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Easy Homemade Reed Diffusers

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 3 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #115 in DIY, #2159 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

Make em yourself!

 

hey those reed diffusers can cost $20 and more.  why not do it yourself and have fun at the same time?  you might get hooked like me, but at least you wont go broke.  you already have everything you need to make homemade reed diffusers!

Easy Homemade Reed Diffusers 

Seems everywhere you shop today, you see reed diffusers. You know, the pretty glass bottles with the fragranced oil inside and sticks coming out. Well I discovered a cool way to make 'em yourself- for FREE!

This started as a fluke really. I recently went to TJMaxx and found the least expensive reed diffuser on their clearance display. Once I was home, I prepared the diffuser for display. I broke the seal and inserted the thin wooden sticks that came with the kit. That's when it hit me--my nose was immediately turned off. In fact, the oil within the bottle smelled like old cough syrup and that is not an exaggeration (as other members of my family can attest)! It was nauseating and strong!

My first inkling was to throw the offensive thing away, but I resisted. The glass diffuser bottle was pretty and could be re-used, after all. I had to discard the oil, no question about that. The smell lingered, so it was necessary to hand wash the bottle inside and out with hot, soapy water.

How do you make your own fragranced oil? Well I am not a chemist, and I could never compete with Martha Stewart, but I am crafty. With a little trial and error, I was able to mix baby oil with some cherished old perfume that I love but no longer wear (does anyone remember Jontue? Yes, I realize I am now dating myself for the whole world, but that's okay; I'm cool with it). This perfume is very light and subtle, so I used half perfume and half baby oil.

Well I am now one happy girl. My old cherished scent is finally being put to good use! I have future plans for my other standby fragrance I don't even think they make anymore: Paco Rabanne Eau de Metal (it's killer!!). Even though I don't wear the dozens of old fragrances from my youth, I could never part with them. (Why do women do that? Discuss!) I think its great; because now I can custom make my fragranced oil 1-2-3!

If you have essential oils laying around, combine them with baby oil. Once the potion is mixed and settled and you are loving it, transfer to your glass bottle and please use a funnel if the opening is narrow.

As far as glass bottles, who doesn't have a few very cute bud vases collecting dust somewhere in their kitchen or dining room? Well, dust 'em off people. It is time to give them new life as they take on their new role as reed diffuser decanter. Not a pack rat? That's okay, just hit the dollar store.

Share! Share! 

tell eveyone what you used in your reed diffuser "potion"

Shawna

I had a reed diffuser that came with a really sickly sweet chemical enhanced aromatic oil. I took the reeds and used them with real lavender essential oil in my bathroom. It worked so good that I then used some reeds with Purification essential oil from www.youngliving.com (distributor # 1009840) near my kitty's litter box. Baby oil would work as a carrier oil but it is not natural. I would suggest V-6 enhanced vegetable oil complex- also from Young Living Essential Oils. You can check out my site at http://www.squidoo.com/healthylivingessentials
for more information

Posted July 13, 2008

Jonas

Thanks for breaking the consumption cycle! I was shopping for a diffuser ($20-$80? ouch!) and stumbled into this DIY page. BINGO! I took some old shishkabob skewers I had, and a small empty spice jar. poured some lavender massage oil into the jar, add skewers, and OILA! THANK YOU!

Posted July 07, 2008

Amber

What ratio of baby oil to scent did you use? Thanks for the tip!

Posted July 02, 2008

Marlene

I loved the diffuser and scent I bought at a very reasonable price! But wait a minute what to do when the oil is used up??? Found your site! Thank you! I work with essential oils and have had some training and will re invent the diffuser when the time comes!

Posted June 27, 2008

Kenzie

No offense but did you even smell it before you bought your difuser? I think if you buy one you should smell around and find a nice light scent, and not based on price. Yesterday I went out and bought one at joanns fabrics, they had almost everything in the store at 50% off so I looked around and I found a nice light tropical fruit scent. It smells like pinneapple and coconut. I was really suprised when I found out it was only 5 dollars. I am really glad I bought this one, because most scented candles and diffusers give me massive headaches after just 5 minutes, but nothing so far. By the way on you skewer idea, those will work, but no near as well, most of the fragrance will just evaporate instead of freshening your room. The thing that makes reeds different is that they have skinny holes that run up the length of the reed and allow the oils to climb up the reed and have the scent waft into the air. Good luck with your homemade ones, but don't judge all diffusers by one bad one.

Posted June 16, 2008

 
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almost done (sor.ry ) Reed diffusers 

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I am an artist by instinct and webmaster by training.  My website, ArtisticHomeowner.com has an extensive selection of quality wall murals, wall mural accents, appliqués, and borders.  We specialize in custom wall murals, whereby computer generated images of client provided artwork and photos are transferred onto a variety of wall paper media.  I hope to connect with other artisans and people involved or interested in interior decorating.

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