Refill or Buy New? What a Reed Diffuser Really Costs per Month
A beautiful reed diffuser shouldn't be a one-time purchase. Here is what it actually costs per month to keep one going, and when refilling saves the most.
A good reed diffuser is a small luxury you notice every time you walk in the door. Once the first bottle runs out, the question is simple: buy a new one, or refill the one you have?
How long a reed diffuser lasts
About 60 days per 100 ml in an average room. A 200 ml diffuser lasts roughly four months. Warm, dry rooms and sunny spots use it faster; flipping the reeds often does too.
The cost per month
Using our prices and that 60-days-per-100-ml guide:
- New 200 ml reed diffuser ($95): lasts about 4 months, about $24 a month
- 100 ml refill ($35): lasts about 2 months, about $17.50 a month
- 200 ml refill ($59): lasts about 4 months, about $15 a month
- 500 ml refill ($129): lasts about 10 months, about $13 a month
- 1 L refill ($219): lasts about 20 months, about $11 a month
Refilling costs less from the very first bottle, and the bigger sizes bring it down further. A 1 L bottle can also keep several diffusers going in different rooms, so it's used up much sooner.
What you need to refill
- Your existing vessel (or any 200 ml glass diffuser vessel, from $9)
- A refill in your scent
- Fresh reeds ($8 for 10). Change them with every refill; old reeds clog and carry the last scent.
Our step-by-step guide shows how to refill a reed diffuser properly.
When buying new makes sense
As a gift, for a room that doesn't have a diffuser yet, or when you want the full presentation of a new bottle and reeds. Otherwise, refilling is the better buy.
Quick answers
Does a refill smell as strong as a new diffuser? Yes, it's the same blend. If your refilled diffuser seems weaker, the reeds are usually the reason.
Can I refill another brand's bottle? Yes, as long as it's a reed diffuser vessel. Rinse it first so the old scent doesn't mix with the new.
Free shipping? Orders of $125 or more ship free in Canada and to the US.
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More from the Journal
- 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 Much Fragrance Oil per 100 ml of Reed Diffuser Base? — The most common question from people making their own reed diffusers: how much oil goes in? Here is the ratio, why it's measured by weight, and a gram chart you can use with a kitchen scale.
- Reed Diffuser Base: Why the Cheapest One Costs You More — Most people pick a reed diffuser base on price. But the base is most of what's in the bottle, and it decides how far the scent travels and how long it lasts.