This DIY reed diffuser project is a great way to create your own customized aromatherapy. It also makes a great gift for anyone who loves to have a natural scent in their home.
Crafting with essential oils is always a great experience. Even if it's messy the good news is you'll enjoy the fragrance as you work. However, this little project is really not messy at all. In fact, it's super simple. And it brings a fresh and natural scent to your home that's much nicer than commercial air fresheners like sprays and plugs.
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DIY Reed Diffuser Supplies
- Small Bottles (from craft stores with a narrow opening)
- Rattan Reed Sticks
- Carrier Oil (I used sunflower oil)
- Essential Oils
- Small Funnel
- Measuring Spoons
(I used sunflower oil)
These rattan reeds are great for this project because they have little channels for the oils to wick up and release into the air. Some say you can use bamboo skewers but I don't think they will work as well.
DIY Diffuser Instructions:
- Reed diffusers leave a subtle scent so you need to use an 80 to 20 carrier to essential oil ratio. For my small bottles - I used 9.5 teaspoons (1/8 cup plus 3.5 t) of sunflower oil to approximately 2.5 teaspoons of essential oil.
- Add the carrier oil and essential oils to a clean bottle.
- Then add the reeds to the bottle and fan them out to disperse the fragrance. More reeds = more fragrance.
What Type of Carrier Oil Should I Use?
I used sunflower oil for this project. It's light so it will not clog the reeds as fast as heavier oils and it has very little scent. In addition, the shelf life is fairly long, about a year.
Other Carrier Oil Options:
- Safflower Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Grapeseed Oil
- Fractionated Coconut Oil
- Jojoba Oil
- Olive Oil
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Diffuser Essential Oils to Use:
Use your favorite scent combos. I like to use uplifting citrus oils like lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, and orange. However, you can use any combination you'd like. You could try eucalyptus, rosemary, and peppermint for a fresh scent, or cinnamon and clove for a warm and cozy effect. You can even stick to just one essential oil such as lavender for calming and relaxation.
How Many Reeds Should You Use?
I used 12 reeds because that amount fit nicely in my bottles and the more you use, the stronger the scent.
How Long Will the Reed Diffuser Last?
This diffuser should last for a couple of months. Some people say to flip the reeds and that may help if they have started to get clogged with dust etc.
Uses for Homemade Reed Diffusers
- Home Fragrance - Obviously. Perfect for the powder room and guest rooms.
- Gifts - Think teachers, Mother's Day, birthdays, and favors for bridal or baby showers.
- Entertainment Activity - Girls Craft Night, Clubs or Scouts, Girls Birthday Party
So are you now thinking, why haven't I made these yet? I know, I thought the same thing.
More Essential Oil Projects
DIY Reed Diffuser - Easy Aromatherapy for Your Home
Materials
- Small Bottles - Glass Containers from craft stores with a narrow opening
- Rattan Reed Sticks
- Carrier Oil I used sunflower oil
- Essential Oils
- Small Funnel
- Measuring Spoons
Instructions
- For small bottles use 9.5 teaspoons of sunflower oil to approximately 2.5 teaspoons of essential oil or essential oil combinations.
- Add the carrier oil and essential oils to a clean bottle.
- Add the reeds to the bottle.
- Fan them out to disperse the fragrance.
- Add as many reeds to the bottle until you get the fragrance you like.
Alicia
Love this. I recently got a reed reed diffuser set from the store but as soon as it runs out, I'm making my own. Thanks for the great tutorial.
Patti Estep
Thanks Alicia. They were fun to make. The only issue I found was that depending on the scent you needed to add a lot of oil to actually smell it. I suspect that would be true for the commercial diffuser sets but they may be using fragrance oils which are less expensive. Enjoy. I hope you love it.
Julie Briones
What a great gift idea, and thank you for the super easy tutorial, Patti! I hadn't even thought about dust clogging the reeds!
Patti Estep
Julie, I'm sure it varies from place to place but eventually, the dust gets everywhere, right. Thanks for stopping by.