How To Make A Reed Diffuser With 10 Essential Oil Recipe Blends

How To Make A Reed Diffuser With 10 Essential Oil Recipe Blends

Jennifer Lane, Certified Aromatherapist Jennifer Lane, Certified Aromatherapist
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Want to learn how to make your own reed diffuser? Reed diffusers with essential oils can freshen up any room, try them in a bathroom, living room, bedroom, even an office.

Store-bought versions of diffusers are made with unknown fragrance oils and additives. Homemade reed diffusers will not only cost you less, but they are also better for your health since there are no toxic chemicals in them.

Reed diffusers are one type of aromatherapy diffusers, find out more about what essential oil diffusers are.

Reed Diffuser vs Ultrasonic Diffuser

A reed diffuser is not as powerful as an ultrasonic diffuser. Using a reed diffuser for aromatherapy is a form of passive diffusion (evaporation) that offers a gentle scent.

If you are looking for a more intense aroma, you will need an ultrasonic diffuser that will mist the aroma into your space. They require power (plug or USB) in order to work. Learn more about how to use ultrasonic diffusers.

For me, I prefer to use an ultrasonic diffuser daily in my home, but I do have a reed diffuser in my bathroom for a continuous gentle aroma.

Essential Oil Ideas:

  • Single essential oil (like spearmint or sweet orange)
  • Essential oil blend from your favorite oil company
  • Make one of the diffuser recipes shared below
  • Create your own oil blend

Before I share how to make your own natural air freshener with 100% pure essential oils, lets look at the best single oils to use in your project.

Best Essential Oils for Reed Diffusers

Good news...you can use just about any essential oil in your homemade diffuser! This doesn't have to be complicated, just pick an aroma or scented oil that you like to inhale.

Here are some essential oils for reed diffuser to try:

  • Lavender essential oil
  • Peppermint essential oil
  • Lemon essential oil
  • Rosemary essential oil
  • Spearmint essential oil
  • Eucalyptus essential oil
  • Geranium essential oil
  • Ylang Ylang essential oil
  • Sweet Orange
  • Bergamot essential oil

You may want to avoid costly essential oils (like sandalwood or rose oil) and choose an inexpensive oil. Citrus oils are always nice and usually budget-friendly.

How to Make A Reed Diffuser

It is fairly simple to create a DIY reed diffuser, you just need a few ingredients:

  • Narrow neck glass bottle
  • Rattan Reeds (or bamboo skewer sticks)
  • Essential Oils
  • Fractionated coconut oil
  • Rubbing Alcohol or Vodka

You can recycle an old reed diffuser bottle and make it new again with one of these recipes, or start from scratch.

You may choose to substitute the fractionated coconut oil for another carrier oil (base oil) like safflower oil or sweet almond oil.

Tip: If using bamboo skewer sticks, cut off the sharp tip with pruning shears, that is what worked best for me. The skewers are too thick for regular scissors to cut and pruning shears are commonly used to cut sticks and twigs :)

DIY Essential Oil Reed Diffuser Recipe by Loving Essential Oils

Essential Oil Reed Diffuser Tutorial

Step 1: You need 20 drops of essential oil for each 1/4 cup of fractionated coconut oil. Use a funnel to add 1 tablespoon alcohol, fractionated coconut oil, and essential oils to the bottle.

Step 2: Gently swirl to mix together, then add the reeds into the bottle. Let the diffuser sticks soak up the oil for one hour, then flip them over so the oil-saturated end is sticking up.

Step 3: Enjoy the aroma, you will occasionally need to flip the reeds to freshen the smell. You will need to replace the reed diffuser oil every 1-2 months if the scent fades, or the oil evaporates.

DIY Reed Diffuser Recipes by Loving Essential Oils

10 Reed Diffuser Recipe Blends

Using essential oils can be a great way to steer clear of chemical fragrances. There are nearly endless essential oil blends to make a custom reed diffusion, here are some ideas for you to try:

1. Bedtime Blend

  • 12 drops of Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
  • 8 drops Roman Chamomile oil (Anthemis nobilis)

2. Citrus Fresh

  • 10 drops Lemon essential oil (Citrus limon)
  • 10 drops Orange essential oil (Citrus sinensis)
Reed Diffuser Recipe  - Citrus Forest with Lemon, Orange, and White Fir essential oil

3. Spark Creativity

  • 7 drops Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
  • 7 drops Lemon Oil (Citrus limon)
  • 7 drops Cardamon (Elettaria cardamomum)

4. Calming Blend

  • 7 drops Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
  • 7 drops Lavender Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
  • 7 drops Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
Reed Diffuser Blends - Calming Blend with Bergamot, Lavender, and Frankincense essential oil

5. Cleansing Blend

  • 10 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)
  • 10 drops Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

6. Citrus Forest

  • 6 drops Lemon (Citrus limon)
  • 6 drops Orange (Citrus sinensis)
  • 8 drops White Fir (Abies alba)

7. Invigorating Blend

  • 10 drops Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
  • 10 drops Orange (Citrus sinensis)

8. Room Refresher

  • 7 drops Orange (Citrus sinensis)
  • 7 drops Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)
  • 7 drops Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
How to Make Reed Diffuser Recipes - Room Refresher with orange, lime, and peppermint essential oil

9. Pumpkin Spice

  • 7 drops Clove oil (Eugenia caryophyllata)
  • 7 drops Cinnamon oil (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
  • 7 drops Orange oil (Citrus sinensis)

10. Herbal Bouquet

  • 12 drops Lavender oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
  • 8 drops Rosemary oil (Rosmarinus officinalis)

More Reed Essential Oil Combinations

With a little essential oil knowledge, you can start experimenting with different oil blends. For instance, a blend of grapefruit oil, tangerine oil, and drops of eucalyptus oil can provide a refreshing and invigorating scent.

For a more calming experience, you might mix cedarwood oil, jasmine oil, and patchouli oil. Essential oils like bergamot oil and frankincense oil are also highly versatile, and can be mixed in various ways to match different moods or seasons.

If you’re a fan of seasonal aromas, try blending copaiba oil and eucalyptus radiata oil for a festive scent, or spearmint oil and Black Spruce for a refreshing winter mix.

Essential oils like lemongrass oil and Juniper oil can be added for unique, aromatic concoctions, giving you the flexibility to create an assortment of essential oil blends tailored to any occasion.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reed Diffusers

How do reed diffusers work?

Reed diffusers work by drawing the fragrance oil up through the reeds, allowing the scent to evaporate into the air and scent your space continuously.

How long do reed diffusers last?

The longevity of a reed diffuser depends on the ingredients and size, but generally, they can last anywhere from one to six months.

Can I adjust the strength of the scent?

Yes, you can adjust the scent strength by adding or removing reeds. More reeds increase the scent diffusion, while fewer reeds will lessen it.

How often should I flip the reeds?

For optimal fragrance distribution, it’s recommended to flip the reeds once a week or whenever the scent starts to fade.

Are reed diffusers safe to use around children and pets?

Reed diffusers are generally safe when placed out of reach of children and pets. However, it's important to choose non-toxic, child- and pet-safe oils and keep an eye on accidental spills.

What should I do if the oil spills?

Immediately clean up any spills to avoid staining surfaces. Use a cloth to wipe it up and then wash the area with warm, soapy water.

Where is the best place to put a reed diffuser?

Place your reed diffuser in a high-traffic area like the living room or hallway where air circulation will help distribute the scent. Avoid placing it near windows or vents where the fragrance may dissipate too quickly.

Final Thoughts on Essential Oil Reed Diffusers

Reed diffusers are a popular choice among essential oil enthusiasts for an easy and low-maintenance way to spread delightful aromas throughout a space. Essential oil reed diffusers work by drawing the essential oils up through the reeds and releasing their scent into the air.

These diffuser blends shared not only freshen up your home but also offer various aromatherapy benefits. By mixing different essential oil combinations, you can create homemade diffuser oil recipes that cater to your specific needs, whether it be relaxation, stress relief, or energy boosting.

Creating your own essential oil diffuser recipes can be a fun and rewarding process. 

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How To Make An Essential Oil Reed Diffuser Blend Recipes by Loving Essential Oils

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