DIY Reed Diffusers With Essential Oils
A simple and long-term way to use essential oils for freshening your home.
I used to buy reed diffusers before electronic ones were readily available and loved how long that method would last to provide a gentle scent in smaller rooms. Since I had the essential oils already on-hand, I figured out that I could take some bamboo skewers (like the kind for grilling) and combine them with a vase to create my own reed diffuser.
SUPPLIES:
bamboo skewers
vase
scissors
essential oils
glass pan
distilled water
dried florals (optional)
STEP ONE:
Trim bamboo skewers to remove point at end. Skewers should be long enough that half of the length sticks out of the glass jar/vase.
STEP TWO:
Add trimmed skewers, essential oils in the combination of your choosing (approx 35 drops), and approximately 1/2 c distilled water to a shallow glass pan.
STEP THREE:
Thoroughly coat the skewers with the essential oil mixture. Allow to soak for at least 1 hour to allow the bamboo to open and absorb the mixture.
STEP FOUR:
While your skewers soak in the essential oil mixture, you can add any dried floral components to your glass vessel.
This is an optional step, for added visual interest and a light scent addition. I used dried hibiscus flowers but would also enjoy this technique with lemon peels or dried lavender.
STEP FIVE:
Once the bamboo skewers have absorbed a lot of the mixture, place them in the glass vessel and pour the essential oil mixture into the vessel.
This mixture will last weeks and will give your home a lovely scent.
You can mix your favorite scents together to create unique blends. The blend I used here is;
15 drops Palmarosa
20 drops Grapefruit
Sprinkle of Dried Hibiscus Flowers
I also really love these combinations:
20 drops Lavender
10 drops Sweet Orange
5 drops Eucalyptus
25 drops Sweet Orange
10 drops Rosemary
(I tend to go floral and citrusy in warm months, then add cinnamon or earthy, herbal tones in the cold months)
Frequently asked questions
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