I Can't Stop Making Homemade Reed Diffusers, and My Home Smells So Good
I really dislike artificial fragrances, especially those plug-in types of air fresheners that often can be a little too chemical-y for my taste. Give me essential oils any day! What I’ve also noticed, though, is that many of the nicer reed diffusers are also pretty pricey. The good news: You can make your own DIY reed diffuser for a fraction of retail price and get the completely customized scent of your dreams.
Yep, that’s right — you don’t need to pay $20 or $30 for a store-bought reed diffuser, especially when you can find many of the raw materials to make a DIY reed diffuser lying around your home already. Here’s how to DIY a reed diffuser for a hit of natural aromatherapy at home.
Materials for Making Reed Diffusers
Glass or ceramic container (make sure it’s glazed inside, so it doesn’t leak) with a narrow opening at the top. I decided to try this beautiful vase a friend bought for me, since it’s already in my bedroom and it has been deemed completely uninteresting to the felines.
Essential oils of your choice. I have lavender and eucalyptus.
An oil or solvent to use as your base. I’ve heard of using mineral oil as your “base,” but I wanted to avoid petroleum-based products. Sweet almond oil or safflower oil are other options. But I was intrigued when I read about using vodka and water, mostly because I have some in the freezer, it’s not my favorite libation, and it won’t leave a greasy mess if it does get knocked over. However, I’ve also read that vodka will evaporate more quickly than something totally oil-based, which means you’ll need to replace it more quickly. It’s your call.
Reeds or bamboo skewers. You can find reed diffuser sticks online pretty inexpensively, but if you have bamboo skewers in the kitchen or craft room, just trim off the pointy ends before use.
Steps for Making Reed Diffusers
1. If you’re using an oil base, you will blend a mix of 30% essential oil to 70% base oil. 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.
2. Pour the mixture into your receptacle and place one end of the reeds or skewers into the solution, allowing it to saturate the reeds. Then take them out, and place the opposite ends into the bottle. Rotate which ends are in the scent solution about once a week.
Tips for Best Results in Your DIY Reed Diffuser
The smaller the neck on the bottle, the slower the liquid will evaporate.
Experiment with different essential oil combinations until you find one or two you really like. You can then increase your batches and keep them in sealed containers (like a canning jar) to save prep time later on.
If you have pets, know that essential oils can sometimes be harmful to your dog or cat. Do your research before you make a reed diffuser and find out if your chosen oil is considered toxic.
What Are the Best Essential Oils for a DIY Reed Diffuser?
Your carrier oil options for DIY reed diffusers are limited because you need to use an oil that isn’t too thick too evenly diffuse in the reeds. That’s why sweet almond oil and safflower oil are better than thicker oils like virgin coconut oil and jojoba oil.
But when it comes to which essential oils to choose, you have a lot more flexibility. The best essential oils for your DIY reed diffuser are ones with scents you love.
Do note, though, that citrus oils tend to evaporate faster than other essential oils (they’re what’s called “top notes” since you tend to smell them first). It’s best to combine these with another oil that evaporates a little more slowly — like lavender, ginger, cinnamon, cedar, or sandalwood — to give the fragrance more staying power.
Experiment with your blends until you find one you love. The best part of these DIY reed diffusers is that you can customize them however you want!
