There are tons of ways to make your home smell great: candles, electric diffusers, plug ins, palo santo, incense… and reed diffusers! Today I’m sharing an incredibly easy way to make your own essential oil reed diffuser with a cute etched glass vessel. But first… a back story.
The first time I ever went over to Joanna’s bungalow, the thing that really made an impression on me was how wonderful it smelled. I mentally ran through my catalogue of known scents, but I couldn’t place the fresh, yet extremely comforting fragrance. After a few visits, I gave in and asked her what it was. The answer? Jo Malone Lime, Basil & Mandarin emanating from — you guessed it — a reed diffuser.
And while Jo Malone diffusers are lovely, they cost a pretty penny. I’ve wanted to craft my own ever since, and now is finally the time! We used an easy glass etching technique to dress up some pretty containers and crafted an essential oil blend to create a calming scent that can become your very own signature.
How to Make An Essential Oil Reed Diffuser with Etched Glass
Materials
Tools
- paint brush
Directions
The first thing you’ll want to do is give your etching cream a really good stir. Be careful not to get any on your skin. It is designed to eat away at glass, so it’s definitely not meant to come in contact with your skin. Wear gloves in case you’re worried.
After mixing the etching cream, decide on a pattern or design for the glass. You can use masking tape to create clean-lined stripes or you can draw on your initials to create a subtle monogram. I opted to create a freeform geometric pattern that sort of mimics a basketweave texture.
To create this geometric pattern, paint three vertical stripes then three horizontal stripes below that. Repeat until you’ve reached the bottom of the vessel. Then, move to the right and alternate horizontal and vertical stripes. Next, work your way around the whole glass until the surface is covered in the pattern. Pro tip: be very generous with the etching cream — really glob it on without being messy! If you’re too light-handed, the pattern won’t be as visible.
Let the etching cream sit on the glass for the length dictated on the bottle (etching time may vary depending on which brand you use). Then, carefully rinse off the cream. After that, you’ll see the etched design!
Now all that’s left to do is create your custom oil blend.
Pour 1/2 cup of a carrier oil — I opted for sunflower oil — into your glass vessel. Then, add 50 drops of your essential oil and stir.
Place a bundle of diffuser reeds in the diffuser and wait for it to work its magic. I used 10 per container. Flip the reeds for a great way to get the fragrance absorption started.
For this essential oil reed diffuser, I used sweet orange, but you can use whichever you have on hand. Or you can create your own essential oil blend! We chose sweet orange oil because it is known to decrease stress and promote a cheery mood. Can’t beat that, especially with how wintry Seattle has been!
Essential Oil Combinations to Try in a Reed Diffuser:
You can also try some of these oil blends:
- for relaxation & improved sleep: lavender, vetiver, patchouli, ylang-ylang, chamomile, neroli, cedar, bergamot, clary sage.
- for clarity & a mental boost: rosemary, basil, peppermint, cedar, grapefruit or any citrus.
- for inflammation: tea tree oil, ginger, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon
Even if you’re not into the whole essential oil benefits thing, at least your home will still smell incredible!
If you enjoyed this DIY, you might enjoy these other essential oil tutorials as well:
