How to Refill a Reed Diffuser: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

A favourite reed diffuser doesn't have to be finished when the oil runs low. Most glass diffusers are refillable reed diffusers, so if the bottle is in good condition, a reed diffuser refill lets you top up the same scent or switch to a new one while keeping the bottle you already love.

But should you clean the bottle first? Can you reuse the old reeds? What can you refill a reed diffuser with, and what's the right way to change to a completely different fragrance? This guide takes you through each step to refill a reed diffuser, explains how to avoid mixing scents by accident and shows you how to adjust the scent strength once your diffuser is up and running again.

What Is a Reed Diffuser Refill?

A reed diffuser refill, sometimes called reed diffuser refill oil or a diffuser oil refill, is fragrance oil made specifically for reed diffusers. The oil travels up the reeds and the scent is gradually released into the room, with no flame, heat or electricity.

A refill is useful when:

• Your existing reed diffuser is running low
• You want to keep using a decorative diffuser bottle
• You'd like to go back to a favourite fragrance
• You want to change the scent without buying a whole new diffuser
• You need extra oil for a larger refillable reed diffuser bottle

Our reed diffuser oil refill comes in two sizes, and both are oil only, with no reeds or bottle included:

• Reed Diffuser Refill 100ml (£11.00). This is ideal for topping up one of our 100ml diffusers or trying a new scent.
• Reed Diffuser Refill 200ml (£19.99). This is twice the oil, enough to refill a 100ml diffuser twice or to fill a larger bottle.

Between them, the 100ml and 200ml sizes cover most standard reed diffuser bottles. You'll find both, plus reed refills (replacement reeds), when you shop for the best diffuser refill for your bottle.

How Long Does a Reed Diffuser Refill Last?

A 100ml reed diffuser, or a 100ml refill, gives 8–12 weeks of scent, often longer. That's roughly how often to refill a reed diffuser of that size. A 200ml refill holds twice as much oil, so it keeps a 100ml diffuser going through two full refills.

The real figure depends on your room. Warm rooms, radiators, sunny windowsills, draughts, using all the reeds and flipping them very often all make the oil evaporate faster. A cooler spot and fewer reeds make it last longer. For more tips, read our guide on how long reed diffusers last.

What You Need Before Refilling a Reed Diffuser

Get everything ready before you open the refill. You will need:

• An undamaged reed diffuser bottle
• Reed diffuser refill oil made for reed diffusers
• Fresh diffuser reeds, especially if you're changing scent
• Kitchen roll, old newspaper or a tray to protect the work surface
• A small funnel, if your bottle has a narrow neck

Fragrance oil can mark polished, painted, plastic, stone and wooden surfaces, so protect the area well. Keep children and pets away while you refill, avoid contact with skin and eyes, and follow the warnings on the label.

How to Refill a Reed Diffuser Step by Step

Step 1: Move the diffuser to a protected workspace

Don't refill the diffuser where it usually sits. Move it to a flat, stable surface where a small spill is easy to deal with, such as a draining board or a tray lined with kitchen roll.

Step 2: Remove the old reeds

Lift the used reeds out slowly so they don't drip on nearby surfaces. Hold them over kitchen roll and wrap them up to throw away.

Step 3: Decide whether the bottle needs cleaning

If you're changing to a different fragrance, clean the bottle first so the old and new scents don't mix. Cleaning is also a good idea if the oil left in the bottle looks cloudy, has dust in it or has been standing for a long time.

How to clean a glass diffuser bottle between scents:

1. Pour any leftover oil into kitchen roll or a sealed container rather than down the sink, and dispose of it in line with the label and your local rules.
2. Wipe out as much residue as you can with paper towel.
3. Wash the bottle in warm, soapy water and use a bottle brush or a twist of kitchen roll for the neck, unless the bottle's own care instructions say otherwise.
4. Rinse it well and leave it upside down to dry.
5. Check it is completely dry inside before adding the new refill.

Water left in the bottle can stop the oil travelling up the reeds properly. Painted or coated bottles may need gentler care.

If you'd like a new look for your refill, browse our Decorative Reed Diffuser Bottles collection.

Step 4: Check the bottle for damage

Don't refill a bottle that is cracked, chipped, leaking or wobbly. It should be made to hold diffuser oil and have a narrow neck that holds the reeds upright.

Step 5: Pour in the reed diffuser refill oil

Pour slowly, using a clean, dry funnel for a narrow neck.

Don't fill the bottle to the brim. Leave a little space so the reeds don't push the oil over the top when you put them in. Wipe any drips off the outside of the bottle straight away.

Store any leftover refill capped and upright, away from children, pets and heat.

Step 6: Add fresh diffuser reeds

When you refill reed diffuser sticks, use clean, dry reeds and fan them out evenly in the bottle. Leave them to soak for about an hour, then flip them so the soaked ends are at the top and the scent can start to build. That's all there is to using a reed diffuser after a refill.

Always use fresh reeds when:

• You're changing to a different fragrance
• The old reeds are dusty, clogged or discoloured

Used reeds hold the previous fragrance and clog over time, and washing them doesn't really work. Our Black Reed Diffuser Reeds come in a pack of seven black rattan reeds (22cm x 3mm) for £2.50 and fit most standard diffuser bottles.

Step 7: Put the diffuser back in a good spot

Stand the refilled diffuser on a stable, level surface, ideally on a coaster.

Keep it:

• Away from direct sunlight and radiators
• Away from naked flames and other heat sources
• Out of reach of children and pets
• Back from the edge of shelves, on a surface a spill won't mark

Gentle air movement helps the scent travel, but strong draughts use the oil faster. For ideas room by room, see our guide on where to put a reed diffuser.

Can You Refill a Reed Diffuser Without Cleaning It?

If you're topping up with exactly the same fragrance and the bottle and remaining oil look clear and clean, you don't need a full wash every time. Simply wipe the neck, pour in the refill and add fresh reeds.

Dust and aged oil do collect in the bottom, though, so give it a proper clean every few refills.

When you're switching scents, always clean and fully dry the bottle so you smell the new fragrance as it's meant to be.

How Often Should You Change the Reeds in a Diffuser?

We recommend fitting new reeds every time you refill. Old reeds can stay saturated with the previous scent or clog with dust and residue.

Always replace the reeds when changing fragrance. If you're keeping the same scent, it's definitely time for new reeds when:

• There's still oil in the bottle but the scent has gone weak
• Flipping the reeds no longer brings the scent back
• The reeds look dusty, dark or heavily saturated
• They've been in the bottle for a full 8–12 weeks or more

How Many Reeds Should You Use?

The number of reeds controls how strong the scent is:

• More reeds give a stronger scent but use up the oil more quickly.
• Fewer reeds give a gentler background scent and make the oil last longer.

Our 100ml reed diffusers come with seven black reeds. Use all seven in a larger room such as a living room or hallway, or take a few out for a lighter scent in a small bedroom, bathroom or office.

How Often Should You Turn the Reeds in a Diffuser?

Flip the reeds every few days. Turning them over puts the soaked ends at the top and gives the scent a boost. Flipping much more often than that uses the oil up faster and increases the chance of drips.

To flip your reeds without mess:

1. Hold a sheet of kitchen roll under the bottle, or flip over a sink.
2. Lift the reeds out together, turn them over and put them back.
3. Wipe the neck of the bottle and wash your hands.

If the scent fades again soon after every flip, the reeds probably need replacing, or the diffuser may be in a spot with too little airflow.

What Can You Refill a Reed Diffuser With?

Only refill a reed diffuser with oil made and labelled for reed diffusers. You'll see it sold as reed diffuser refill oil, refill reed diffuser oil or diffuser oil refill, and they all mean the same thing. It's blended to travel up the reeds at a steady rate.

• Water: No. Water doesn't travel up reeds the way diffuser oil does and leaves you with almost no scent.
• Perfume: No. Perfume is made for skin, evaporates quickly and doesn't work with reeds the same way.
• Fabric softener or homemade mixes: We don't recommend them, as they can clog the reeds, mark surfaces and give an uneven scent.
• Candle or wax melt fragrance oil: No. Concentrated fragrance oils aren't diluted for reed diffuser use.
• Electric or essential oil diffuser refills: These are made for a different type of diffuser and aren't the same as a reed diffuser refill.

Can You Change the Fragrance in a Reed Diffuser?

Yes, as long as the bottle is in good condition. Remove the old reeds, dispose of any leftover oil properly, wash the bottle and let it dry fully. Then add the new refill and fresh reeds.

It's an easy way to change a room through the year, from citrus or fresh linen in summer to amber, woods or spice in autumn.

We have more than 200 fragrances across our home fragrance range, including fruity, floral, fresh, woody and perfume inspired scents. Browse them all, with full scent descriptions, on our Current Scent List. If you can't decide, try a 100ml refill first, or design your own with our Build Your Own Reed Diffuser.

Tips to Get More From Your Reed Diffuser Refill

• Keep it out of heat and strong sunlight. Warmth speeds up evaporation.
• Adjust the strength gradually. Add or remove a reed at a time rather than pouring extra oil into a full bottle.
• Keep the bottle tidy. Wipe the neck straight away if oil drips, and never leave oil sitting on furniture.

Reed Diffuser Refill FAQs

How do you refill a reed diffuser?

Remove the old reeds, wash and dry the bottle if you're changing scent, pour in the new refill leaving a little space at the top, then add fresh reeds. Leave them to soak for about an hour, flip them, and flip again every few days.

How long does a reed diffuser refill last?

Our 100ml refills last 8–12 weeks, often longer. A 200ml refill refills a 100ml diffuser twice. Warm rooms, sunlight, draughts and frequent flipping all use the oil up faster.

Can you refill a reed diffuser with perfume or water?

No. Perfume and water don't travel up the reeds like diffuser oil, so the scent will be weak or uneven. Always use reed diffuser refill oil.

Is a refillable reed diffuser the same as a reusable reed diffuser?

Yes. Both mean a diffuser bottle you can top up with new oil and fresh reeds, rather than throwing away. Any sturdy glass reed diffuser bottle with a narrow neck can be reused this way.

Can I put a reed diffuser refill in any bottle?

Use an undamaged bottle made for reed diffuser oil. Our refills work with most standard reed diffuser bottles, including our own 100ml diffusers and decorative bottles.

Do reed diffuser refills come with reeds?

No. Our 100ml and 200ml refills are oil only, with no reeds or bottle. We recommend adding a pack of seven black replacement reeds (£2.50) each time you refill.

Can I mix two reed diffuser fragrances?

We don't recommend it. Mixing scents can change how the oil smells, looks and performs. For a clean change of fragrance, empty, wash and fully dry the bottle before refilling.

Why is my refilled reed diffuser not smelling?

The reeds may be old or clogged, the spot may have too little airflow, or you may simply have got used to the scent. Try fresh reeds, flip them or move the diffuser.

Should I choose a 100ml or 200ml refill?

Choose 100ml to top up a single bottle or try a new scent. If you already have a favourite, or you have a larger bottle or more than one diffuser in the same scent, the 200ml refill gives you twice the oil. Between them, our two sizes cover most standard reed diffuser bottles.

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