Blogmas Day 15 DIY Handmade Essential Oil Reed Diffuser How To

 Welcome to Blogmas Day 15!  Now that we are all spending so much more time at home, nesting and making the home as cozy as possible has become a national, if not, international obsession.  A big part of creating a homey ambiance is deploying delicious fragrances into the air.  I love a good scented candle but I don't love worrying about the flame.  I much prefer reed diffusers because they are scenting the air 24/7 without me having to worry about leaving an unattended lit candle.  However, essential oil reed diffusers can be prohibitively expensive.  In the past, I have bought reed diffusers that had no scent throw whatsoever. As well, until smell-o-vision is invented, ordering reed diffusers online is a risky business.  Below are the instructions for a handmade, DIY essential oil reed diffuser.  The great thing about making your own is that you can personalize the scent.  Even the most clumsy amongst us can master this as it really doesn't require any special skills at all.

You will need:

1/2 cup safflower oil (you may adjust the amount of carrier oil depending on the size of the display container you will be using)

9 reed sticks

30 drops of each type of essential oil

1-2 tablespoons of isopropyl alcohol

display container with a narrow neck opening

Mix everything in a glass bowl or a glass measuring cup then pour into the container of your choice.  When choosing essential oils, imagine your favourite perfume or scents.  Do you just want a single note or a medley?  Adjust the levels of the essential oils according to which ones you want to dominate. Think top, middle and base notes.

I would advise against using carrier oils that are thick or have a strong aroma such as olive and sesame oil.  A thick oil will have difficulty travelling up the reed and a strong aroma will interfere with the fragrance of the essential oils.  I chose safflower oil because it is readily available at the grocery store and is affordable.  You should use a glass container that has a narrow neck opening as the essential oil mixture will not evaporate as quickly.

You can use vintage perfume bottles, glass jars or even glass vases for your display container.  I decided to use the vase as the opening was sufficient to hold 9 sticks and I didn't have to shorten them.  You want to have a sufficient length of reed protruding from the top.  The reeds should be flipped once a week to maintain a constant scent throw.  

Handmade essential oil reed diffusers make a lovely gift.  Just decant the essential oil mixture into a pretty lidded jar that is leakproof, arrange it in a box or basket with the display container, the reeds and a festive note describing the essential oils that you chose.

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