particular ingredient, check with your veterinarian before using it in your home.
- Lighter fragrance: Use one cinnamon stick instead of two, or reduce the vanilla extract to ¼ teaspoon.
- Ingredient substitutions: Replace orange peel with two strips of lemon peel for a fresher scent. Add one small rosemary sprig for a woodsy, herbal variation.
- Fresh or dried pears: Fresh ripe pears are ideal for immediate preparation. Fully dehydrated pear slices also work; use approximately four dried slices instead of one fresh pear.
- Reuse and storage: Cooled ingredients may be reused later the same day. For next-day use, cool promptly, transfer to a covered container, refrigerate, and use within approximately 24 hours. Discard if mold, fermentation, slime, or unusual odors appear.
- Slow cooker option: Add the ingredients and water to a suitable slow cooker. Heat on LOW, following the manufacturer's instructions for lid position. Monitor regularly and replenish water as needed. Never leave it unattended. Important: This simmer pot is for home fragrance only. Do not eat, taste, serve, or drink the mixture. Never leave a heated simmer pot unattended, and never allow the pot to boil dry. Keep the pot and hot liquid away from children and pets. If you have pets and are unsure about a particular ingredient, check with your veterinarian before using it in your home.