free stats
 
 
 
Copyright © How To Do!!!
Design by Dzignine
Thursday, July 19, 2012

How to Stay Cool in Warm Weather



Stay Cool in Warm Weather
Keeping your cool in warm weather isn't just about attitude––your body needs extra attention too. Risks of getting too hot in warm weather include dehydration as you go about your daily activities or overheating and risking suffering from heat stress, heat cramps or even heat exhaustion. Keeping your body cool will also help to keep your mood calm too, for heat often exacerbates feelings of stress, tension and frustration. There are lots of simple and effective ways to stay cool in warm weather and most of them are very affordable.

EditSteps

  1. 1
    Stay out of the sun while it's at its hottest. This commonsense approach isn't always easy to adhere to when summer fun beckons, so it bears repeating. Avoid exercising, traveling, sitting and walking about in the noonday sun as much as possible. It's best to limit your sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day during warmer months. When you are outside during these times, limit your exposure to heat by retreating to shade as much as possible and not exerting yourself. Most of all, drink plenty of water.
    • If you'd normally exercise or work outdoors during the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during cooler months, be prepared to change this schedule when it's hotter. Slow down––it's not worth pushing yourself strenuously when it's hot outside; things that require a lot of physical effort can be done early in the morning or later in the day.
    • Spend more time in air-conditioned places when the heat is excessive. Visit public buildings such as the library or a store if you don't have adequate air-conditioning at home.
    • Some people are particularly vulnerable to heat and should stay in cool places during hot weather, such as children, the elderly and those who have health problems.
    • While sunscreen and sunglasses don't necessarily have a cooling effect, their protective effect is vital during warmer weather––as well as being painful and damaging, sunburn reduces your ability to release heat from your body and causes you to lose body fluids.[1] Be sure to use them.
  2. 2
    Plan ahead. Whatever you're doing outdoors, having a plan will help cut down on unnecessary activity in the heat. For example, if you're hiking, study the map at the beginning of the day and calculate the best route, especially one that makes the most of shade where possible. If you're swimming, even though water is cooling the sun will bear down on you, so figure out how long you can safely swim before needing to get out and dry off––and stick to this time limit. If you have to travel a lot during hot days in your vehicle, plan ahead by having your vehicle inspected and ensuring that your air-conditioning is in working order; also, keep a plentiful water supply on board for constant rehydration. By having a plan, you can set time limits on your exposure to the heat and plan ways to minimize the effects of the heat before you head into it each day. Always be sure to stick to your time limits by prioritizing and leaving less important things to be finished when it's cooler.

    • As part of your planning, spend time watching the weather forecasts. In the USA, NOAA produces a heat alert based on Heat Index Values. The importance of this measure is that it tells you how hot it will really feel outdoors when the relative humidity has been factored in with the actual air temperature. Don't go simply on the temperature but pay attention to the meteorological assessment of the heat potential. However, also be aware that heat index values are devised for shady areas and light wind conditions––if you're under full sunshine and in the presence of strong winds, the heat factor can increase by up to 15ºF.[1]
  3. 3
    Dress simply. Lightweight, loose-fitting clothing will help to keep you cooler, even better if it is light in color as this will reflect the heat and sunlight better. Shorts and short sleeved shirts are good choices, although a lightweight long sleeved shirt and pants are preferable if you're hiking or working outdoors for any length of time, as this provides more protection against the UV rays. Cotton clothing tends to keep you cool; be careful of synthetics as they can increase heat, although some synthetic clothes are specifically made to reduce heat (check the labels).
    • Don't forget your head. Wear a wide-brimmed hat, as this helps to keep you cooler by providing shade. And always add sunglasses.
    • Consider wearing less makeup. Too much makeup can impede sweating and make you feel hotter, especially around your facial area. A little matte powder for oil control may be suitable. For makeup and cosmetics that you do wear, consider storing them in the refrigerator––they'll be refreshingly cool when applied to your face, body and feet straight from the fridge.
    • Wear less accessories during hotter weather––metallic accessories can heat up considerably and less is always best when it comes to keeping cool.
    • If you're worried about body odor, you might want to skip camisoles and tank tops, as these can make body odor more noticeable.
    • If you have long hair, wear it up and off your face and body.

  4. 4
    Wear footwear that breathes. Flip flops are great for some activities, but more strenuous activities require arch support, durability, and comfort. Sport sneakers are great, but be sure you have worn them beforehand, so they won't rub your feet and give you blisters. Remember to wear socks, preferably ones that wick away moisture to help keep you cool and comfortable. If you're going to the beach or pool, wear water shoes to protect your feet from the heat of beach sand and from sharp items in the water. For urban wear, sandals and flip flops are generally ideal for keeping your feet cool.

    • Converse are not good shoes for intense summer fun, as they provide little arch support equipped with special inserts.
    • Be careful if you decide to go barefoot. Many artificial pavements become unbearably hot during warm weather and can scald your feet. Also watch out for sharp objects and doggy-do when going barefoot in places such as parks and the beach.
  5. 5
    Stay hydrated. Water is essential for keeping your cool during hot weather. Water keeps your body cool and should be drunk even if you don't feel thirsty. It's okay to also drink commercial waters (such as Vitamin Water) or energy drinks such as Powerade or Gatorade but they're usually not necessary unless you're deliberately replenishing lost vitamins/electrolytes or energy following a sporting activity. Purchase a durable water bottle or water pack that you can tote everywhere and refill at any safe water tap.

    • Freeze a bottle of water to carry around with you. It'll be solid when you leave the house but the heat will start melting it from the moment you take it out of the freezer and you'll benefit from the continuously chilled slowly thawing water. Wrap in toweling or similar to prevent water condensation affecting other items in your bag.
    • Stay away from sugary drinks such as sodas and do not drink alcoholic drinks. Minimize caffeinated drinks, such as tea and coffee because these tend to increase dehydration.
    • As well as drinking water, use it to spritz yourself cool too. Fill a spray bottle with pure water and place in the refrigerator at home or work. When you feel too hot, spray a fine mist of the cooled water over face and body to help cool you down quickly. Refill as needed and keep refrigerated.
  6. 6
    Eat to stay cool. Food can keep you cool provided you make the right choices. Prefer salads, fresh raw food, vegetables and fruit. Avoid eating meat and protein-heavy foods during the heat of the day because these can increase metabolic heat production, which can add to loss of water.[1]
    • Avoid eating junk food––it lacks healthy nutrients, is often hot and greasy and won't give you the energy needed to cope with the heat. If you must eat junk food, keep it for the cooler hours of the day or year.

    • Find foods that don't need cooking, so that you can don't have to turn on the stove. This might be a good time to experiment with some raw or paleo food choices––check out recipes online, in a good book or from your local library.
    • Cold soups are great in warm weather. If you haven't tried them yet, hot weather is the excuse you need!
  7. 7
    Use fans. Whether hand-held or electric, fans can keep you cool by continuously circulating air. Paper or battery-operated fans can be used almost anywhere–at work, at home or on-the-go. In your home and office space, locate fans in rooms where you are working or resting to keep the air circulating freely and to reduce the mugginess of heat.
    • Try making your own "swamp cooler". This can be done by simply placing a bowl of chilled water in front of a fan and letting the fan air blow over it. Other methods include wetting a large piece of fabric, such as a towel or sheet, and hanging it in front of a fan (taking care to angle it so that it cannot catch in the fan) and let the air blow through the wet material.
    • Fans tend not to be useful when temperatures hit the high 90s (Fahrenheit) or high 30s (Celsius), although a swamp cooler arrangement might work still.
  8. 8
    Allow yourself time to acclimatize if traveling. Travelers often make the mistake of trying to maintain normal levels of activity when arriving in a country warmer than the one they've left. This is a mistake that can result in harm. Rather than pushing yourself, give yourself time to acclimatize to the new warmer environment, which means minimizing physical activity until the heat feels more tolerable. This will usually take a few days, so plan a restful period at the commencement of a vacation in a warmer place. Once you feel more comfortable in the heat, gradually build up your physical activities until you're back to your normal level.
    • Rest is an important way of coping with too much heat. Don't deny yourself the opportunity to rest when you feel fatigued during warm weather.
  9. 9
    Make a game out of staying cool. Kids know how much fun it can be to find playful ways to stay cool and there are some really enjoyable ways to stay cool when it's hot, whatever your age. Here are just a few suggestions to take all the seriousness out of staying cool:
    • Turn on the sprinklers, gather your friends and run through them for a time.
    • Increase the fun by making water balloons and throwing these at each other. The aim is to get hit in order to cool down, so remind everyone to stay in the spirit of cooling down instead of trying to dodge them.
    • Have a pool party. Cover the pool with a shade cover if it doesn't already have one and spend time partying by––and preferably in––the pool. Avoid alcohol though––have plenty of cool and refreshing chilled mocktails and other cold non-alcoholic choices for everyone to enjoy. No pool? Get a kiddy pool and fill it up and paddle in it under shade.
    • Have an afternoon of making and eating your own frozen treats, including ice cream, popsicles, slushies, frozen fruit, etc. Invite friends around to make it a party event.
    • Make use of commercial venues that provide cold entertainment. The cinema is often freezing, so it's a good choice. Or visit a water park or ice skating rink. You could even devise a game with friends to find the coldest buildings in your city or town that permit public access. Is it your library or your local ice cream parlor that's coldest inside?

EditTips

  • Reapply sunscreen according to package directions. Always apply 20 to 30 minutes before heading out into the sun. Sunscreen should have an SPF factor of at least 15+ but not higher than 50+.[2] Remind children to reapply, as they can easily forget.
  • Swimming is a great way to stay cool but again, don't stay in sun-exposed water for too long when it's between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
  • Wear deodorant when it's warm. This will keep you smelling good and feeling good.
  • Be sure to keep an eye on children's water intake and give them plenty of water during hot weather.
  • Pour a little ice cold water into your hat or cap, then place on your head. It'll cool down your head area quickly.
  • Taking cool baths, sponge baths or having cool showers often can help to keep you cool.
  • Keep pets cool during warm weather too––they have limited ability to cool down, especially if they're not able to leave an environment where you've enclosed them.

EditWarnings

  • If you don't feel good in the heat, heed your feelings. If you're panting or gasping for air, fatigued or faint, feeling hot, have headaches or nausea, feel confused or feel unwell in any other way, these are signs that the heat is getting to you. Stop what you're doing, rest somewhere as cool as possible and make sure that you are lightly dressed and drinking plenty of water. If you continue to feel bad after a short rest, see a doctor or emergency services immediately.
  • Never leave children or animals in a parked car during hot weather. Temperatures in a car or other vehicle can quickly heat up and kill the occupants as a result of hyperthermia. The bodies of children and pets heat up faster than those of adults. Even for short stops, take children and pets with you, or where safe, leave them under the shade of a tree or awning close to the car while you quickly run an errand.
  • Be aware that some objects can become unbearably hot, such as seatbelt buckles and steering wheels.
  • You are more likely to be impacted by hot weather if you are elderly, very young, obese, suffering from an illness that has caused a fever, have poor circulation or heart disease, have sunburn or suffer from a mental illness.

EditThings You'll Need

How to Spot and Avoid Secondhand Stress



Spot and Avoid Secondhand Stress
Secondhand stress is a real but often unacknowledged source of stress in our lives. It is caused by being exposed to other stressed people––yes, stress is contagious, just like the common cold, only you're less likely to blame it on someone else! In this article, you'll learn how to spot secondhand stress and how to start immunizing yourself against it more effectively.

EditSteps

  1. 1
    Treat stress like a contagious disease. When someone else is stressed, unless you've already created strong personal boundaries and are able to stay alert to the externalsource of what is upsetting you, it's very easy to let someone else's anxiety or sense of urgency increase your own inner feelings of stress. Secondhand stress is an unconscious absorption of negative emotions, thought to be precipitated by firing of the "mirror neurons" in our brain that try hard to keep us in synch with those around us.[1]
    • Notice how you feel when someone around you is pacing, glancing about rapidly, acting impatiently, toe-tapping, snapping at you, or similar potentially negative actions. Note how long it takes for you to feel as anxious or impatient as them; for many people, it's not long at all.
    • It's also possible that the pheromones in the sweat of an anxious and impatient person may cause you to react likewise.[1]
  2. 2
    Identify the people in your life who are "sick" with stress. It's usually emitted by those people closest to you, in terms of relationships and time spent together. Thus, it tends to be your spouse/partner, children, work colleagues and supervisors and anyone else you spend a lot of time with, such as close friends or even neighbors.
    • In many cases, women tend to be more susceptible to secondhand stress, due to the feelings obliged to be constantly available to care for people and to soothe other's pain. Regardless of gender, this desire to be there for others even when you're feeling stretched yourself can open you up to taking on people's burdens and negative feelings too.
  3. 3
    Recognize the situations in which secondhand stress can occur. There are lots of times when you can unconsciously take on board another's stress but some of the more common situations include:
    • A colleague, boss or client pressures you about a deadline that he or she perceives as urgent. You don't believe it to be as urgent as this person insists but by the time you've heard his or her stress about it, you've joined the club.
    • Your boss, colleague, spouse, friend, etc., is really stressed about an upcoming event and continuously seeks your advice and reassurance about it. Eventually, despite knowing that it's all under control your end, you find it stressful too.
    • Your workplace is a hive of woes and moaning about potential job losses, pay cuts or downsizing, and the rumors grow daily. It's hard to stay above this type of generalized workplace stress and you soon find yourself succumbing to the secondhand stress.
    • You're about to have a baby and you're perfectly fine about it until your mother, sisters and previously pregnant friends start on with their horror stories about what can go wrong. Suddenly, their worries become yours too. This isn't just a pregnancy issue though––it can apply to anyone about to experience a life-changing event, such as having surgery, buying a new home, adopting a child, supporting a loved one in prison, etc.
    • A boss or supervisor is behaving tensely, uptight and irritable; to top it off, she's not giving away much but is trying to "soldier on." It's hard not to absorb the stress oozing from someone you perceive as a role model and whose single command can redirect all of your efforts.
    • You work or socialize with someone who is always stressed out and high strung. No matter how positive you feel before meeting this person, he or she sends you downward the moment you're near them, every time. This always sour-and-down personality type will transfer negative emotions easily, if you don't realize what's really happening at a conscious level––namely, that you're taking on board this person's stress and negative outlook.
    • You're on a call desk, such as for IT problems. Every call is considered by each caller to be urgent and a "must-be-fixed" now situation. The secondhand stress from taking on board other people's sense of urgency can be overwhelming if you don't learn to manage it well.
    • If you're working in constant real emergency situations (such as being an emergency worker, paramedic, etc.), your entire job is a recognized source of bringing on secondhand stress, something a good workplace should already have recognized and has programs in place to assist you.
  4. 4
    Take charge of your own emotions. Once you can recognize the times in your life when stress seems to be catching, you can begin to stop yourself from falling victim to absorbing other people's stress.
    • Realize that secondhand stress tends to linger. It can be worse than stress caused by your own feelings because you truly feel you don't have control over it and often don't understand its source. However, this is part of the key to coping––let go of any idea of "controlling" the stress source. The perpetrator of the secondhand stress is beyond your control but your response to their stress is always something you can control.
    • Distract yourself and place a visual or physical reaction barrier between you and the stress. Focus on something other than the person sending out their own stress signals. Focus on your breathing, deeply inhaling and exhaling to a count of 10. Pinch the palm of your hand to remind yourself to remain focused on the problem as solvable, not on the person as tension causing. Focus on a favorite color. Focus on a mind's eye picture of a beautiful natural place you cherish.
    • Notice yourself mimicking stressful stances, attitudes and body language. Are you scrunching up your shoulders just like the stressful colleague? Are you screwing up your forehead with worry just like your spouse? Take a moment to notice how tense your body is and make a conscious choice to relax every part of it and shake off those negative vibes.
  5. 5
    Be an atmosphere changer. When secondhand stress starts coming your way, try avoid catching it anymore. Here are some suggestions to help distance yourself while still being compassionate and engaged:
    • If it's someone complaining about things, tell them something positive about themselves or the situation.
    • If they're worried about meeting a deadline, suggest spending time together to plot out a way to reassure the worrier. You could offer to show this person how you prioritize pressing tasks.
    • If they're worried something won't be satisfactory, offer to read through their work, check their calculations, test their theories, critique their efforts, or show them how. Don't accept worrying as a reason for staying negative. Remember that action is always the antidote to worry and feeling down.
  6. 6
    If the person isn't reassured or buoyed up by your attempts to see the more positive side to things, take a break. There's no need to hang around a negative atmosphere soaking up even more of it.
    • Suggest that you make a cup of coffee or tea for you both.
    • If it's hard to get away, tell the person you need to visit the bathroom.
    • Take a walk outside if possible, or just to a different part of the building, to clear your head and shake off those blues that descended on you from elsewhere. Physical exercise is proven to beat stress, provided you actually do some.[1]
  7. 7
    If you're in a work or volunteer situation, rather than a personal one, turn to workplace or volunteer guides, manuals and training. If it's the style of job or volunteer work you're doing, such as answering constant problem calls or tending to emergencies, your workplace or volunteer organization should have training for coping with secondhand stress. Manuals will often give you step-by-step approaches to dealing with the more difficult people you'll encounter in life––make sure you are comfortable with using these self-defense strategies to protect yourself while still helping other people. If there isn't anything in place already, ask for it or get a band of coworkers/volunteers together to ask as a group.
    • If it's a situation where the stress involves injuries and perhaps even death, such as for doctors, nurses, emergency workers and police, ask your organization to ensure that you get both adequate stress support and debriefing opportunities. Your situation is unique and very hard to deal with alone.
  8. 8
    Acknowledge and accept what you can't change. You won't always be able to put a positive shine on a situation or personal issue and you won't always be able/want to be out of the presence of a stressful person or situation. In this case, you'll need to armor yourself mentally and be prepared to remain positive and to not allow the stressful person's outlook to color yours. You also need to be prepared to talk honestly:
    • Stop trying to protect and comfort someone who is a source of stress when this increases your own stress. Sometimes you'll need to call it like it is, as it's quite possible the person bringing the stress home from work or spreading it around work, doesn't even realize the impact that he or she is having on others. Tell the person in question about the impact his or her stress is having on you. Use "I" statements but don't avoid it; the other person needs to understand how harmful this has become to you.
    • Try kindness. React with compassion rather than irritation or aggression. Knowing that your own tetchy feelings derive from theirs, make a decision to treat the stressed person with kindness (and a few smiles). It may work enough to calm them down but even if it doesn't, it will help you to distance yourself from their stress and to also be kind to yourself.

EditTips

  • Get away from stressful situations as often as possible. If the stressful person is close to you, consider taking him or her away too––weekend hikes and cabin stays by the sea, overseas vacations, weekends spent out of internet or phone reach, spa days, etc. are all ways to unwind and let your real feelings have a chance to come to the fore.
  • Plan a minimum weekly thing that keeps you happy and is totally unrelated to the situation or person stressing you. It might be a movie a week, a visit with friends, dinner in a different restaurant, an afternoon spent at the library reading new book acquisitions, a day strolling around an historic part of town––whatever you choose, make it your sacred happy time.
  • Practice meditation or mindfulness. These can help to build up your resilience against stressful people and situations.
  • Children can suffer from secondhand stress, especially if you pile expectations to achieve on them and have too many after-school activities added to their schedule. If a child is living life in your fast lane, slow down and let your child be a child instead; adult responsibilities will come soon enough.

EditWarnings

  • Some of the side effects of secondhand stress include raised blood pressure, impaired digestion, insomnia, depression, fatigue, tension and poor memory.
  • Beware of "friendships" that consist of nothing more than the other person telling you all their woes, troubles and problems. The more negative their talk, the more wary you should be. Ultimately, absorbing all this negativity will make you feel bad about yourself and not just worried about your friend.

How to Make Reed Diffusers



Make Reed Diffusers
Lacking the tacky and overwhelming stench of many commercially available air freshener products, reed diffusers have become an increasingly popular way to gently scent and freshen indoor air. Commonly used in the home, offices, public restrooms, etc., diffusers are a generally safe and long-lasting method of scenting the air without resorting to the open flame, hot wax, chemicals or electricity required by different commercial air fresheners. And while reed diffusers are sold in many retail stores, the good ones can be expensive and you still can't be sure what compounds are being diffused since the label is unlikely to divulge the chemical constituents. Instead of forking out a fortune and breathing in volatile compounds, make your own reed diffusers at home that match exactly the scent you love, containing only what you've chosen to add.

EditSteps

  1. 1
    Find or purchase a suitable container to hold the diffuser. Purchase narrow-neck glass bottles or clean and reuse bottles from old diffusers, finished perfumes, or other beauty products. It's also a great idea to re-purpose less obvious containers, such as colored bottles, soda or beer bottles, antique milk and other bottles, flower vases, large salt and pepper shaker bottoms, and other similar items to make reed diffusers. Set your imagination in train every time you come across a possible container that you're not sure what to use for!

    • Use the term "reed diffuser" on Pinterest to get a great visual collection of what others have used as diffuser containers.
    • If wished, you can decorate the diffuser container before proceeding; match it to your decor!
    • Avoid using plastic bottles––glass is the purest and ceramic is also okay; plastic may leach chemicals when it comes into contact with the oils.
  2. 2
    Find suitable reeds (also known as sticks) to add to the diffuser container. Use new reed diffusers, as old reeds loose their effectiveness once they are over-saturated with oil. While you can purchase ready-made reeds suited to this purpose, you can also use thin bamboo skewers available from many grocery stores.

    • The reeds must be tall enough to stand well above the containers or bottles you chose. The reeds should stick out several inches (centimeters) from the top of the container. Increase the scenting ability of the diffuser by using reeds that are double the height of the bottle or more.
    • Ready-made reeds are usually sold in 10-, 12- and 15-inch (25-, 30- and 38cm) lengths.
  3. 3
    Decide on what oil or diffuser base you'll use. Choices for the diffuser base or oil include scented oil and dipropylene glycol (a plasticize with low toxicity[1]), or a reed diffuser base oil such as safflower or sweet almond oils. Alternatively, you can purchase bottles of scented reed diffuser oils that are already blended.

    • The best diffuser oils are made using high-quality essential fragrance oils. High-scent essential oils cost more, but you will tend to use less of them to achieve a pleasant scent. Overall, it will still probably work out cheaper in the long run than purchasing ready-made diffuser sets each time one runs out.
    • Don't use dipropylene glycol if you're concerned about the safety of plasticizers and would prefer "no" toxicity as opposed to "low" toxicity; it is used a lot in cosmetic products such as perfumes.
  4. 4
    Blend the essential oil with the dipropylene glycol or the diffuser base oil. Making the scented oil is a straightforward process, as follows:

    • In general, the blend will need to consist of approximately 15 to 25 percent essential or fragrance oil with 75 to 85 percent dipropylene glycol or diffuser base oil. Vary the amounts to increase or decrease the fragrance as necessary.
    • You may need to decrease the amount of essential oil added if the diffuser-oil mixture cannot travel up the reed enough to scent the air effectively. This is due to the viscosity of the oil often being too heavy or thick to travel.
    • Another way to make reed diffuser oil is using vodka. Mix a dash of vodka with about 10 drops of your favorite essential oil or scent and a 1/4 cup of water. This method works well but needs to be refilled more frequently because the mixture tends to evaporate faster. It's a great way to use up unwanted tasteless vodka!
  5. 5
    Fill the diffuser bottles or containers to approximately 75 to 85 percent capacity with the reed diffuser oil. Do not fill the oil to the top of the containers––it may overflow when you put the reeds inside.

  6. 6
    Put reeds into the oil and allow them to sit for one hour. The number of reeds you need for each diffuser varies based on the strength of the fragrance of the oil and the size of the container you're using––judge it accordingly. Increase the number of reeds to allow more fragrance to enter the air and decrease the number if you want less oil to wick up. By the end of the hour, you should start to notice the sticks taking up the oil, slowly.

    • The more reeds you use and the taller your reeds are, the quicker your diffuser will require refilling or replacing.
  7. 7
    Flip the reeds over after an hour to saturate the top part of the reeds that stick out above the oil level. This helps to speed up the process of the oil soaking up from the bottom diffusing through the entire reed.

  8. 8
    Place the finished reed diffuser container somewhere suitable in your home. Place it where it won't be knocked or investigated by curious children or pets. Be sure to keep it well away from electrical appliances too, in case of a spill. Expect a light fragrance to start perfuming your room within 24 hours. Check weekly to see whether the diffuser needs a top up. Every few weeks the container should be emptied, cleaned thoroughly and new reeds added.


EditTips

  • You can add fragrance or essential oil to your reed diffuser oil if it starts to lose its fragrance before the oil is used up.
  • Sometimes you can improve the performance of used saturated reeds by rinsing them under warm running water and then allowing them to dry. Lay the reeds flat on a clean, absorbent surface, such as a towel. Put the reeds back in the oil after they are fully dry.
  • Handmade reed diffusers make great gifts for holidays, housewarmings and other events. Make diffusers for your family and friends in their favorite scents and use family heirloom bottles and containers. Tie festive ribbons onto diffusers and add other touches to make your gift unique.
  • Cork the bottle and include the reeds by tying them on with a bow or packaging them with the bottle if you are selling or gifting your handmade diffusers.

EditWarnings

  • Most essential fragrance oils are too thick to wick up the diffusing reed effectively. The reed diffuser base oil thins the fragrance oil, making it possible for the oil to travel up the reed.
  • Stickiness from homemade reed diffusers can build up on the container used, to the point where it's really an unholy mess to remove. Use lots of detergent and expect your fingers to be coated in it while cleaning it off.

EditThings You'll Need

  • Most reed diffuser supplies are available at local craft or hobby stores, as well as through the mail from craft supply catalogs or websites
  • Oil or diffuser base
  • Suitable container
  • Reeds (sticks)
  • Essential oil or scented oil
  • Other items as noted in steps for alternative methods