A small opening at the top of the container ensures that minimal evaporation occurs. If too much water evaporates, the percentage of essential oil becomes higher, and the scent can become overpowering. If you have a jar with a cork top, you can also drill a hole in the cork. This is one of the best options for minimal evaporation. You can get creative by matching your diffuser container to the colors of your room or even decorating the outside of the container. Craft stores often have cheap glass bottles and vases in a variety of sizes.
The reeds must be tall enough to stand well above the vase or bottle you chose. The reeds should stick out several inches or centimeters from the top of the container. Increase the scenting ability of the diffuser by using reeds that are double the height of the bottle or more. Ready-made reeds are usually sold in 10-, 12- and 15-inch (25-, 30- and 38 cm) lengths. You can also use bamboo skewers, but rattan reed sticks tend to disperse scent more effectively.
Some classic essential oil pairings are lavender and peppermint, orange and vanilla, spearmint and patchouli, and chamomile and lavender. Lavender, jasmine, neroli and geranium are calming scents. Peppermint, rosemary, tea tree, lemon, basil, and ginger are energizing scents. Chamomile, orange, sandalwood, lavender, and marjoram are great for combating anxiety. [4] X Research source
You can use rubbing alcohol, perfumer’s alcohol, or vodka to mix with water as a substitute for carrier oil. Common carrier oils include sweet almond, safflower, rosemary, sandalwood, star anise, clove, cinnamon, orange, or grapefruit oil. [6] X Expert Source Ritu Thakur, MANatural Health Care Professional Expert Interview. 25 July 2019.
You can slightly alter the amount of carrier oil if you are using a small container, but keep in mind that the ratio of carrier oil to essential oil should be about 85 to 15. For instance, for a small container you could reduce the ratio to 17:1. If you want a strongly scented reed diffuser, make the ratio around 75 to 25. Keep in mind that the water and vodka mixture evaporates at a faster rate than carrier oil, so you will have to refill it more.
You should start to notice the scent of the essential oils after a day or so.
You can flip after swirling the oil, or at a different time.
If you are using water and alcohol as your base, you may have to replace the mixture inside the base more often than once a month. Stick to a ratio of 85/15 water and alcohol to essential oil.
The oil should slightly darken the color of the reeds, so when the entire reed is darkened you can tell that it has become completely saturated. Once the reed has become saturated, it does not diffuse the scent of the oil, which is why it is important to regularly replace used reeds.
