keep your home smelling fresh with these simple tips for how to make your reed diffuser last longer
reed diffusers are the low-maintenance heroes of home fragrance. no flame, no fuss—just a steady release of scent that makes your space smell beautiful around the clock. but if you’ve ever wondered “why has mine stopped working?” or “how can i make it last longer?”—you’re not alone.
here’s a full guide on how to keep your home smelling fresh by getting the most out of your reed diffuser, so you can enjoy long-lasting, fresh fragrance in your home for weeks (and even months) to come.
first up—how do reed diffusers actually work?
a reed diffuser is made up of a few simple parts: a glass bottle filled with non-toxic, vegan friendly fragrance oil and diffuser base, and reeds that absorb the oil and disperse the scent into the air. the reeds act like little scent straws, pulling the fragrance up and releasing it slowly into your space. no heat, no flames—just effortless scent.
how long should a reed diffuser last?
a good-quality reed diffuser (like the ones i make at elena London) should last up to 12 weeks, sometimes even longer depending on the room conditions and how often you flip the reeds. but if yours is running out too quickly—or not smelling strong enough—there are a few things you can do to fix that.
how to make your reed diffuser last longer
1. place it wisely
location matters. keep your diffuser out of direct sunlight and away from radiators or heating vents. too much heat will cause the fragrance oil to evaporate quicker, shortening its lifespan. equally, don’t hide it in a cold, dark corner where airflow is poor—diffusers work best in warm-ish spots with light air circulation.
pro tip: hallways, bathrooms, and living rooms are ideal. avoid placing your diffuser right by an open window—you’ll lose your scent to the breeze!
2. flip your reeds (but not too often)
turning your reeds upside down helps refresh the scent, especially if it starts to fade. but doing it too often can make the oil evaporate faster.
what i recommend: flip your reeds once a week. it gives the scent a lovely boost without burning through your oil too quickly. if you prefer a more subtle fragrance, you can flip them less often.
3. use the right number of reeds
it's simple really:
- more reeds = stronger scent
- fewer reeds = a more subtle fragrance
here at elena London you'll get 7 reeds giving you a lovely balanced scent throw that works well in most spaces. but if you prefer something lighter, you can remove a couple.
4. start with high-quality fragrance oils
not all reed diffusers are created equal. low-quality oils can smell artificial, fade quickly, or don't work well with reeds. at elena London, the fragrance oils i use are:
- high-quality
- non-toxic
- vegan-friendly
- eco-friendly
that are designed to give you a steady, long-lasting scent experience without any nasties. and because no two homes (or moods) are the same, i’ve curated a range of fragrances to suit every space and everyone
5. keep your bottle dust-free
it sounds minor, but dust around the neck of the bottle or on the reeds can clog things up and affect how well the fragrance travels. just wipe the neck of the bottle now and then, and keep the surrounding area clean for best results.
6. refresh the scent with a room spray
if you’ve got guests coming over or want a quick top-up of fragrance, don’t be afraid to layer. a couple of spritzes of a room and linen spray in the same fragrance as your diffuser can give everything a boost without needing to flip the reeds.
match your diffuser with a complementary spray to give your space a little something extra.
bonus tips: common reed diffuser mistakes to avoid
don’t reuse reeds – once reeds are saturated with oil, they lose effectiveness. always start fresh with new reeds when you replace the oil.
don’t dilute with water – it won’t extend the scent, and it might mess with how the fragrance performs. diffuser oils are carefully blended—adding anything to them can throw things off.
don’t forget about them – reed diffusers are super low-maintenance, but not no-maintenance. keep an eye on them, give the bottle a gentle swirl occasionally, and enjoy the ritual of flipping the reeds once in a while.
elena London most loved reed diffusers
with just a little attention to placement and care, your elena London reed diffuser will keep your home smelling fresh for weeks. follow these tips, and you’ll learn how to keep your home smelling fresh and get the most out of your diffuser.
browse the elena London reed diffusers to find your perfect fragrance.
elena (founder)
learn more about me and why i started elena London here