How to Clean and Reuse a Reed Diffuser Bottle

Don't throw your reed diffuser bottle away. How to clean it, refill it with a new scent, and when to change the reeds.

A good reed diffuser vessel is made to last. When the scent runs out, you can clean it and start again, for a fraction of the price of a new diffuser.

Option 1: refill with the same scent (no cleaning needed)

1. Take out the old reeds and throw them away.
2. Pour in a refill in the same scent.
3. Add fresh reeds. Done.

Option 2: switch to a new scent

1. Empty any remaining oil into a paper towel (not down the sink).
2. Soak the bottle in warm, soapy water for an hour.
3. Rinse with a little rubbing alcohol to remove any leftover oil and scent.
4. Dry completely, upside down, for a full day. Any water left inside will cloud the new oil.
5. Refill with your new scent and use new reeds. Old reeds hold the old scent.

Tips

• Always use new reeds with a new scent.
• Wipe the neck so oil doesn't drip down the outside.
• Keep the vessel off wooden surfaces while refilling; fragrance oil can mark finishes.

Everything you need

• Reed diffuser refills in every scent, 100 ml to 1 L
• Fibre Reed Sticks, packs of 10, 25 or 50
• The Refresh Kit: a 200 ml refill plus ten fresh reeds

Blended and bottled by hand in Toronto. Ships across Canada and to the US.

Explore: the Scaldera Arch · Shop the collection · Take the Scent Quiz · Membership · Refill subscription

More from the Journal

• Buying Reed Diffuser Refills in Canada: What to Check Before You Pour — Will any refill work in your reed diffuser? Five things to check before you buy, and how to make a refill last.
• How to Refill a Reed Diffuser (and How Long a Refill Lasts) — A good reed diffuser should outlive its first bottle of scent. Here is how to refill one properly, how long each refill lasts, and the one mistake that ruins the scent.
• How to Make Your House Smell Good All the Time — A simple, low-effort plan to make your home smell good every day: fix the sources, choose one signature scent and place it where it counts.