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Diffusers

How Does A Reed Diffuser Work?

Flowers, candles and incense have long been the most popular home fragrances, but things are evolving these days. Reed diffusers are just among the many innovative essentials you can use to freshen up your home and evoke a sense of luxury and comfort. Unlike traditional home fragrances, reed diffusers are flame-free and can last a bit longer, making them a safe and practical alternative. To get the most out of reed diffusers, it’s important to understand how they work. This article will talk about what reed diffusers are, how to use and care for them and why you need a few of them at home.      

What Is A Reed Diffuser?

Reed diffusers are a sleek and stylish way to add fragrance to your home. They’re not your typical diffusers that require heat or electricity to work. All you need to do is immerse the reeds into a bottle of essential oil and wait for them to absorb the oil and naturally release its scent into the open air. With such easy peasy steps, you can instantly transform just about any room into a spa-like sanctuary, where families and friends can enjoy gathering up and spending some quality time together. 

A typical reed diffuser has three main components: a vessel, scented liquid and a set of reeds, hence the name “reed diffusers”. Scented liquids are the magic ingredients in a reed diffuser. Essential oils have long been used in aromatherapy as a primary base due to their natural fragrance and calming properties. Reeds are wooden or synthetic sticks designed with microscopic channels that allow the distribution of scent into the air. Last but not least, the vessel is usually a small glass bottle or a jar that holds the essential oil and reeds in place, giving an aesthetically pleasing vibe that doubles the purpose of a reed diffuser. 1.) It gives your home an air of constant therapeutic fragrance, and 2.) It may also work as a subtle home decor that pulls your room together. 

How To Use A Reed Diffuser

Reed diffusers are super easy to use. The bottle often comes secured with a metal screw cap or a plastic plug. The first step is to uncap the bottle. Some diffusers are prefilled with scent liquid, so once uncapped, simply allow the reeds to sit in the bottle. But if the oil came in a separate container, you will have to pour a few ounces of oil into the bottle before you can place the reeds into it. Wait for a few minutes until the reeds are well-saturated, and finally flip the reeds upside down to encourage a fair release of aroma. It’s essential to flip your reeds every so often to maintain the freshness of their scent. Swirling and stirring the scented solution from time to time will also help keep the oil from settling towards the bottom, affecting its ability to evaporate faster.

How Do Reed Diffuser Sticks Work?

Reeds are typically made with porous materials to help regulate the fragrance levels they absorb and disperse. When you place the reeds into a bottle of essential oil, the upper ends are extended above the neck of the bottle into the air whilst the lower ends are soaked into the liquid to absorb the scent. Once the reeds are moistened, the scent gradually moves upward and spreads evenly into the air. It will then travel across the room in various patterns, as the sticks are positioned in different directions to encourage better circulation of aroma. 

You may add more reeds to your diffuser if you want to intensify the fragrance in the room. Otherwise, pull out a reed or two. We suggest replacing the reeds every six months as they can become overly saturated and clogged with dust particles in the long run. This affects their ability to function well. Over time you will notice some slight changes in the scent of your diffuser. You may even ask yourself, “Why isn’t my reed diffuser working?”. In most cases, worn-out reeds could be the problem.  

How To Refill A Reed Diffuser

Firstly, remove your old reeds and discard them in a safe place, particularly away from fire-prone areas. Many people ask this question a lot, “What if my reeds are not so worn out? Can I still keep them after refilling my diffuser?”. Our short answer is no. Once you have used your reeds for a certain scent, even within such a short period of time, you cannot reuse them for a different scent. That’s because mixing your previous scent with the new one may create an unappealing odour in the long run.  

The next important step is to wash the vessel with clean water and soap before refilling, especially if you plan on using a different scent. Not only does it help avoid combining old and new scents together, which often leads to a nasty smell, but also keeps your bottle away from unsightly spots due to dust, grime, or smudge buildup. 

Before pouring the oil, make sure to dry the vessel completely in order to avoid diluting the essential oil and losing its natural scent mistakenly. If the neck of your vessel is a little too slim, try using a funnel or a pour-spout measuring cup to avoid any potential spillage. Finally, insert the reeds into the bottle and arrange them beautifully, targeting different angles to disperse the scent as fairly as possible. 

Why You Need A Reed Diffuser At Home

From convenience to wellness and relaxation, reed diffusers are all the rage because of their extended benefits. No wonder many people swear by their many promising effects as a holistic form of aromatherapy. Clinical studies have confirmed that diffusing essential oils can help relieve stress and anxiety symptoms in medical patients. Lavender, for example, is top-of-field when it comes to sleep improvement due to its calming effects. But how well does lavender work in reed diffusers?

In a journal article on lavender aroma stimulation for postmenopausal women with insomnia, the participants reported a significant decrease in hot flashes, wakefulness, depression levels, and other menopausal symptoms affecting sleep, thereby increasing sleep efficiency. Researchers found that lavender-derived essential oils contain naturally soothing properties that are valuable for people with sleep problems. So after pre and post-intervention periods, they extrapolated that inhaling lavender essential oil was a safe and promising complementary option to traditional treatments for mild or moderate sleep disorders. 

Reed diffusers are a must-try if you’re practising aromatherapy, particularly for sleep improvement. These products are energy-efficient and require less maintenance and monitoring. Unlike candles, incense and plug-in devices, reed diffusers can be left unattended. This allows them to operate around the clock while you are asleep, so you won’t have to worry about overheating or potential fires.    

Another plus point for reed diffusers is their toxin-free profile. They disperse air-cleansing molecules with no harmful chemicals commonly attributed to traditional room sprays or aerosols, making reed diffusers an eco-friendly option for your home. 

Tips For Choosing A Quality Reed Diffuser

Our goal at 96NORTH is to provide high-end fragrance products that can deliver potent effects and stand the test of time. That’s why we ensure that all of our reed diffusers are carefully crafted using top-quality materials. We use glass vessels to help preserve the molecular structure and potency of our fragrance solutions, as some essential oils are corrosive and can break down synthetic bottles over time. 

We recommend using reeds made with rattan wood over synthetic alternatives. Rattan is efficient in absorbing and emitting natural aroma, allowing you to receive the maximum benefit from the scented oil. On top of that, it is 100% sustainable and easy to find. In fact, there are about 3,000 varieties of rattan, with hundreds of them available for furniture making.

When choosing the right essential oil, always consider the scent that suits your style as well as the kind of ambiance you want to set for specific areas of your home. For instance, any citrusy scent is ideal for your bathroom to manifest a refreshing vibe. Soothing scents, such as lavender, vanilla or sandalwood, can definitely make your bedroom a lot cosier. Whereas for living spaces, your guests may appreciate being greeted by a warm, inviting note of fragrance. It all comes down to your personal tastes and requirements.  

Final Thoughts

If you are looking to upgrade from your current fragrance system help you, our experts at 96NORTH can help you find the perfect scent note for your home. We can also tailor the strength of your elected scent to your personal needs and preferences. Get in touch with us today to discover our fantastic collection of fragrance systems that genuinely make any house feel like a home. Plus, they make a wonderful gift for loved ones who might be moving to a new place or working in a new office.

Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do you put all the reeds in a reed diffuser?

The more reeds you put in the diffuser, the stronger the scent will be. Ideally, eight to 12 reeds are optimal. However, if you are sensitive to overwhelming scents, feel free to remove one or more reeds from the vessel.

How long do reed sticks last?

Around six months is the average lifespan of a reed stick. High-quality reeds like ours at 96NORTH, when properly maintained, can last even longer.

Are reed diffusers worth it?

They are! Reed diffusers are powerful scenting essentials for your home. Not only do they help freshen up your space, but they also provide a host of therapeutic benefits.