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How to Make an Essential Oil Diffuser

Scenting your home with essential oils benefits health by reducing chemical exposure from commercial air fresheners and increasing exposure to the healing properties of essential oils. With so many available options, you can personalize scents according to your needs and preferences. For example, if you suffer from sinus congestion, the scent of eucalyptus oil will help open your nasal passages. You can purchase a wide variety of essential oil diffusers, or you can use homemade methods.

Things You'll Need

  • Container with pouring groove Vegetable oil Essential oils Food coloring (optional) Reeds (regular reed or bamboo) Glass bottle Teapot Vacuum bag Toilet paper roll Cotton balls Reusable spray bottle Distilled water High proof vodka
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Instructions

  1. Reed Diffuser

    • 1

      Pour vegetable oil into a container with a groove for precise pouring, such as a measuring cup.

    • 2

      Add essential oils of your choice to the vegetable oil. Use 20 to 30 drops of essential oil per 1/2 cup of vegetable oil.

    • 3

      Add 10 drops of your choice of food coloring to the blend for decoration.

    • 4

      Stir thoroughly with a reed to disperse the coloring throughout the oil.

    • 5

      Pour the mixture into a glass bottle.

    • 6

      Insert the reeds through the opening of the bottle. Use as many reeds as will fit. The essential oil blend will creep up the reeds and disperse the scent.

    Steam Diffusion

    • 7

      Boil a pot of water.

    • 8

      Add 20 drops of essential oil to the boiling water.

    • 9

      Increase the scent by adding spices, such as cinnamon, and citrus peels.

    • 10

      Reduce the heat to low and simmer.

    • 11

      Aside from the stove, add water and essential oil to a teapot and set on hot radiators or a woodstove. The scent will carry through the home and reduce dry air from heat.

    • 12

      Add a few drops of essential oil to hot running bathwater.

    Alternative Methods

    • 13

      Drip 5 drops of essential oil into the opening of your disposable paper vacuum bag. As you vacuum, the scent will disperse.

    • 14

      Add 5 drops of essential oil to the inner cardboard tube of toilet paper. The scent will disperse as toilet paper unrolls.

    • 15

      Soak a cotton ball in essential oils or vanilla extract and set in a dish in any room.

    Air-freshening Spray

    • 16

      Pour 2 cups of distilled water into a reusable spray bottle.

    • 17

      Add two mini-bottles---100 mL---of high-proof vodka, preferably 100 proof.

    • 18

      Add 50 drops of essential oil and shake.

    • 19

      Let the mixture sit for 1 to 2 weeks, occasionally shaking the bottle. The scent will strengthen with time.

    • 20

      Spray the mixture. If you want a stronger scent, add more essential oil.

    • 21

      Spray the mixture throughout the home as you would with any spray air freshener. You can also use this on fabrics, but test first for colorfastness.

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