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    Home » Crafts

    DIY Essential Oil Diffuser For All Your Favorite Scents

    by Patti Estep · Jan 31, 2016

    Jump to How-to Card

    Learn how to make this DIY Essential Oil Diffuser with a simple terracotta pot. A super affordable gift to give and fun to create.

    Set of  DIY essential oil diffuser

    When my sister and I ran an herbal gift shop we sold a lot of essential oils, items made with essential oils, and accessories to go with essential oils.

    One, was a pretty ceramic diffuser, that you heated water with a few drops of the essential oil(s), simply from a tea light below. So, recently when I was decorating terracotta pots I came up with the idea to create a diffuser using a flower-pot. 

    If you are familiar with essential oils then you know that their natural fragrance is beyond compare. In addition, many people believe that they have great healing properties. I am not a medical professional, however, and would not begin to claim any medicinal benefits, but I do love the way they smell.

    This post contains some affiliate links (that means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, there’s no additional cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission. ) Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

    materials ~DIY Terracotta Diffuser

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    Supplies for a DIY Essential Oil Diffuser

    • 4-inch Terracotta pot and saucer that fits on the top.
    • Tealight candle
    • Essential Oils  - Bergamot, Lavender, Lemon (a few of my favorites)
    • Dremel tool

    Sketch Opening ~ DIY Terracotta Diffuser

    The key to getting the diffuser to work is to cut a hole in the side, to let oxygen in so that tealight stays lit.

    I did a little research and found some people using hole saws and others using a Dremel tool. After watching this video from Dremmel, I decided to give it a try.

    First cut with dremmel ]

    Soak the pot in water for about 30 minutes as suggested in the video.

    On the second one I tried cutting it without soaking, and it took much longer to drill. As you can see, the first pass pretty ragged.

    Finished Diffusers ~ DIY Terracotta Diffuser

    I went back and tried different speeds and worked on smoothing the opening the best I could.

    Then, I also used a little bit of coarse sandpaper to sand the edges. No perfect, but I think this is something that requires a little practice.

    Still, I was happy with the results.

    DIY Essential Oil Diffuser

    Terra Cotta Diffusers ~ DIY Essential Oil Diffuser

    This DIY essential oil diffuser project turned out great. I ended up painting one of them for fun but it's not necessary. 

    Within minutes I could smell bergamot, my favorite oil, drifting throughout the room.

    Patti signature


    P.S. I really like working with essential oils and have several posts you may like such as Top 10 Essential Oil Projects You'll Love, one about making your own Homemade Cleaners that make the whole process of cleaning so much nicer. Also some bath and body DIYs like Blush Sugar Scrub and invigorating Shower Steamers.

    DIY essential oil diffuser

    user

    DIY Terra Cotta Diffuser square ~ DIY Essential Oil Diffuser ~ gardenmatter.com
    Print
    5 from 2 votes

    DIY Essential Oil Diffuser For All Your Favorite Scents

    Turn a simple terracotta pot into a pretty DIY Essential Oil Diffuser. It's an inexpensive gift and also great to have in your home with your favorite essential oils.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Active Time30 minutes mins
    Total Time45 minutes mins
    Course: Crafts
    Yield: 1 Diffuser
    Author: Patti Estep
    Cost: $5-$10

    Equipment

    • Dremel tool

    Materials

    • 4- inch Terracotta pot and saucer that fits on top
    • Tealight candle
    • Essential Oils
    • Sand Paper

    Instructions

    • Soak the pot in water for about 30 minutes.
    • Cut a hole the size you want in the side of the pot using a Dremel.
    • Sand the edges with coarse sandpaper.
    • Paint the pot, or leave it natural.
    • Place a tea light in the pot.
    • Add your favorite essential oils to the top.
    Tried this project?Tag @hearthnvine on Instagram

     

    « Easy to Grow Shrubs - 5 Must Haves for the Garden
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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jody

      April 03, 2019 at 3:42 pm

      So happy to see this. I want a diffuser but balk at the price. I can afford it just can’t tell myself it is ok to buy it but this aha! I can and will do. One in my grandbabies room. One in my son and daughter in law’s room and one in my husbands office while he works and one in our room for sleep. Very excited.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        April 03, 2019 at 4:30 pm

        I'm so glad you like this one Jody. The fragrance is subtle but that also depends on the essential oils you use and the amount you add to the base oil. Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. ketia a davis

      November 01, 2017 at 12:47 pm

      Hello,
      I love this idea! what size flower pots did you use? Would you use sand paper to smooth down the side openings and do you think stenciling would work on these pots?

      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        November 01, 2017 at 2:11 pm

        Hi Ketia,

        I used standard 4 inch terracotta pots with saucers. I definitely used sand paper to smooth the edges and I don't see why you couldn't use stencils. Have fun!

        Reply
    3. Clarissa

      August 21, 2017 at 2:34 am

      Hello! I hope you see this even though it's been a month since your last reply!
      I love this idea and it can match my home's aesthetic.
      I have to use homemade wax melts instead of essential oils because I am allergic. Do you think this would work with pieces of wax melts?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 21, 2017 at 7:14 am

        Hi Clarissa,

        I have never tried wax. In theory it should work. The biggest issue I could see would be having the wax stick to the base. Maybe you could try a glossy sealer on the top to prevent sticking. Let me know how it turns out.

        Reply
    4. Mary

      July 04, 2017 at 9:20 am

      Did you use a non toxic paint? I have MCs, so would likely leave mine unpainted to avoid the release of chemicals and toxins from the heat. Does the EO sink into the Terra cotta? Do you label them with scent names to keep the fragrance true?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        July 04, 2017 at 11:41 am

        Hi Mary,

        I just used regular craft paint, but you could certainly leave them unpainted.. I'm pretty sure that the essential oils burn up in the water way before they get a chance to sink in to the terra cotta. I use the same diffuser for different essential oils. Again, I believe they burn up with the water so I don't think there is a concern about mixing.

        Hope that helps,
        Patti

        Reply
    5. Kontogouris Nick

      January 10, 2017 at 2:15 am

      I think you NEED to drill a hole on the other side big enough to create airflow. As it is now the candle will not stay lit for long.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        January 10, 2017 at 6:24 am

        Hi Nick,

        That's an interesting observation. Did you try it, because this design works for me and I based it off the product we used to sell in the store. That being said I appreciate your input and maybe some readers would want to try that option.
        Have a great week,
        Patti

        Reply
        • Nick Kontogouris

          January 10, 2017 at 12:26 pm

          Yes on 2, everytime the light was going out after a shorttime, problem solved when i created a hole about the size of my pinky finger on the opposite side.

          Thanx for inspiration anyway.

        • Patti Estep

          January 10, 2017 at 2:25 pm

          Hi Nick,

          Good to know. Glad you got it working.

    6. tina miller

      October 03, 2016 at 4:27 am

      What kind of sealer did you use?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        October 03, 2016 at 6:21 am

        Hi Tina,

        I did not use a sealer. I guess you could use one for the pot itself but I didn't want to use one on the top because I didn't want it to possibly interfere with the oils.
        Thanks for stopping by,
        Patti

        Reply
    7. Hannah Sova

      August 23, 2016 at 4:45 pm

      Hello,
      I was told that essential oils and water don't work well together. Would it be better to use something like almond oil instead of water?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        August 23, 2016 at 4:49 pm

        Hi Hannah,
        The essential oils sit on top of the water and the candle heats the water which allows the essential oils to diffuse through the air. I'm not expert but when my sister and I owned an herbal gift shop we sold similar clay vessels an the were meant for water with essential oils. I don't know if oil would work and haven't tried it. I think oil is better for blending in perfumes and other cosmetics.
        Thanks for stopping by,
        Patti

        Reply
    8. Jennifer

      February 01, 2016 at 10:29 am

      Love this. Could you tell me if you uses just the essential oil or do you add water and if so how much?
      Thank you

      Reply
      • Patti

        February 01, 2016 at 11:08 am

        Hi Jennifer,
        I fill the saucer with water. Fill it as much as you feel comfortable without having spill over the side.
        Then add a few drops of essential oils. Anywhere from 5-10 drops. You can experiment on what works for you.
        Thanks for stopping by,
        Patti

        Reply
    9. Sue

      February 01, 2016 at 7:50 am

      Hello!
      Did you use a sealer on the part where tge oil goes?

      Reply
      • Patti

        February 01, 2016 at 11:10 am

        Hi Sue,

        I did put a sealer on the painted one but I do not think it is necessary for the natural one. First of all you will be filling it with water first. Then you add a few drops of essential oil on top of the water. When the water starts to get warm it will diffuse the essential oils into the air.
        Hope that helps,
        Patti

        Reply
    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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