Welcome to the world of home fragrance diffusers! In a recent livestream, Duncan, the CEO and head of innovation at Candle Shack, shared invaluable insights into the science and art behind reed diffusers.
Understanding the Basics
To begin, understanding the science behind how a reed diffuser works is crucial. The primary principles involved are capillary action and wicking. Capillary action allows the liquid to flow up through thin tubes in the reeds against gravity, while wicking helps distribute the fragrance evenly.
Key Terms in Diffuser Science
1. Capillary Action and Wicking: Essential for drawing the liquid up the reeds.
2. Evaporation: The process by which the oil turns into vapour and diffuses into the air.
3. Concentration Gradient: Ensuring good air flow is crucial for effective diffusion, moving fragrance from an area of high concentration to a lower concentration to encourage diffusion.
4. Temperature: Higher temperatures increase evaporation rates.
5. Air Movement: Vital for maintaining a concentration gradient.
6. Viscosity and Volatility: Lighter, less viscous oils diffuse better.
Choosing the right components
1. Base Mixtures: The base of the diffuser is an important choice. Ideal bases have low boiling points, low molecular weight, weak intermolecular forces, and low viscosity. Popular bases include Vegan Diffuser Base, Augeo Clean Multi, and Perfumers alcohol.
2. Fragrance Concentration: Less is often more. Typically, 15% fragrance oil is sufficient for good diffusion. Higher concentrations can slow down diffusion by making the mixture more viscous and increase costs.
3. Reed Types and Quantities: Fibre reeds generally perform better than rattan reeds due to their superior wicking properties. The number of reeds also impacts diffusion – more reeds mean faster diffusion due to larger surface area for diffusion to take place.
4. Bottle Shape and Size: Shorter, wider bottles with a punt or bump at the bottom help spread the reeds and improve diffusion efficiency.
Practical Steps for Creating Your Own Diffusers
1. Select Bases: Choose a base that meets your diffusion time goals and other requirements such as cost and regulatory compliance.
2. Pick Fragrances: Select high-quality oils that are suitable for diffusers, often more subtle and fresh scents work best.
3. Choose Bottles and Reeds: Ensure your selections align with your brand’s aesthetic and the physical requirements for optimal diffusion.
4. Baseline Each Oil: Test each fragrance with your chosen base and reeds to establish a baseline diffusion rate.
5. Make Adjustments: Modify the base, fragrance concentration, or reed quantity to achieve your desired diffusion rate.
Tips for Optimising Diffusion
• To slow down diffusion: Use fewer or smaller reeds to reduce surface area, reduce air flow, or add a slower diffusing base such as Vegan Diffuser Base or Augeo.
• To speed up diffusion: Use more or larger reeds to increase surface area, increase air flow, or blend in faster diffusing bases like perfumers alcohol.
By understanding these fundamentals and following these steps, you can create reed diffusers that not only smell wonderful but also perform consistently over time.
