Reed diffuser: yes or no?
How Does a Reed Diffuser Work?
A reed diffuser works in a very simple way: the thin wooden reeds absorb the liquid, releasing the fragrance into the air. Apparently, that's all there is to it. What exactly the elegant packaging contains to make the scent fill rooms so intensely and not evaporate is not always clear.
Almost all reed diffusers contain synthetic fragrances and solvents that have little to do with aromatherapy and its associated benefits. Despite the packaging giving the impression of an eco-friendly product, the colorful synthetic fragrances found inside are as far from a natural product as possible. Unfortunately, the intense and often cloying odors of some compounds are the answer to an ever-growing market demand for a "scent that can be smelled," almost to the point of being intrusive, at an extremely low cost.
So what is the solution for scenting your home continuously and healthily? Let's find out together.
DIY Reed Diffusers
A reed diffuser can also be made at home, with good possibilities of recycling some unused containers. There are dozens of tutorials – very cute ones, by the way – on how to do it, which mostly indicate the following supplies:
- a small glass bottle (even one from a fruit juice)
- 100 ml of food-grade alcohol (a lightly flavored grappa or an unused vodka)
- bamboo skewers used for kebabs
The DIY diffuser is a sustainable, natural, and original idea. It provides the opportunity to create a blend with your preferred essential oils or to personalize the packaging for your handmade gifts. However, some clarification is needed: the amount of essential oil required for the scent to be noticeably present is significantly more than a few drops; it's at least 10-20 ml per 100 ml of alcohol. The high value of essential oil means that our DIY diffuser is a healthy and genuine aromatherapy product but not necessarily inexpensive. Furthermore, bamboo skewers are not exactly ideal for diffusing the scent; rattan or, in general, reed, with its more porous composition, is much more recommended. Bamboo, with its long fiber, does not allow the stick to store and retain a sufficient quantity of essential oil. A final note concerns the exclusive use of alcohol for diluting essential oils: while the industry uses synthetic solvents, for our DIY diffuser, we will also need a natural fixative. A tip for your DIY air freshener: use particularly intense and persistent essential oils if you want the scent of your blend to immediately catch the nose; balsamic or base notes are ideal.
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Difference Between Reed and Electric Diffusers
There are different types of electric diffusers, such as ultrasonic diffusers – which ionize water and essential oils – and diffusers that work with the Venturi effect – like aerosols – which atomize essential oils into the environment. In any case, whatever technology is chosen, for good aromatherapy practice, it is important that it is a cold diffuser, as heat oxidizes essential oils.
Electric diffusers certainly provide greater continuity: they cover very large areas and allow essential oil molecules in suspension to purify and cleanse the air. Nebulization, as well as ionization, ensures that essential oil molecules are fragmented in the air and inhaled. The reed diffuser operates a more limited diffusion, ideal for anyone wishing to scent a small environment, which proves less satisfactory for those whose goal is to clean the air and enjoy the benefits of essential oil from a physical point of view as well.
Reed Diffuser and Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a branch of phytotherapy that uses essential oils for the harmony of the physical body and the development of human potential.
The reed diffuser is suitable for aromatherapy use, provided that the mixture contains only pure essential oils and vegetable carriers such as food-grade alcohol. No synthetic fragrance is recognized for any aromatherapy property or benefit. Essential oils are a living raw material, a set of active ingredients that interacts with the body, bringing us the subtle energy of the plant, its message. The difference between a synthetic blend and a synergy based on essential oils is immense and immediately perceptible: in addition to elegantly and delicately scenting environments, essential oils will harmonize the home and the energies of those who live in it. Do you want to know the only risk? Once you experience the true scent of plants, you usually don't go back.
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