DIY Reed Diffuser

[Jskell911]

Make your Own Reed Diffuser

These natural reed diffusers are a stylish way to scent your home or office, and provide a much safer alternative to candles! Each diffuser will provide the subtle aroma of the scent of your choice for several months.

Materials Needed:

1. Rattan Reeds: This type of reed has many tiny tubes throughout the reed that are able to pull your scent to the top so it can more easily evaporate into the air in the room. Rattan reeds are available at many basketry supply shops, and many places online. About 10-15 reeds (each about 10"-12" in length) are used for each diffuser.
2. Small Vase or Jar: Decorative vases or jars hold the reeds and scent and can be found in many unique styles that will suite your personal taste. They can be found at craft stores, dollar stores, floral supply stores, and many different locations online.
3. Jojoba oil: Jojoba oil helps thin the essential oils so they can more easily wick to the top of the reeds. This can be found at many craft stores that sell soap/lotion-making supplies, as well as many health stores. You will need about 1.5 ounces for this recipe. Many people also use a common perfume base, isopropyl myristate, instead of the jojoba oil in their solutions to help the oils wick better, but it can be harder to find, and is not a natural oil like the jojoba oil is.
4.
Essential oils: These give your diffuser its own unique scent and add the benefits of the essential oil you use to your diffuser. You will need about 250 drops of essential oil (or your favorite blend of oils) for this recipe.
5.
Decorative Items: These add a bit of your personal style to each diffuser your make. Some great items to use are polished river rocks, glass beads, or marbles inside clear vases and jars, decorative reeds, sticks, or grasses to add variety to the rattan reeds, and ribbons, rafia, swine, string, or beads to decorate the outside of the vase or jar.

Instructions:

1.
Mix 1.5 oz. (3 Tablespoons) jojoba oil and 250 drops of your desired essential oil or blend in a clean 2 oz. glass bottle.
2.
Decorate the small vase or jar as desired. Add any rocks, marbles, or glass beads desired to the inside of the vase or jar.
3.
Pour the jojoba/essential oil solution into the small vase or jar.
4.
Place 10-15 rattan reeds into the vase or jar so that one end is immersed in the solution, and the other end is in the air.
5.
Place other decorative reeds, sticks or grasses around rattan reeds if desired.
6.
Allow 24-48 hours for the solution to wick to the top of the reeds and start scenting the air (Note: The scent will be fairly subtle, and may be masked if other strong scents are present).
7.
If desired, flip the rattan reeds over every 2-4 days to help boost the strength of the aroma.

Extra Ideas:

1. If you are giving a diffuser as a gift, mix the solution in a clean 2 oz. glass bottle with a cap. Seal the cap on the bottle tightly to prevent it from leaking. Package the bottle with the solution, the small vase or jar, the rattan reeds and any other decorative items in a basket or decorative box. Be sure to include instructions on assembling and using the diffuser.

[StaceyS]

This is a cute idea! I could never make myself pay the prices they want for those in the catalogs!
Thank you!

[M55FF]

is there some natural grass you can use instead of buying reeds?
do you know?
maybe like cat-o-nine tail ?

what are commericail redds made from? if you know post the info because we can maybe go down to the local park and pick up some free reeds

[M55FF]

after googling "reeds" I think next time I go to the park I'll pick some cat-nine- tails and bring them home, cut off the top and let dry. Then scrape off any outer bark or plant coverings and give them a try.
After all a reed is just a plant.

I like free and I bet after they are cut to size ( any size you like) they look better in their natural state than commercially sold reeds.

In the park nearby, there are plenty of streams and marshy areas where I can grab 3 or 4 to try this out.

[savvy_sniper]

I LOVE Ember from Pier 1, but it is expensive. I generally buy when they have it on sale. I would love to figure out WHAT is in it and make my own!

I have a lot of sinus and allergy problems and there are so many scents that I can't get anywhere near. I can't walk into a candle store and I walk through the perfume section in the store as quickly as possible holding my nose and breath!