Natural Reed Diffusers

If you're interested in combining attractive home fragrance with the benefits of aromatherapy, you may find yourself wondering how to make natural reed diffusers.

Essential oils

Reed diffusers are a home fragrance option that is often used in areas where it is not safe or practical to have a candle burning. A tall container with a narrow mouth is filled with a scent oil blend, then a series of reeds are placed in the opening to absorb and distribute the fragrance. To refresh the scent, you simply flip the reeds on a regular basis.

If you've done some candle making in the past, you already know that there are two ways to create fragrances:

• Synthetic fragrance oils, which are created in a laboratory
• Pure essential oils, which are made from plant extracts

The main reason people choose to use pure essential oils instead of synthetic fragrance oils in their projects is to obtain the benefits of aromatherapy. If you've ever noticed that you associate certain scents with special memories or feelings, you can see how fragrance affects mood. In the practice of aromatherapy, special essential oil blends can be created to reduce stress, promote relaxation, help with insomnia, or boost energy levels. The LoveToKnow Candles articles Aromatherapy Candle Making and Aromatherapy Candle Making Recipes discuss this in greater detail.

Unfortunately, there are several different reasons why it's difficult to make reed diffusers using essential oils.

• Essential oils are significantly more expensive than synthetic fragrance oils, which will increase the cost of your reed diffuser considerably.
• Essential oils are very volatile and will evaporate quickly in a reed diffuser vase or jar. Additionally, the fragrance of pure essential oil is often much stronger than what is desired for a reed diffuser.
• The standard aromatherapy carrier oils such as sweet almond, grape seed, or olive oil are too viscous to be useful in helping the reeds absorb the fragrance.

Most of the reed diffusers you find available for purchase in department and discount stores will be made with fragrance oils. A few specialty shops may contain natural reed diffusers with essential oils, but you'll need to read labels carefully if this is a concern. However, remember that a product labeled as having aromatherapy benefits doesn’t necessary contain any essential oils. Many lower-priced aromatherapy items merely use synthetic fragrance oil replicas of the specified essential oil blend.

Although it's difficult to make natural reed diffusers with essential oils, it's not entirely impossible. You'll just need to devote a bit more time to finding supplies and mixing fragrance blends.

When making reed diffusers with standard synthetic fragrance oils, you can mix 1/3 fragrance oil, 1/3 budget vodka, and 1/3 vegetable oil. If you want to use essential oils, however, you'll have better luck combining 1 ounce essential oil, 2 1/4 ounces pre-formulated reed diffuser oil base or fragrance grade dipropylene glycol, and 1/4 ounce perfumer's alcohol. You'll also want to make sure you're using actual reed instead of bamboo sticks. While some people have had acceptable results using bamboo sticks in their homemade reed diffusers, genuine reeds will work better if you are using an essential oil fragrance base. Reed may look like a wood, but it is actually a special porous fiber that will slowly absorb and release your fragrance.

Another option to consider is using a fragrance oil that contains a small amount of essential oils. This will create a reed diffuser that offers many of the same aromatherapy benefits without the higher cost and possible scent absorption issues. You can find fragrance oils that include a percentage of pure essential oils at some larger craft stores or purchase them from online specialty shops such as Wicks and Wax or Wholesale Supplies Plus: Candle and Soap Making Materials.

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