I posted yesterday about trying to grow aromatic lavender to cut and bring indoors for a dose of aromatherapy. Since that plan didn't exactly work out, I decided to look for a reed diffuser to use, since those plug-in types of air fresheners are full of chemicals (and draw electricity)...
The problem is that many of the nicer reed diffusers are pretty pricey. Paying $20 or $30 for an air freshener seems rather silly when many of us have the raw materials around the house.
What You Need
Materials
- Glass or ceramic container (glazed inside, so it doesn't leak) with a narrow opening at the top. I decided to try this beautiful vase a friend bought for me, since it's already in my bedroom and it has been deemed completely uninteresting to the felines.
- Essential oils of your choice. I have lavender and eucalyptus.
- I've heard of using mineral oil as your "base," but I wanted to avoid petroleum-based products. Sweet almond oil or safflower oil are other options. But I was intrigued when I read about using vodka and water, mostly because I have some in the freezer, it's not my favorite libation, and it won't leave a greasy mess if it does get knocked over. Though I've also read that vodka will evaporate more quickly than something totally oil-based. It's your call.
- Reeds or bamboo skewers. You can find replacement reeds online pretty inexpensively, but if you have bamboo skewers in the kitchen or craft room, just trim off the pointy ends before use.
Instructions
1. If you're using an oil base, you will want to use 30% essential oil to 70% base oil. You can experiment with the percentages to see what works best for you.
2. If you're using the vodka and water mixture, you will want to add approximately 12 drops of essential oils with 1/4 cup of water then add a little of vodka (the vodka helps bind the oils to the water).
3. Pour the mixture into your receptacle and place one end of the reeds or skewers into the solution, allowing it to saturate the reeds. Then take them out, and place the opposite ends into the bottle. You will want to rotate which ends are in the scent solution about once a week.
Things to Keep in Mind
The smaller the neck on the bottle, the slower the liquid will evaporate. I'm about to learn how much more quickly mine will evaporate with the wider opening of my vase.
Experiment with different essential oil combinations until you find one or two you really like. You can then increase your batches and keep them in sealed containers (like a canning jar) to save prep time later on.
Have any of you made your own diffusers before? Which works better? The oil or the vodka and water? I've love to know!
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(Images: Michelle Chin)
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Works great with fresh herbs you let steep for a week or so in the alcohol. Don't waste on drinking alcohol though- a jug of 90% rubbing alcohol will set you back all a dollar or 2 and works just as well.
I have been making my husband homemade aftershave in a similar way (why pay 40 bucks for a tiny bottle of the stuff he likes when I can make it the exact same by the quart!) just add a little glyceryn and alum to the mix and (obviously) don't use the diffusers!
Now if only there was a way to have a diffuser and cats at the same time!
I havent made a diffuser yet (though now I am totally going to) but I do keep them in my daughters room to ward off diaper smell. I keep the diffuser on the highest shelf I have, because I have a stupid cat who has an obsession with knocking over glass. I find if no kids or cats see you put it somewhere, and its somewhere they cant readily get to, they'll leave it alone.
@jmorri26: i mounted bud vases on my bathroom wall far enough from the solid surfaces that my cats can't quite reach them. it drives them batty. :)
try Museum Gel/Putty - a clear gel used to hold smooth objects to shelves in (you guessed it) museums and galleries. an internet search will bring up suppliers.
said to hold objects in place through an earthquake... nothing mentioned about house cats, though!
When I was in college I added a few drops of food coloring to the liquid and the reeds got a little streaky shot of color. I liked it. :)
Do you think bottles would work instead of a vase? I don't have any vases but I do have some fancy old bottles. I figure the necks are pretty narrow so.....
I can't for the life of me remember where my small bottle of vodka got to, but I can lay my hands right on some gin - is there any reason it shouldn't work with gin? I know it probably sounds a bit mad, but I'm out in the sticks, it's not easy to get stuff when I need it. :-)
I used inexpensive mineral oil base and rubbing alcohol instead of vodka. It worked just fine. I have a medium size bathroom, and in order to smell the aroma of EOs, I used slightly more than 1/2 cup of oil. For the container, I am using a small glass carafe I purchased from Crate & Barrel under $2. I love the subtle ylang ylang!
you can put baking soda in the bottom of your container then add a few drops of your favourite essential oil. no danger of spillage & it lasts very well.