Discover the joy of DIY diffusers with our simple guide. Learn to infuse your space with delightful scents, creating a relaxing ambiance. There are some simple steps to take to create a beautifully scented diffuser in your home. Dive in and make your first diffuser with us today!
Select your components
Diffuser Vessel: This is where the scented oil is contained. The jar should be made of a non-porous material to prevent the oil from seeping through and damaging surfaces. This is especially important with any ceramic vessels which need to be glazed internally for them to be suitable.
Scented oil: This is your fragrance oil and base mixture. Bases are very important as they lower the concentration of the fragrance, and make the diffuser work better. The viscosity of this base changes how quickly your scent will be diffused.
Reeds: These are the wicks that absorb the scented oil and diffuse it into the air. The number of sticks used can vary depending on the size of the room and the desired strength of the fragrance.
Decorative cap or stopper: This is used to cover the jar and hold the reeds in place. In some diffusers there will be a decorative cap and a stopper which can be put in the neck of the vessel to stop diffusion.
Equipment for diffuser making
Mixing Container or Beakers:
These containers allow you to measure and mix precise quantities of oils and bases.
Stirring Utensils: To thoroughly blend the fragrance oils and bases, you'll need stirring utensils such as glass rods, plastic spoons, or disposable pipettes. They should not be made of wood or other porous materials as this can cause cross contamination between different fragrance batches.
Funnel: A funnel is a handy tool for transferring the prepared fragrance mixture from the mixing bowl or beaker into the glass containers.
Dropper or Pipette: For accurate measurement and precise control while measuring fragrances and bases, a dropper or pipette is indispensable.
Scales or Balance: Accuracy when measuring your components is critical so a set of scales which are accurate to 0.1g are a great investment as you can both measure the fragrance and base oil but you can also measure the exact amount of mixture as you pour it into the vessel.
Protective Gloves and Safety Equipment: Use protective gloves to shield your hands from direct contact with concentrated oils. Additionally, consider wearing safety goggles if you're working with larger quantities or in a production environment to protect your eyes from accidental splashes.
Cleaning Supplies: Cotton rags and paper towels will be sufficient to clean and absorb any spills you may have during production. It is also worth noting, if you are making candles in the same area, be very careful about thoroughly cleaning all of your equipment before using it for diffusers as wax gets everywhere.
Select your recipe
The easiest way for beginners to make a perfect diffuser first time is to to get someone else to do the development work for you. At Candle Shack, that is exactly what we have done. We have a continually expanding selection of fragrances with recipes which will tell you how much fragrance and base into your vessel and which reeds go best with that selection.
Make your mixture
Weigh your oil and base: Find the amounts of fragrance and base required for your chosen recipe. Weigh the base into the vessel on the scales, remembering to tare/zero the balance before pouring.
We recommend weighing your fragrance into a beaker or glass to ensure your have the right amount before mixing.
Combine your mixture: Pour the correct amounts of your fragrance and base into your container. Add a stopper or lid and shake vigorously.
Prepare and enjoy your diffuser
Once the fragrance and base is fully combined, your DIY Diffuser is ready to go!
You can either use it straight away or keep it to use later.
To use the diffuser, all you need to do is remove the stopper or cap, replace the collar if your diffuser has one. Then insert the reeds recommended on the recipe.
The final step is to wait. The fragrance oil mixture will take a little bit of time to flow through the reeds so the scent may start off weak but it will get stronger over time once your diffuser is set up.
Diffusion time will differ depending on the components you have selected, the recipes have full test reports which will give you an idea of how long you should expect your DIY diffuser to last for.
