Reed diffusers are simple and cost-effective to make. Place porous reeds in a fragrance solution and simply place them in light airflow to allow the scent to evaporate and diffuse around your home. A ‘carrier’ with a form of alcohol is required then essential oils and/or fragrance oils are added to create a fragrant solution. Fragrance oils increase scent potency and longevity and have a wide scope of options to choose from to develop your own ranges. Essential oils can also be added to enhance mood and well-being. Reed diffusers make welcome gifts for friends and family and they can be created for a fraction of the price you would pay in a retail store. Empower yourself by making your own reed diffusers, Save money, and leave your home smelling utterly fabulous!
Do We Not Stock What You Want?
Have you seen VINEVIDA’s new range of Reed Diffusers? Bursting with fragrance with a stylish look that is bang on trend, we are just a little bit proud of them.
We stock a huge range of aromatic essential oils and exciting fragrance oils for you to choose from to make your own amazing reed diffusers. However, on very rare occasions, you might find we don’t have a specific fragrance you are looking for or do not stock exactly what you want when you need it.
Have no fear…making your own reed diffusers with fragrance oils and essential oils is an absolute doddle and they are one of the simplest, and most effective, aromatherapy products you can make at home.
You can have intense fragrance wafting through your home in no time Let me show you how!
Before that though….
What Are Reed Diffusers?
They are a very basic room fragrancing tool. They consist, simply, of a bottle of 'fragrance' into which you place a handful of ‘reed’ like sticks.
They have surged in popularity over the last 15 years and while it may feel like a fairly modern trend the idea itself is ancient and steeped in history. Many cultures have used sticks or reeds as a means of fragrancing their homes as well as temples, places of worship for millenia. This ancient practice has now become one of the fastest-growing products in the home fragrance industry.
There is a trick to them, however. Soaked reeds are more effective than dry reeds. So it helps to soak them in a little bit of the fragrance solution first so they can then absorb the fragrance by capillary action. This then helps them to continue soaking up the fragrance once they are placed into the bottle.
The fragrant solution evaporates slowly from the surface of the reeds and then disperses its scent into the air.
Reed diffusers are an efficient, cost-effective, method for infusing fragrance oils and essential oils into your home. They tend to be long-lived and can last several weeks. I had one previously that lasted for 2 years, with a little care and maintenance.
Benefits Of Making Your Own Reed Diffusers
I always have a little thrill when I unpack a new diffuser, I rarely buy them for myself, (because I make my own) and they always tend to be gifts. While it is a beautiful thing to open a stylish and elegant reed diffuser, it is essentially a bunch of reeds, a bottle with a pretty label (with a cap that is about to be binned), and what I like to think of as a 'magic solution' in a bottle.
I hate to steal your joy and demystify this, but this magic solution usually consists of a carrier oil, alcohol, and a dispersant which helps the oil to penetrate the reeds more easily.
I feel bad busting the magic bubble, but what it should also do, is make you realize how simple they can be to make for yourself at home. Making your own reed diffusers with fragrance oils and essential oils gives you complete control over the production process and allows you to make…well anything you want with them, really.
Incidentally, VINEVIDA fragrance oils are free from Phthalates, Parabens, SLES, or SLS. They are never tested on animals and are always cruelty-free; important considerations if you are interested in reducing unnecessary chemicals and harsh toxins from your home.
Should I Use Essential Oils or Fragrance Oils In My Reed Diffusers?
In truth, you can use both.
- Essential oils are packed with chemical constituents and active properties which affect your mood and well-being.
- Fragrance oils simply smell appealing.
Your design process needs to take these differences into account. If you wish to create a reed diffuser to encourage relaxation and calm in your kids' bedroom, then choose essential oils with active properties that bring these benefits. However, be aware that the scent may not be as strong as you would achieve with fragrance oils and the aroma will not last as long either.
So, if you want to combat stinky bathroom or kitchen whiffs, opting for a VINEVIDA Soaps & Candles fragrance oil will be a more suitable choice. Perhaps check out our odor-eliminating Soaps & Candle fragrance oils, for some inspiration.
There may also be times when combining both essential oils and fragrance oils may be beneficial. For instance, perhaps you’d like to make a reed diffuser that smells of roses. Rose essential oil is incredibly expensive. Harnessing enough of the essential oil's smell to scent your room would be costly, but perhaps you feel it is important to use the essential oil, so you can enjoy some of the properties of the chemical constituents. One solution might be to use a few drops of Rose essential oil and bolster it with a Rose-based fragrance like NO. 33 - Fresh Cut Roses to strengthen the scent profile and give you the best of both worlds.
Blending essential oils through your fragrance oils enables you to tailor your reed diffuser exactly to your needs and to incredible results in a cost-effective way.
The Benefits of Using Essential Oils in a Reed Diffuser
Essential oils allow you complete control to perfectly tailor your reed diffuser to your exact needs.
Choose relaxing and sedative essential oils for the reed diffuser next to your bed. Or fresh, clean, and enlivening oils in the bathroom - Peppermint and Spearmint always go well in a kitchen and brighten the atmosphere.
Essential oils like Mandarin and Sweet Orange reduce stress, so might be perfect for a reed diffuser placed by the chair in which you relax during the evening. Why not try one on your desk at work as well - basil, rosemary, and peppermint - all fabulous oils for concentration and for focus?
An Alternative to Overwhelming Reed Diffuser
One of my friends suffers awful migraines. She loves beautiful floral fragrances but sadly, she just can’t use commercial reed diffusers. The intense fragrances set off her migraines. Last Christmas, I made her a reed diffuser all of her own, with a fragrance concentrate that she could pitch perfectly for her needs. She was thrilled with it.
Now, she realizes she can fill her home with fragrance without triggering headaches and is converted to making her own reed diffusers.
If that story resonates with you, rest assured that you can make your own reed diffusers. You can control the depth and strength of the fragrance so it is not so overwhelming.
We also have a range of Vanillin-Free fragrance oils for those who are sensitive to Vanillin.
All this flexibility comes for a fraction of the price of commercial reed diffusers.
Saving Money
Reed diffusers tend to use less fragrance oil or essential oil than other diffusion methods. A whole bottle of fragrance solution only uses a tiny amount of essential oil or fragrance oil. This small concentration oif fragrance material generally means they last longer too, especially given the slower evaporation and diffusion.
Reed diffusers also make great gifts that are always well-received. If you plan to make several reed diffusers at one time, you can buy carrier oil and perfumers alcohol or DPG - Dipropylene glycol in bulk and everything becomes a lot more cost effective.
Making your own reed d diffusers will save you LOADS of money.
Safety With Kids and Pets
Reed diffusers are safer than a burning scented candle. You can guarantee anytime I light a candle on the coffee table one of my kooky cats will go and sit right next to it. But not before they have waived their tail through the flame several times. They just look at me blankly while I shout and I shoo them off! You don’t need to worry about a reed diffuser in the same way that you would about a burning candle.
Caution does need to be considered around essential oils and your kids though. Tots tend to grab the reeds. (If this happens, pour cold carrier oil onto their hands and rub in to dilute any oils and then rinse with soapy water). However, the safety dilution rates are usually fairly small, so this minimizes some of the risk.
You don’t have to give reed diffusers a second thought really, as long as you put them out of the way of waggy tails and tiny hands.
Read more about safety here: How To Find Safety Information On The VINEVIDA Website.
Best Essential Oils For Reed Diffusers
Reed diffusers are all about creating an ambiance, so let’s take the effects you are trying to achieve, and match that with suitable essential oils instead.
This table shows you what essential oils are best for creating a particular ambiance. It is super simple, simply harnessing the essential oils specific properties to create the desired effect.
| Desired Ambience or Properties | Recommended Essential Oils | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calming and Relaxing |
Mandarin (Citrus Reticulata) |
Vetiver (Vetiveria Zizanoides) |
Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) |
Roman Chamomile (Anthemis Nobilis L.) |
| Get Ready For Sleep |
Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) |
Marjoram (Origanum Majorana) |
Vetiver (Vetiveria Zizanoides) |
Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin) |
| Sensuous Scents for the Bedroom |
Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin) |
Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla Planifolia) |
Cardamom (Elettaria Cardamomum) |
Ylang Ylang (Cananga Odorata) |
| Spicy |
Star Anise (Illicium Verum) |
Black Pepper (Piper Nigrum) |
Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans) |
Cardamom (Elettaria Cardamomum) |
| Floral |
Palmarosa (Cymbopogon Martinii Var Motia) |
Ylang Ylang (Cananga Odorata) |
Rose Geranium (Pelargonium Asperum Var Roseum) |
Helichrysum (Helichrysum Splendida) |
| Freshness |
Spearmint (Mentha Spicata) |
Dwarf Pine (Pinus Mugo Turra) |
Lemon (Citrus Limon L (Burm.) F. ) |
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Globulus) |
| Citrusy and Zingy |
Pink Grapefruit (Citrus Paradisi) |
Lime (Citrus Latifolia Tanaka) |
Tangerine (Citrus Reticulata Blanco) |
Bergamot (Citrus Bergamia) |
| Stimulating and Enlivening |
Sweet Orange (Citrus Sinensis L) |
Grapefruit (Citrus Paradisi) |
Clary Sage (Salvia Sclarea) |
Sweet Basil (Ocimum Basilicum) |
| Focus and Concentration |
Mandarin (Citrus Reticulata) |
Lemon (Citrus Limon L (Burm.) F. ) |
Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) |
Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) |
| Air Clearing and Smell Busting |
Dwarf Pine (Pinus Mugo Turra) |
Sweet Orange (Citrus Sinensis L) |
Balsam Fir (Abies Balsamea) |
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Flexuosus) |
| Masculine |
Cedarwood (Cedrus Deodara) |
Frankincense (Boswellia Serrata) |
Copaiba (Copaifera Officinalis) |
Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin) |
| Woody |
Amyris (Amyris Balsamifera) |
Himalayan Cedarwood (Cedrus Deodara) |
Cedarwood (Atlas) (Cedrus Atlantica) |
Copaiba Balsam (Copaifera Officinalis) |
Best Carrier Oils For Reed Diffusers
There are a variety of carrier oils that you can use but lets keep this section as simple as possible.
In my order of preference for efficacy:
- Grapeseed Carrier Oil (Vitus Vinifera) - ideal absorption characteristics, light green coloration.
- Apricot Kernel Oil (Prunus Armeniaca) - good flow and absorption, long shelf life, golden color.
- Moroccan Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa) - good flow and absorption, golden color.
- Rosehip Oil (Rosa Canina) - very thin and ideal for absorption, add a little to other carrier oils to improve them, good shelf life, bright orange color.
- Fractionated Coconut Oil (MCT) (Cocos Nucifera) - below average absorption, but colorless.
Just a note on color. If you want a colorless solution in a colorless bottle, you will have to compromise on efficacy. Sunlight oxidizes oils causing them to deteriorate. Choose a dark bottle to use for this.
How to Make Reed Diffuser Fragrance Solution
You need some primary components, a carrier and an alcohol, to make a reed diffuser fragrance solution, alongside your fragrance and essential oils.
A ‘carrier’ formulated from one, or a mixture, of the following:
- A carrier oil like Grapeseed, Apricot Kernel, or Fractionated Coconut.
- Fragrance-grade DPG - Dipropylene glycol which acts as a non-ionic surfactant.
- Glycerin.
An ‘alcohol’ acts as a dispersant for the carrier base.
- Ideally, use a perfumer's alcohol which thins and disperses the carrier oil and promotes absorption into the reeds.
- Alternatively, use a high-strength or percentage Vodka with a dispersant like Castile Soap, if you are not using DPG.
You will also need fragrance components
- Essential oils
- Soaps & Candles Fragrance oils
- Or a combination of both
Glycerin In Reed Diffusers
Is glycerin necessary to make a reed diffuser fragrance solution?
Technically, no. I find that by adding glycerin means a better absorption rate because the dilution is thinner and travels up the reeds more effectively. Then, this helps the solution evaporate more readily to diffuse the fragrance into the air.
Further, the fixative quality of Glycerin anchors the essential oils for a more long-lived fragrance.
Best of all, It is also cheap and easily available from most pharmacies and drugstores.
Ratios of ingredients For Your Reed Diffuser Fragrance Solution
I prefer a 1:1 ratio of carrier to alcohol for my reed diffuser fragrance solution. I find it gives you a decent absorption and evaporation rate that does not fade too quickly and elongates the life of the reed diffuser.
By all means, tinker with the ratio to suit yourself.
Add More Carrier
More carrier means a slower absorption and evaporation rate and longer-lived fragrance intensity. This suits reed diffusers on bedside cabinets that don’t need an intense output of fragrance.
Add More Alcohol
More alcohol means a faster evaporation rate and high intensity of fragrance over a shorter period. This suits reed diffusers in high-traffic areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and reception desks.
IFRA Safety For Reed Diffusers
Reed Diffusers fall into IFRA Category 10A and so you need to check the amount of Soaps & Candles fragrance oil and essential oils that you can use in that category. Never presume that you just use a certain amount, they all differ, so always follow the IFRA guidelines.
Not sure where to find the right safety information? How To Find Safety Information On The VINEVIDA Website will answer all your questions.
You can use the VINEVIDA Calculator when working out the correct safety data for your formulations and recipes. Because it does not have an option for reed diffusers, use the ‘Laundry Detergent Liquid’ option instead, as it features in the same 10A category. Weird I know, but it will work out the right data for you, trust me!
My Three Favorite Reed Diffuser Recipes
I am going to show you how to make a reed diffuser three ways, one with just essential oils where you can harness all those wonderful active benefits.
I am sharing one with just Soaps & Candles fragrance oils, one that money cannot buy, something super refreshing but also unique, bespoke, and especially for you.
The last combines both essential oil and fragrance oils for a sophisticated and luxurious finish. Get the best of both worlds with this one.
I’m also really pushing the boat out and going to give you three alternative reed diffuser bases to extend your skills and resources even further.
TOP TIP TO GET A FRAGRANT HEAD START: Account for extras and make a bit extra of the fragrance solution. Take a wide dish that will take the length of the reeds and pour in the extra fragrance solution to soak the reeds until they look fully saturated with the solution. Keep any excess solution to top up your bottle with.
For All Recipes You Will Need:
- Small measuring jug
- Stainless steel stirrer
- Funnel
- A suitable narrow-neck bottle for your reed diffuser
- Reeds, preferably natural.
- Label
Method For All Recipes:
- Measure out your ‘carrier’ ingredients into one jug and your ‘alcohol’ component into another small jug.
- Add your essential oil/fragrance blend into the carrier portion and mix it thoroughly.
- The time has come to mix the carrier oil and the alcohol together. However, do it slowly and get them to homogenize together. Take your time with this section, you don’t want it to split in the bottle.
- To keep your bottle clean, use a funnel and decant it into your bottle. (Did you read the section below on the right kind of bottle)?
- Use an oil and waterproof label and list all ingredients for safety purposes. (See the section on labeling below please).
- Always add the type, proof, and percentage of alcohol used for safety reasons.
- Date it too, because it does have an expiration date of 6-12 months.
- See my ‘Top Tip’ above, otherwise, pop your reeds into the bottle and allow them to soak up the solution.
- Remember to position the reed diffuser in a place with decent airflow to enable the scent to fill the space beautifully.
It’s so simple, isn’t it?
Let's move to the all-exciting recipes and add gorgeous scents in!
Sleepy Reed Diffuser Recipe With Essential Oils
This colorless reed diffuser fragrance solution would be perfect for the bedside side table in a pretty vintage bottle.
The Fractionated Coconut oil and the higher carrier ratio will give a slower and less intense evaporation and fragrance intensity, which is perfect when you are getting ready to settle down for the night.
The essential oils are all wonderfully calming, sedative, and soothing, perfect for a great night's sleep.
(NOTE: You never want electric diffusers to run all night, so this slowed evaporation in a reed diffuser is perfect for when you are sleeping).
Ingredients:
Carrier Components:
- 30 ml Fractionated Coconut MCF Carrier Oil (Cocos nucifera)
- 23 ml Glycerine (Glycerol)
- 4 ml of Castile Soap (Potassium Cocoate, Jojobate and Olivate)
Alcohol Components:
- 40 ml High-proof Vodka (70-80% Proof) CAUTION: FLAMMABLE!
Fragrance Components
- 40 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula Angustifolia)
- 10 drops of Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon Cablin)
- 10 drops of Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria Zizanoides)
Safety:
- Not for topical use
- Protect your surfaces with a coaster or mat
- Keep out of the reach of pets and children
Super Refreshing Reed Diffuser Recipe With Fragrance Oils
This is a gorgeous, bright, light, and airy fragrance, with the added benefit of a refreshing odor eliminator. It’s like a breath of fresh air.
The reed diffuser recipe has a higher ratio of alcohol and DPG for added fragrance intensity, but it will evaporate quicker because of this.
These intense reed diffusers are absolutely ideal for high-traffic areas in the home. Use it in porches and hallways, kitchen and bathrooms and why not try it in the office or on the reception desk?
NOTE: Always make sure you are using VINEVIDA Soaps & Candles Fragrance Oil and not the Diffuser variation, they are very different!
The commercial recommendations for using DPG and Perfumers Alcohol in a reed diffuser base are as follows:
- 60-65% DPG
- 5-10% Perfumers Alcohol
- 30% fragrance oil (Please note your IFRA safety dilution rates may not extend to 30%).
My recipe has a higher ratio of alcohol, for that fragrance intensity, so choose what suits you.
Ingredients:
Carrier Components:
- 60 ml of DPG (Dipropylene Glycol)
Alcohol Components:
- 20 ml Perfumers Alcohol (Ethanol, Isopropyl Myristate, Monopropylene Glycol) CAUTION: FLAMMABLE!
Fragrance Components
Safety:
- Not for topical use
- Protect your surfaces with a coaster or mat
- Keep out of the reach of pets and children
Sophisticated Reed Diffuser Recipe With Essential Oils & Fragrance Oils
This is beautifully sophisticated, woven with heady flowers and rich woods. It is perfect for the more formal areas of the home like the sitting and dining rooms. I must admit, I like this one in the bedroom too.
This combines the best of both worlds with essential oils and Soaps and Candles fragrance oils. It has a 1:1 ratio of carrier to alcohol, it may still have an element of flammability, so be cautious of its vapors and don’t use it near naked flames or candles.
Ingredients:
Carrier Components:
- 20 ml Grapeseed Carrier Oil (Vitis Vinifera)
- 10 ml Glycerine (Glycerol)
Alcohol Components:
- 50 ml Perfumers Alcohol (Ethanol, Isopropyl Myristate, Monopropylene Glycol) CAUTION: FLAMMABLE!
Fragrance Components:
- 10 ml of NO. 1201 - Inspired by: Baies by Diptyque Soaps and Candles Fragrance Oil
- 5 ml of NO. 21 - Cedarwood & Amber Soaps and Candles Fragrance Oil
- 40 drops of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil (Cananga Odorata)
- 40 drops of Amyris Essential Oil (Amyris Balsamifera)
- 20 drops of Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon Cablin)
Safety:
- CAUTION: Potentially flammable. Do not use near naked flames or heat sources.
- Not for topical use
- Protect your surfaces with a coaster or mat
- Keep out of the reach of pets and children
How to Use Reed Diffusers Properly
Position In A Place With Good Airflow
We have already learned that reed diffusers work by way of capillary action, drawing the fragrant solution up through the reeds. It is then evaporated and diffused into the air, but to evaporate, it needs airflow.
This is the most common mistake people make, is the placement of their reed diffuser in a position with too little air flow, so there is not enough evaporation and diffusion of fragrance.
Try placing your reed diffuser by a door or a window for that beneficial airflow. It will vastly improve the dispersion of fragrance in your room.
Flip Your Reeds Regularly
The whole point here is diffusion in the air, through evaporation, when things evaporate, they become dry. This is what happens when the reeds can no longer wick up the solution, they dry out.
So what do you do? There are a couple of things you can do.
- Firstly, simply flip your reeds over and put the dry ends into the bottle, and expose the damp ends to the air.
- If there is not much solution left and they are really dry, pour the solution into a shallow container and soak your reeds for an hour, then pour the solution back in using a funnel and pop your reeds back in. (Wear gloves for this).
Giving the bottle a good shake can enliven the fragrance's strength a little too.
If your reeds look dusty, give them a really good clean and try them again, but usually, by this point, it is worth replacing them with new ones.
When you start making your own reed diffuser it is more cost effective to buy your reeds in bulk. It gives you plenty to replace if they get dusty or clogged. Also, once you start making your own you will realize what great gifts they make and will be glad of the extras.
Room Size
At the reed diffuser design process, it is always worth considering the size of your room or space. It stands to reason that you don’t need as much fragrance oil or essential oil in a fragrance solution for a small bathroom as you might for a larger sitting room or bedroom.
Basically, you need less intensity of fragrance in a smaller room and slightly more for larger rooms. If your rooms are particularly large, or even open-plan, you may need more than one reed diffuser for your space.
Use The Right Size and Shape Bottle
It is important to use the right shape and size bottle. The neck needs to be narrow enough to discourage needless evaporation but wide enough for your reeds to fit in and be able to play a little to encourage better airflow.
If your bottle is too big, say 250ml, you tend to find that your reeds block up with dust and no longer absorb the fragrant solution. At this point, the reeds are fit for the bin and you need new ones. Yet, you can mitigate this by using a smaller bottle in the first place. I recommend anywhere between 100 ml and 150 ml as the sweet spot to aim for.
Maintenance
When I create a 100ml reed diffuser, I expect it to last for up to 4-6 weeks. But with a little maintenance and a few tricks, you can potentially extend its lifespan to 3-4 months.
I made one last two years, by cleaning the reeds well and periodically, refreshing the fragrance solution with essential oils. I think because it was in a place with limited airflow, it contributed to how long it lasted. However, even with limited airflow it still gave pretty good diffusion.
Look after your reeds, check your carrier oils haven’t gone rancid, and give things a quick clean and refresh every so often.
Protect Your Surfaces
Disclaimer: As oil-based products, fragrance oils may stain polished and painted surfaces, furniture, and furnishings. Please take steps to protect surfaces before use. Always carry out patch tests in inconspicuous areas, especially on your more precious surfaces and linens.
Always protect the surfaces of your home, especially your precious ones! Do this by placing your reed diffuser on a coaster or mat.
When you flip the reeds, and shake the bottle, either place an extra cloth underneath or go and do it in the kitchen sink.
We recommend keeping them well out of the way of pets and children, as tips, drips and spills can mark precious surfaces.
Using Reed Diffusers Safely
It’s not rocket science but you do need to exercise some decent common sense. Let's look at some of the main safety issues and solutions.
Why Labeling Is Imperative
As you can see from the section above, if you are creating and using homemade reed diffusers, they must be clearly labeled with all of the ingredients.
Think about it like this - Your neighbor's toddler gets curious and drinks half the solution because "it smelled like candy." The last thing you want to be doing is searching for your recipe if you even wrote it down! Of course, you just want to be able to grab the bottle and go!
I can guarantee one of the first questions medical professionals will ask is, “What is the alcohol content of this”? Always add the type and proof (if applicable) and the percentage of alcohol used on the label.
Get into the habit of labeling things professionally. List every ingredient, ideally listed by proportion, in line with commercial labeling standards. You will be glad that you did, should you ever need it.
You can always stick it on the underside of the bottle, out of sight, if you are worried about aesthetics.
Kids and Pets?
If you have the blessing of small children in your home, consider shying away from fragrances that smell like candy, cakes, or sweet, fruity treats. It will taste absolutely disgusting, but you want to avoid any accidental ingestion where possible.
Always keep reed diffusers out of reach of children and teach them not to touch them. The same goes for pets, keep them out of their reach, and out of waggy tail territory. In the event of ingestion by your pet, or spillage upon them, consult your veterinarian immediately.
Flammability
Your reed diffusers contain alcohol in some form, and in varying amounts, so they are potentially highly flammable in terms of their liquid. What people don’t tend to think about is their vapor and you must consider this eventuality too.
Always keep alcohol-based reed diffusers away from heat sources/sparks/naked flames/hot surfaces. Naturally, please do not smoke around reed diffusers or you might find yourself going BOOM!
Perfume Sensitivity
We touched on perfume sensitivity and being sensitive to Vanillin earlier. If you are sensitive, be sensible and exercise some caution. In the first instance, choose essential oils over fragrance oils and see how you get on with those first.
Always make a small amount first and test it out. It helps reduce any waste if you can't cope with it. You can always gift it, never just throw it away, someone will be able to use it.
Experiment and work out what you can and can’t use and build your way up to fragrance oils.
Use carrier oils like Fractionated Coconut (MCT) to slow down the evaporation rate and reduce the intensity. Pair that with a higher ratio of carrier to alcohol and you have less intensity and a much slower evaporation, which could be perfect for you.
Tinkering and experimenting is the way forward, don’t just resign yourself to disappointment based on commercial offerings. Start with soft, gentle essential oils like Lavender, Mandarin, and Frankincense, and use just a few drops. Pretty soon, I am sure you will have the perfect reed diffuser for you and an appetite to create more.
What To Do If You Get Any Fragrance Solution On You
Any of the components in the reed diffuser fragrance solution could cause allergic skin reactions or severe eye irritations.
If the product gets on your skin or hair:
- If it has a high oil content, pour some carrier oil over the spill to dilute the oils and then proceed to the next step with soapy water.
- Immediately, rinse skin or hair with clean, tepid water; use soapy water to break down the oils, if it feels oily on your skin.
- Remove any contaminated clothing, rinse immediately, and set aside to wash with stain removers and a strong detergent.
- Seek medical advice/attention if a skin irritation or rash occurs and have the clearly labeled bottle on hand.
If the product gets in your eyes:
- Using cold-boiled water (or distilled water) rinse cautiously for several minutes.
- If you have an eye bath, use that to make things easier.
- Remove your contact lenses, but only if you can.
- Continue rinsing with cold water, until you feel your eye is thoroughly flushed through and feels clear.
- Seek medical advice/attention if any eye irritation persists and have the clearly labeled bottle on hand.
If the product is swallowed:
- Immediately call a doctor or medical professional and have the clearly labeled bottle to hand.
It’s Empty, What Do I Do With It Now?
Re-Use
When your reed diffuser is empty of fragrance solution it makes perfect sense to simply re-use and refill your diffuser bottles. Wash them out, if you wish, and refresh them. Check the reeds over and reuse the reeds where possible. They benefit from a quick dust and clean, soak in some soapy water, rinse in clean water, and let them dry fully before using them again.
Ideally, stick to the same fragrance solution, but if you fancy a change, maybe grab some new reeds. You can always wrap the old reeds up in some plain paper and label the fragrance used, so you can re-use them at a later date.
Re-Purpose
A lot of diffuser bottles are quite elegant, stylish, and pretty so try and repurpose your bottle. Remove the label and perhaps turn it into a bud vase for your desk or bedside cabinet. They can look really sophisticated in sets of three or five with colorful wildflowers.
Reed sticks can be thoroughly cleaned in soapy water and reused for other projects. I’ve repurposed old reed sticks as plant pot labels in the past and just attached a sticker to the end.
Dispose of Responsibly
If you opt for natural reeds, you can just compost them! If you bought plastic, consult your packaging for the recycling or disposal instructions.
If you need to dispose of your reed diffuser, ensure you dispose of any remaining fragrance solution, and the container, as directed by your local legislation.
The Final Word
Did you ever think making reed diffusers could be so easy? It’s an absolute doddle, isn’t it?
You only need some form of appropriate ‘carrier’ oil, an appropriate form of alcohol, and some essential oils or fragrance oils. Don’t forget a stylish bottle and your reeds.
Take total control over your home's air quality and cut out needless chemicals and toxins by going completely natural with essential oils. Remember, VINEVIDA fragrance oils are also free from chemical nasties and cruelty-free.
Reed Diffusers are extremely cost-effective. Consider buying reeds in bulk to make beautiful gifts for family and friends. You can also quickly create luxurious and high-quality products for a fraction of the retail price. Saving yourself a whole pile of money in the process.
Have Fun Experimenting And Go On A Journey Of Discovery
Experiment with the different bases and see what suits your home best, you may find yourself creating a variety of bases to serve the different areas of the home. This is fragrance tailoring at its best.
Explore using essential oils for all their active benefits and impact on our mood and well-being. Try fragrance oils on their own for their intensity of aroma. Then combine them both and see what you prefer. Bolstering expensive essential oils with a fragrance oil is a trick used across the fragrance and cosmetic industries.
Discover what works best for your family's needs and create unique and bespoke fragrances to scent your home beautifully. Why not try creating a Signature Scent and running it through your home with reed diffusers as a way of layering scent?
Employ some common sense around using reed diffusers with kids and pets in the house, and place them out of reach, in a place with a little airflow, to help 'move' the scent around.
What are you waiting for? Now you know how to make reed diffusers, go and explore all those beautifully aromatic essential oils and fragrances!
