How to Look After Your Reed Diffuser

Reed diffusers are one of the easiest ways to fragrance your home.

There's no flame and nothing to switch on, the reeds simply draw the diffuser liquid up through the bottle and gradually release the fragrance into the air.

But where you put your diffuser, how many reeds you use and what you do with them can all affect both the strength of the fragrance and how long your diffuser lasts.

Here are a few simple tips to help you get the best from yours.

Setting Up Your Reed Diffuser

When you first open your diffuser, carefully remove the stopper and place the reeds into the bottle.

Allow the reeds time to absorb the liquid and then turn them once, placing the saturated ends at the top. This helps get the initial fragrance moving.

After that, we'd recommend leaving them alone.

Yes, really.

Should You Keep Turning Your Reeds?

This is probably one of the questions we're asked most often.

You'll see plenty of advice telling you to turn diffuser reeds every few days, but we don't recommend routinely doing this.

Turning the reeds can give you a temporary boost of fragrance because you're exposing the saturated ends to the air. But it also means more diffuser liquid is released and evaporates, so you'll get through your diffuser more quickly.

Our advice is simple: turn them when you first set up the diffuser and then let them do their job.

If you particularly want a stronger burst of fragrance you can turn them again, but just be aware that doing it regularly is likely to shorten the life of your diffuser.

Where Should You Put a Reed Diffuser?

Position makes a surprising amount of difference.

A little natural air movement can help carry the fragrance around a room, which is why hallways and areas you regularly walk through can work particularly well.

Try to avoid placing your diffuser directly beside:

• radiators or other heat sources
• fires
• sunny windows
• air-conditioning units
• open windows
• particularly strong draughts

Heat and excessive airflow can make the liquid evaporate more quickly.

It's also better not to hide your diffuser away in a tightly enclosed corner or deep inside a bookcase. Give the reeds some open space around them so the fragrance can disperse into the room.

How Many Reeds Should You Use?

You don't necessarily have to use every reed supplied.

More reeds will generally give you a stronger fragrance but will also use the diffuser liquid more quickly. Fewer reeds will give you a subtler fragrance and may help your diffuser last longer.

So if your diffuser is in a small bathroom or bedroom, you might find that fewer reeds are perfectly adequate.

In a larger room, you may prefer to use the full set.

It's worth experimenting to find what works best in your home.

Protect Your Furniture

This is an important one.

Diffuser liquid can damage some painted, polished or delicate surfaces, so always put the bottle somewhere stable and protect the surface underneath.

Be particularly careful if you do turn the reeds. Do it over the bottle, allow any excess liquid to drip back in and avoid touching furniture or other surfaces with the saturated reeds.

If you spill any diffuser liquid, wipe it up immediately.

When Should You Replace the Reeds?

Reeds don't last forever.

Over time they can become less effective at drawing the liquid through and releasing the fragrance.

When you start a new diffuser or refill, fresh reeds will usually give you the best performance.

We also wouldn't recommend moving used reeds from one fragrance into another. Apart from their performance potentially being reduced, you'll be mixing the old fragrance with the new one.

Why Can't I Smell My Diffuser Anymore?

It may not be the diffuser.

If you're surrounded by the same fragrance every day, your brain can gradually become accustomed to it. This is known as olfactory adaptation, or more commonly “nose blindness”.

It's why somebody can walk into your house and immediately say how lovely it smells when you've stopped noticing the fragrance completely.

Try leaving the room or the house for a while and see what you notice when you come back.

If the fragrance genuinely has become weaker, check the position of the diffuser and consider whether the reeds need replacing.

How Can I Make My Reed Diffuser Last Longer?

There are a few simple things that can help:

• Keep it away from heat and direct sunlight.
• Avoid particularly strong draughts.
• Use fewer reeds if you don't need a particularly strong fragrance.
• Don't routinely turn the reeds.
• Position it somewhere open enough for the fragrance to disperse naturally.

Remember that room temperature, airflow, fragrance composition and the number of reeds you're using can all affect how quickly a diffuser is used.

Reed Diffuser FAQs

Should I flip my reed diffuser reeds?
We recommend turning them once when you first set up your diffuser. After that, leave them to diffuse naturally. Turning them again can temporarily increase the fragrance, but doing it regularly will also use the liquid more quickly.

How many reeds should I use?
It's up to you. More reeds generally mean more fragrance and faster liquid consumption; fewer reeds generally give a subtler fragrance and slower consumption.

Where is the best place for a reed diffuser?
Somewhere stable and relatively open, with gentle natural air movement but away from direct heat, strong sunlight and excessive draughts.

Why is my reed diffuser disappearing so quickly?
Heat, direct sunlight, strong airflow, the number of reeds being used and regularly turning the reeds can all affect how quickly the liquid is consumed.

Should I use new reeds with a refill?
We recommend it. Fresh reeds generally give the best performance, particularly if you're changing to a different fragrance.

And That's About It!

One of the best things about reed diffusers is that they don't need much looking after.

Set yours up, choose the number of reeds that gives you the fragrance strength you prefer, put it in a sensible place and let it get on with the job.

No weekly reed-flipping schedule required.

Just remember to enjoy the fragrance.

Discover Heyland & Whittle Reed Diffusers →