The fragrances you use around your home can
have a distinct impact on your health, mood, and energy. Vibrant, citrusy
scents and essential oils can be bright and
uplifting, while calming smells like lavender can help you and your family
settle off to sleep. For years, many of us have relied on brightly colored,
mass-produced candles with names like “Tropical Island Paradise” or “Grandma’s
Vanilla Cookies” or pricey reed diffusers to fill a room with fragrance.
However, as it turns out, many of these
commercial products contain more than just overpowering aromas. They usually
contain harmful chemicals and toxins too! For instance, experts in air quality
and environmental pollutants have shown that many scented candles are manufactured
using harmful substances such as benzene and toluene. These chemicals could be
damaging to lungs, brain and central nervous system.
Thankfully, Mother Earth has provided us with
a number of ways to infuse our home with safe and natural smells. Some
companies create candles from beeswax and soy, which are scented using only
natural oils and ingredients. Diffusing essential oils is another simple way to
fill your home with safe, holistic fragrances. To help you create ways to
infuse your home with natural fragrances, we’ve put together a simple tutorial
for a DIY essential oil reed diffuser. Keep reading to learn more!
What You’ll Need For Your DIY
Essential Oil Reed Diffuser
●
A tall, narrow glass jar such as a
bottle or a vase. (Your local thrift store surely has many colorful and unique
options.)
●
Essential oil reeds or bamboo
skewers with the pointy part cut off. (These are inexpensive and easy to come
by online or at your local supermarket.)
●
A few of your favorite essential
oils or essential oil blends.
●
¼ cup of your favorite carrier
oil. (Lighter oils have an easier time travelling up the reeds, so we suggest
safflower oil or sweet almond oil for best results.)
●
A funnel or small measuring cup
with a pour spout.
Putting It Together
Once you’ve gathered your materials, you’re
ready to get started on this simple DIY reed diffuser.
●
Start by ensuring your vase or
bottle is clean, dry, and ready to use.
●
Next, in a small bowl or measuring
cup, mix your carrier oil and essential oils at a ratio of roughly 20 drops of
essential oils to every ¼ cup of carrier oil.
●
Carefully pour your mixture into
your narrow vase or bottle, using a small funnel if available to ensure you
don’t spill a drop.
●
Add in your bamboo skewers or reed
diffusing sticks to the vase and flip them every few hours as the oil travels
up the reeds.
●
Place your diffuser as an artful,
functional decoration in your bedroom or living area.
●
Anytime you need a refresh in
scent, flip your reeds for a boost of all natural fragrance.
A Few Helpful Hints
This project makes a fantastic housewarming or
hostess gift and can easily be replicated in any room of your home to spread
around the gentle scent of essential oils. Be sure to keep your reed diffuser
out of the reach of children and pets for their safety, as essential oils can
be harmful when ingested or used incorrectly.
6 Essential Oil Blend Mixtures &
Ideas
If you need a few essential oil blends,
experiment with these ideas.
- Increase immunity with rosemary, clove, wild orange, cinnamon, and eucalyptus oils.
- For
a fresh, floral scent try
lavender, geranium, and Roman chamomile.
- Bring
a sense of calm into the home
by combining vetiver oil and cedarwood oil.
- For
a bright and citrusy aroma,
blend lemon oil, grapefruit oil, and wild orange oil.
- Decrease stress by blending frankincense oil and bergamot oil.
- Boost your morning
energy by diffusing peppermint essential oil and
wild orange oil.
For more reed diffuser ideas, check out The Prairie Homestead and Apartment Therapy.
How do you use essential oils around your
home? Tell us about it the comments section below!
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Photo source: pixabay.com
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