What Is a Reed Diffuser and Their Benefits?

What Are Reed Diffusers

Reed diffusers disperse essential oils or fragrances into the air, helping to improve a home’s ambience. They work using different methods, including air pressure, mist, and heat.

As we move into 2025, diffusers have changed the game — not just for making your home smell incredible, but also as a stylish, modern décor feature.

Let the Village Wax Melts team explain the different types of diffusers.

The Main Types of Diffusers

Lime Essential Oil Reed Diffuser - Village Wax Melts

There isn’t just one type of diffuser.

Crazy, right?

Here are four different diffuser types commonly used in the home:

Nebulising Diffuser

Uses pressurised air to atomise essential oils without water, releasing pure oil particles into the air.

Ultrasonic Diffuser

Mixes water with essential oils and uses ultrasonic vibrations to create a fine mist.

Reed Diffuser

A glass container filled with scented oil. Porous reeds absorb the oil and release fragrance slowly.

Electric Diffuser

Uses electricity to disperse fragrance and often includes timers and light features.

Of course, the most popular option remains the reed diffuser.

You get a beautifully fragranced home — and you can keep refilling them.

Where to Put Your Reed Diffuser

When using a reed diffuser, placement is key, and the size of the room plays an important role.

Common places for reed diffusers include:

  • Bathrooms
  • Entryways and foyers
  • Kitchens
  • Bedrooms
  • Home offices

A compact diffuser with 5–9 reeds works well in smaller spaces like bathrooms or foyers. For larger rooms, consider using a bigger diffuser or adding more reeds to distribute scent more effectively.

Within a room, place your diffuser where there’s gentle airflow, but avoid spots near air conditioners, open windows, or tucked-away corners.

A good rule of thumb is to treat it like a vase of flowers — position it where people pass by regularly so the fragrance circulates naturally.

Finally, keep your diffuser in a cool, shaded area. This won’t change the scent, but it will help preserve the oil and extend its lifespan by avoiding heat and direct sunlight.

How to Get the Most from Diffusers

How to Get the Most from Diffusers

You want your diffuser to fill your home with lush fragrance — and with a few simple steps, it will.

General Tips for Using Diffusers

Choose the Right Place: Position your diffuser in a cool, ventilated area away from direct sunlight and heat to maintain scent strength and longevity.

Adjust the Scent: For reed diffusers, change the number of reeds to control fragrance intensity. For electric diffusers, adjust the amount of oil used.

Specific Tips for Reed Diffusers

How to set up your diffuser: Remove any stoppers and immerse the reeds in the fragrance oil. Allow them to soak for a few hours before flipping to begin diffusion.

Regular maintenance: Flip reeds every 1–2 weeks to refresh the scent. Avoid flipping too often, as this can cause oil to evaporate faster.

Monitor oil levels: Check oil levels regularly and refill as needed, taking care not to overfill.

Specific Tips for Electric Diffusers

  • Water usage:
    • Fill with clean or distilled water to the indicated line.
    • Add 4–6 drops of essential oil for optimal misting.
  • Cleaning: Rinse after each use to prevent oil build-up, especially from citrus oils.

By following these Village Wax Melts guidelines, you can enhance your diffuser experience, keep your space beautifully scented, and maximise your diffuser’s effectiveness and lifespan.

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