Sharing a simple, enjoyable Essential Oil Reed Diffuser Recipe.
There’s something so refreshing about a house that smells good. Not overpowering in scent – just pleasant, fresh, clean, lovely. A home you would love to spend time in.
There are many ways to create that effect in your own home. Deep cleaning certain areas will always help – like the garbage disposal, the refrigerator, and even your indoor trash cans. You can always light candles or plug-in diffuser like Pura. You can try making this delightful Lavender Room Spray. And if you have pets, keeping them (and their areas) clean and tidy will go a long way as well.
But another way is with these DIY reed diffusers. You can whip them up in no time at all and trust me, your house will smell goooood.
My scented sachet post has become pretty popular and some of you were wondering a way you can take essential oils and make them scent a WHOLE room.
Of course, you can buy reed diffusers. But my favorite stores like Anthropologie and Pottery Barn want at least $20 bucks a pop. Why? When you can make these reed diffusers for mere cents!
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Essential Oil Reed Diffusers
I’m sharing two recipes with you today. One recipe uses Vodka and water, and the other uses a carrier oil. Choose what works best for you! I’ve included the pros and cons of each below.
Ingredients
Glass Bottle or Vessel with a Narrow Opening (I got mine from the Dollar Store. Check thrift stores too!)
Essential Oils of your Choice – lavender, rosemary, sweet orange, grapefruit and peppermint are popular choices. You can also use a blend or fragrance oil!
Vodka / Rubbing Alcohol OR Carrier Oil (I used Sweet Almond Oil)
Reed Diffusers
Important Reminder: Whatever recipe you choose – please keep these out of reach of children and pets.
I want to note that a carrier oil will last longer than vodka, as vodka tends to evaporate quicker. Either way, in about five minutes you will have the sweetest smelling homemade reed diffuser! And you did this all on your own. Great job!
Recipe with Vodka
Mix equal parts of Water and Vodka / Rubbing Alcohol. I measured a 1/4 cup of each into a Pyrex Measuring Cup.
Add in your essential oils. I used 25 drops of Vanilla for this one.
Pour this mixture into your vessel and swirl to stir it up.
This reed diffuser will last you about a week. Yep, that’s about it. If you stay on top of it you can easily make more. If you want something that lasts a bit longer, try this next recipe with oil.
Recipe with Carrier Oil
Place about a 1/4 cup ofsweet almond oilin your vase.
Mix in about 20-30 drops ofessential oils. I used 15 drops ofbergamotand 15 drops of lemon. If you have a sensitive nose, start with a smaller dose and add more as needed for the perfect aroma.
Swirl to mix it all up!
Stick yourreedsin your vase so the bottom is in the oil.
Wait a few hours, then flip your reeds. Ahhh, so fresh!
This reed diffuser will last you a couple weeks or more, depending on how often you flip your reeds etc.
Extra Tips for Success
Flip your reeds once a week or every few days or so to disperse more scent.
The more you flip your reeds, the faster the mixture will evaporate!
This water and vodka mixture is less messy (no oil spills!), but it will evaporate faster than a mixture with oil.
Use the best reeds to disperse the best scent (see below).
Do you still have a mixture left but no scent? Try using brand new reed sticks. Sometimes reeds can get clogged up and oversaturated.
The more reeds present, the more scent dispersed. Between 5 and 10 reeds is a good average number to use.
Best Reed Diffuser Sticks and Where to Get Them
The best reed diffusers are made from Rattan. Rattan reeds are hollow and have channels that pull up the scent and disperse it.
I know some people have made reed diffusers from bamboo skewers. I’ve never tried this myself but I just know that rattan is the best material and you will get the best scent from them. I get my reed diffuser sticks from Amazon. Here are a few favorites.
How to Make Your Reed Diffuser Last Longer
I wanted to include a few tips for getting your reed diffuser to last longer. First, the more narrow the opening on your vase, the longer your oils will last and not evaporate. If you want to use a mason jar, you can drill a few holes in the top lid and stick yourreedsthrough the holes. This way, not too much can evaporate through that wide opening.
Second, use oil instead of water/vodka. The oil will evaporate less quickly for sure. And you can also try flipping your reeds less!
These reed diffusers are :
Inexpensive to make
Fun to customize with different scents – try coordinating with the seasons and holidays.
Need no flame (woot!)
Easy to create
Giftable!
Smell Amazing
Look pretty with your home decor
I hope you enjoyed these DIY Reed Diffuser Recipes. I can’t think of any other reason you wouldn’t want to try these! Perfect for any season. Happy Creating! 🙂
You can experiment with the percentages to see what works best for you. If you're using the vodka and water mixture, you will want to add approximately 12 drops of essential oils to about 1/4 cup of water, then add a little vodka (the vodka helps bind the oils to the water).
Don't put reed diffusers near external doors or open windows
If you place reed diffusers in a room where doors or windows are regularly open, place the diffuser on the opposite side of the room to get the best output.
The Reed Diffuser Is Not In The Direct Source Of The Airflow. It will not scent the air if it is too far from the air vents. Besides that, the reed diffuser may be blocked by other objects in the room, affecting the diffusion of the fragrance. Therefore, find a place where there is more airflow.
We recommend starting out with an 80/20 ratio of diffuser base to fragrance oil. The Tall Boston Diffuser Bottle holds 210ml of liquid and we used 200ml for our calculations. We used 160ml of diffuser base with 40ml of fragrance oil.
Using your pipette and a measuring jug, we advise using between 10% to 25% fragrance oil depending on the IFRA. Therefore for a litre of reed diffuser base, we suggest to add 150 - 250 ml of fragrance or essential oil. Gently pour in your fragrance oil and diffuser base into your chosen diffuser glass.
Some reed diffuser fragrances contain up to 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. This is the same thing as rubbing alcohol. Swallowing this can cause vomiting and make a child extremely drowsy. Essential oils (e.g. lavender oil, eucalyptus oil) are also common ingredients.
Eucalyptus, with its sharp and penetrating aroma, is a prime example; just a few drops can clear sinuses and permeate a room. Peppermint is another heavyweight champion in the scent ring, offering a cool, invigorating fragrance that lingers.
If the fragrance oil comes in a separate container, the next step is to pour the oil into your vessel until it is approximately ½ to ¾ full. Don't fill it all the way to the top, or it might overflow when you add the reeds in.
Yes, absolutely, but it depends which reed diffuser recipe you chose. Water and oils don't mix, but alcohol and oil are miscible, which means that they can mix and form an even solution. If you chose to use water base, you will need some form of alcohol.
I like to use either fractionated coconut oil or sweet almond oil. Essential oils (about $3 – $5 per diffuser). For every 2 ounces (1/4 cup) of oil in your diffuser you'll need between 20 and 30 drops of your favorite essential oil blend.
The good news is reed diffusers are generally safe, though some precautions are recommended. Reed diffusers don't require the use of flame and they don't involve spraying anything into the air. If anyone in your family has severe respiratory concerns, be careful about using any kind of fragrance.
Here are some signs to look out for: Lack of scent: If your reed diffuser has been losing its potency over time and you can no longer smell the fragrance, it may be time to replace or refill it. Even rotating the reeds and adjusting the number of sticks won't work if the fragrance oil has evaporated completely.
You'll need to flip your reeds regularly, ideally every few days, to keep the scent fresh and fragrant. Just keep in mind that the more you flip, the quicker the oil will evaporate. Diffusers don't require a flame or heat source for them to work, making them a safe and practical way to fragrance your home.
Can I use water in my reed diffuser? Yes, absolutely, but it depends which reed diffuser recipe you chose. Water and oils don't mix, but alcohol and oil are miscible, which means that they can mix and form an even solution. If you chose to use water base, you will need some form of alcohol.
A: No.DPG and alcohol are added to many reed diffusers to dilute the reed diffuser oil. You don't need alcohol or DPG to make the reed diffusers “work”. Our reed diffuser oils are complete as you receive them.
You can also make your own reed diffuser refill at home using a lightweight, unscented base oil, and an essential oil of your choice. To do this simply use 30-50 drops of essential oil per ½ cup of base oil. Stir well, then insert your reeds and use as normal.
Reed diffusers work by adding a large quantity of an essential oil (or a blend) to a glass container, then adding reed rods to the mixture. Let the reeds soak in the mixture, then flip the reeds so the oil-infused section is sticking out. This will produce a mild but consistent aroma throughout your home.
Introduction: My name is Greg Kuvalis, I am a witty, spotless, beautiful, charming, delightful, thankful, beautiful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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