Your job. Your kids. Your spouse. Bills. Gas prices. Deadlines. The economy. War. Hangnail. Lawn needs mowing. Forgot to pick up a gallon of milk. Need to make that appointment for Fido to go to the vet. Forgot Nancy's birthday AGAIN. Luxury reed diffusers

There is a lot going on in our lives today that creates stress and anxiety for all of us. It seems most of us these days are looking for ways to relax, unwind and de-stress from daily pressures. Some choose to exercise. Others may choose to read a book or watch a movie. Others visit spas and get luxurious massages. But more and more these days, people are turning to aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy itself is really not a new phenomenon. The Egyptians have been using aromatherapy and scented oils for relaxation and the promotion of health for the last 6000 years. Aromatherapy has been used throughout the ages as a means of healing both physical and emotional ailments. The sense of smell and the inhalation of certain scents can alter ones mood and promote relaxation by affecting the chemical balance in the brain and causing one to become more relaxed.

Aromatherapy has taken on a whole new dimension and has become a billion dollar industry. There are many forms of aromatherapy including candles, lotions, incense, massage oils, etc. Becoming increasingly popular these days are reed diffusers.

Reed diffusers are very simple to use and provide wonderful long-lasting aromas that fill your home with calming and familiar scents. Diffusers are primarily made up of a glass container, a scented oil mixture and a handful of rattan reeds. The glass bottle holds the scented oil mixture which is primarily made up of a diffuser base mixed with fragrance or essential oils. After you have poured the scented oil into your glass container, (a glass bottle, jar or vase for example) you insert the rattan reeds into the oil and you are all set to go ! Reed diffuser oils last a very long time. Quality oils from a respected supplier should last (approximately) 1 month per ounce. This may vary a little due to environmental conditions. (Fan on, air conditioning or heat on, doors open, humidifiers, etc.)

Diffusers work by diffusing the scent into the air through the reeds. Rattan reeds are made up of "channels". There are approximately 20 channels in every reed. The channels basically "suck up" the oil much like a straw. When the oils reach the tops of the reeds (usually within 12-24 hours) the scent is diffused naturally into the air. This provides a stable, steady scent that is long lasting.The number of reeds you use is based on your personal preferences. The more reeds you use, the stronger the scent. Usually this is between 6 and 10 reeds. If you notice your scent is starting to weaken, flip the reeds. Carefully take the reeds out of the bottle and flip them upside down. This will expose the ends that were sitting in the oil to now be exposed to the air releasing more scent. After some time of course, reeds can become clogged with dust or become overly saturated. In this case, simply discard the reeds and insert new ones.

When choosing a reed diffuser to purchase, it is important to find a supplier that uses a quality base and undiluted fragrance or essential oils. Many bases on the market today contain a large amount of alcohol in their bases. Alcohol is highly flammable and causes the fragrance or essential oils to evaporate too quickly into the air. This forces you to have to purchase more oil in a shorter amount of time and often lines the pockets of suppliers out to make big bucks from your oil refill purchases. Another ingredient often used by manufacturers or suppliers is dipropylene glycol. (Often referred to as DPG). Dipropylene glycol is a dilutent used to "cut" fragrance oils. It can often weaken the scent and is a little too thick to properly wick up to the top of the reeds. When choosing a supplier, make sure the base or oils that they offer do not contain alcohol or DPG. (Dipropylene glycol).

Another thing to consider when purchasing a diffuser are the reeds that are offered. You must use rattan reeds. There is a lot of misinformation, especially on the internet, in regards to reeds. Some suppliers say their reeds are made from bamboo. Bamboo reeds will not work as bamboo chutes contain nodes, not channels, and will not wick up properly. I even saw an article in a popular woman's magazine recently that suggested making your own diffuser using bamboo skewers. Skewers are not meant to be used in reed diffusers. If a supplier is telling you the reeds are bamboo, find another supplier as they do not know enough about reed diffusers to be selling them in the first place. Again, make sure the reeds are made of rattan.

Reed diffusers are a safer alternative than candles as there is no risk of fire and no dirty soot that ends up on your furniture. You should still use caution and keep safety first when using any product, including reed diffusers. Be careful not to tip diffusers over and use care when flipping the reeds as oils can damage delicate surfaces. Reed diffusers oils are not meant for use on the skin and as good as they smell, you simply shouldn't eat them !