Do You Use a Reed Diffuser for Fragrance?
By Marie Anne
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
United States
June 27, 2010 5:16am CST
I love to use a reed diffuser filled with scented oil, but I am sensitive to fragrances and have a very strong sense of smell, so can't put too much oil in them.
Diluting with water won't work since oil and water don't mix, but I was wondering if I could add a bit of regular cooking oil to thin out the fragrance oil. I know olive oil would alter the smell so wouldn't use that, but would cooking oil work? Would it give it an off smell or go rancid?
3 people like this
8 responses
@Jstewart (167)
• United States
27 Jun 10
Wow that's a good question? I would not have a clue on how you would go about doing that? I would say maybe if you threw some cling wrap over the top and them punch in just a few reeds that they may help lower the potancy of it. I am not sure though. I do enjoy the reed diffusers much more then any other type of product like that. I usually pick them up at outlet malls, or like ross or somthing. they can get so pricey. but I can get them cheap if I keep my eyes open.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
27 Jun 10
Good idea on making the opening smaller. The opening on this bottle isn't that large as it is, though, so I'm not sure how much more it would help. The idea is that the reeds soak up the oil and provide the scent, so even if the opening were all but closed off, the smell would permeate from the reeds themselves.
Right now I just have little more than the bottom filled with the oil provided and it's not too bad, but it looks kinda silly.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
27 Jun 10
Don't use oil. Blame myLot for this short reply, I wrote you a nice one but when I submitted it the screen said "bad request". Not a good day for myLot, I suppose. I hate scented stuff, it's very offensive to me and for that reason I don't go out a lot.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
27 Jun 10
That's my dilemna. I can't handle many scents, but I'd like something in my bathroom and the diffusers are perfect for the shelf I have in there. A light scent is ok, but I can't handle it full strength.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
28 Jun 10
Yea, that's why I was thinking olive oil would definitely not work since it's stronger and has a distinct odor of it's own.
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
28 Jun 10
I would try a bit of baby oil to lessen the strength of the scent. The baby powder scented ones will also give the scent a buffer and not be so strong.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
28 Jun 10
Another great idea, I hadn't thought of baby oil. No babies here, but I imagine a small bottle of baby oil shouldn't set me back too much.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
27 Jun 10
I use them in a few rooms actually. Here's a photo of the one in my bathroom
on top of the medicine chest. I think regular cooking oil would mold or
something in time. My suggestion would be to use less reeds in the bottle actually. The one I use in my bathroom has just 3 where as the living room
I have 7 in the bottle of oil. Good luck.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
27 Jun 10
Hey Bob!
I'm not sure if less reeds would work because fewer reeds would mean more of an opening in the neck, allowing more of the fragrance from the oil itself to escape.
@thebeaddoodler (4262)
• Lubbock, Texas
28 Jun 10
Any light cooking oil will work to dilute your fragrance oils. If you have a problem with synthetic fragrance you could try using essential oils cut with DPG. You can blend essential oils with cooking oil, but the fragrance will evaporate quickly. If you mix them with DPG it will set the essential oils and the scent will last longer. This is what I used to do when I was making incense sticks.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
28 Jun 10
Never heard of DPG, but I'll definitely look it up. I knew there had to be a friend out here somewhere that was familiar with this stuff - thanks!
@BarBaraPrz (47656)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
27 Jun 10
Maybe baby oil or just plain mineral oil would be better?
@cmoneyspinner (9219)
• Austin, Texas
15 Aug 15
Don't own a reed diffuser but have friends who would recommend using diffusers. Can't use a lot of stuff with various smells because my spouse has all kinds of allergies.
