Hi darlings,
Every November 1st, before the sun is even up and the house is still quiet, I start the sweetest little tradition. It’s nothing grand or fancy — just a simple simmer pot bubbling away on my stove — but goodness, it changes the whole feeling of my home.
I wake up, slip into my robe, and let the cool morning air hit my shoulders. Then I slice an orange and an apple, drop in cinnamon sticks and star anise pods, sprinkle in a few cloves, and add a handful of cranberries. Right before I turn on the heat, I tuck in a tiny sprig of pine or rosemary… and that’s when the magic happens.
The moment the pot starts to warm, the entire house begins to smell like love.
Like peace.
Like nostalgia wrapped in warmth.
This little ritual is something I’ve carried with me for years, and it’s the very scent that inspired several of the fragrances in my Holiday Memories Collection. There’s something about the way orange and cinnamon mingle with pine… it just whispers, “The holidays are here, sweetheart.”
And because you’re here — in my diary entries, in my studio stories, in the tiny corners of my business that I guard close — I wanted to share this piece of my home with you.
If you’d like to fill your space with that same cozy magic, here’s the recipe I use every single year:
🫖 Holiday Simmer Pot Recipe
A warm, festive scent that hugs your home from the inside out.
Ingredients:
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1 apple, sliced
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• A handful of fresh cranberries
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 2–4 star anise pods
• 1 small sprig of pine or rosemary
• Water
Instructions:
1. Fill a small pot halfway with water.
2. Add all ingredients.
3. Simmer on low, uncovered, allowing the fragrance to gently fill your home.
4. Add more water as needed — this can simmer for hours.
Cozy Tips:
• Fresh or dehydrated fruit both work beautifully.
• Heading to a holiday party soon? Dehydrated ingredients make a lovely hostess gift when packaged with a ribbon and tag.
As the holiday season settles in, I hope you find your own soft little moments — the ones that slow you down, comfort you, and remind you how beautiful this season can be.
And if you’ve been following the story behind my Holiday Memories Collection, you already know this simmer pot plays a special part in my own journey. If you missed it, you can read the full NYC story here:
👉🏽 [Link to the “Holiday Memories” story]
From my home to yours, darling…
I hope your season is filled with warmth, wonder, and cozy little rituals that make your heart feel held.
All my love,
Sophia
Founder, The Willow Tree Co
