Dispersing Scent With Diffusers

Though reed diffusers are nothing new, I recently rediscovered how wonderful they can be. If you haven’t given them a try, read on to find out why you should.

Recently, we remodeled our guest half bath. Once it was done, we thought about using what we had used before — one of the popular plug-in air fresheners. This is so we could have a continuous scent available (for obvious reasons) in the space. But with the new decor, those felt tired and cheesy. We needed something with a chic, elevated look.

I started brainstorming, and then it popped into my head: reed diffusers.

Years ago, someone gifted me a reed diffuser for my home. But I wasn’t quite connecting with the concept. Maybe if I had been more educated on how they work, I would have appreciated what a great addition they can be. However, they suddenly felt like the perfect solution for my newly remodeled bathroom.

Reed diffusers are beautifully simple and a cinch to use. They usually consist of a decorative glass bottle, fragrance oil and reed sticks. Once the reeds are inserted in the fragrance oil, they can last anywhere from one to six months. This all depends on the size of the bottle, quality of the fragrance oil, amount of reeds used, and room environment.

Whatever the combination, reed diffusers sure beat a burned-out fragrance ruining my favorite plug-in or having to keep watch over a burning candle. I can just set them out and allow the fragrance to fill the air. They are an excellent, low-maintenance way to add continuous fragrance to bathrooms, foyers, entryways, bedrooms, offices and more.

A couple things to keep in mind when selecting a reed diffuser for your home:

• The bottle that houses the fragrance oil and reed sticks should ideally have a smaller opening. This will keep the fragrance from evaporating too quickly.
• Make sure your diffuser comes with natural rattan reeds. They have small pores that easily absorb the fragrance and carry it up to the top of the reeds and out into your space.