Not having that invasive smell and bad taste typical of many products available on the market to freshen the air, the stick diffusers have become an increasingly popular way to perfume and gently freshen the air present in closed environments. Commonly used at home, in offices, in public bathrooms, etc., diffusers are a generally safe and long-lasting method to perfume the air without resorting to the flame, hot wax, chemicals or electricity required by various commercial deodorants. Although stick diffusers are sold in many retail stores, good quality ones can be expensive and you can't even be sure which compounds are being released, as the label hardly lists the chemical constituents. Instead of shelling out a fortune to breathe in volatile compounds, you can make your own stick diffusers at home to exactly match the scent you love and only contain what you have chosen to add.
Steps
Step 1. Find or purchase a suitable container to hold the diffuser
Purchase narrow-necked glass bottles or clean and reuse bottles from old diffusers, finished perfumes, or other beauty products. It is also a great idea to reuse less mundane containers - such as colored bottles, soda or beer bottles, vintage containers for milk and other bottles, flower pots, large salt and pepper pots, other similar items - to create diffusers. straw. Set your imagination in motion every time you come across a possible container that you don't know the use of!
- Use the term "stick diffuser" on Pinterest to get a great visual rundown of what others have used as diffuser boxes.
- If you want, you can decorate the diffuser container before proceeding - match it with your decor!
- Avoid using plastic bottles - glass is the purest material and ceramic is fine too; plastic, on the other hand, can leach chemicals when it comes into contact with oils.
Step 2. Find suitable straws (also known as sticks) to add to the diffuser container
Use new straw diffusers, as older sticks lose their effectiveness once they are more than saturated with an oil. You can buy ready-made straws suitable for this purpose, but you can also use those thin bamboo skewers that are available at many grocery stores.
- The sticks need to be tall enough to fit well over the containers or bottles of your choice. They must protrude several centimeters from the top of the container. Increase the fragrance capacity of the diffuser by using straws that are double or more than the height of the bottle.
- Ready-to-use straws are usually sold in 25, 30 and 38cm lengths.
Step 3. Decide which base oil or diffuser you will use
Choices for base oil or diffuser include scented oil and propylene glycol (a polyacid with low toxicity) or a base oil such as safflower or sweet almond oils. Alternatively, you can purchase bottles of scented diffuser oils that are already mixed.
- The best diffuser oils are made using high quality fragrances. Essential oils from well-known fragrances cost more, but you will tend to use less for a pleasant scent. In general, it will likely prove to be an even cheaper choice in the long run, rather than buying a ready-made speaker set every time you consume one.
- Do not use glycol if you are concerned about the safety of plasticizers and prefer to have zero toxicity than to have it "low"; it is widely used in cosmetic products, for example in perfumes. Note from chemist: This is a common misconception, because all "natural" oils are also toxic. Even drinking too much water is bad for you. Glycol is safe or safer than any other alternative. Natural oils can be allergenic and normally contain low levels of fungal toxin contamination, but this is normal and natural and is not usually of concern. The toxicity of the base oil is nothing compared to that of many fragrances - if you knew their toxicity, you would not want to take them at all.
Step 4. Blend the essential oil with the glycol or the base oil of the diffuser
Creating the scented oil is a simple process, as follows:
- In general, the blend should consist of approximately 15-25% essential or fragrance oil and 75-85% propylene glycol or diffuser base oil. Vary the amount to increase or decrease the fragrance as needed.
- If the oil-diffuser mixture cannot reach the straw enough to perfume the air effectively, you may need to decrease the additional amount of essential oil. This is due to the viscosity of the oil, which is often too heavy or dense to propagate.
- Another way to make a good diffuser oil is to use vodka. Mix a dash of vodka with about 10 drops of your favorite essential oil or perfume and 1/4 cup of water. This method works well, but it needs to be refilled more frequently, as the mixture tends to evaporate faster. It's a great way to use some tasteless vodka you want to get rid of!
Step 5. Fill diffuser bottles or containers to approximately 75-85% capacity with diffuser oil
Don't fill the containers all the way to the top with oil - it can overflow when you put the straws inside.
Step 6. Put the sticks in the oil and let them rest for an hour
Their number varies according to the intensity of the fragrance of the oil and the size of the container you are using - evaluate accordingly. Increase the number of sticks to ensure that more fragrance enters the air, and decrease it if you want less oil to be absorbed. By the end of the hour, you should start to notice that the sticks absorb the oil, slowly.
The more straws you use and the taller they are, the faster your diffuser will need to be refilled or replaced
Step 7. Flip the sticks after an hour to saturate the top protruding above the oil level
This helps speed up the process of spreading the oil from the bottom through the entire stick.
Step 8. Place the finished straw diffuser container somewhere suitable in your home
Place it where it will not be eliminated or studied by curious children or pets. Also make sure to keep it well away from electrical appliances, in case of a spill. Expect a light scent to start spreading in your room within 24 hours. Check weekly to see if the diffuser needs a refill. Every two weeks the container should be emptied and thoroughly cleaned and more sticks added.
Advice
- Homemade speakers are excellent gifts for holidays, inauguration parties and other events. Create diffusers for your family and friends with their favorite scents and use containers and bottles that are heirlooms. Tie festive ribbons on the speakers and add other personalized touches to make your gift unique.
- Cap the bottle and include the sticks by tying them with a bow or wrapping them with the bottle if you intend to sell or gift your handmade diffusers.
- You can add perfume or essential oil to your diffuser if it starts to lose its fragrance before the oil is all used up.
- Sometimes you can improve the performance of already used saturated straws by rinsing them under hot running water and then letting them dry. Lay the straws flat on a clean, absorbent surface, such as a towel. Return them to the oil after they are completely dry.
Warnings
- Most essential oil fragrances are too thick for them to diffuse effectively. The base oil of the stick diffuser lightens that of the fragrance, making it possible for the mixture to spread over the entire length of the straw.
- The viscosity of homemade stick diffusers can extend to the container being used to the point where removing it really becomes a big mess. Use a lot of detergent and expect to have your fingers all dirty while cleaning up the greasiness.
