What Is the Best Carrier Oil for Reed Diffusers?

Have you ever experienced a different scent strength in your reed diffuser, when all you did was change the carrier oil? You used the exact dilution measurement, the same lavender essential oil brand, and in the same room, but the smell is way stronger this go around!

The carrier oil you choose to put in your reed diffuser can change how quickly it’s absorbed and dispersed in a room. Below we will answer your question, what is the best carrier oil for reed diffusers? So exciting!

The 10 Best Carrier Oils for Reed Diffusers

To find out what the best carrier oils for reed diffusers are, you need to know what qualities are important for a reed diffuser. The two most important qualities are absorption rate and scentlessness.

The five best carrier oils for reed diffusers based on absorption rate are:

• Abyssinian
• Baobab
• Hazelnut
• Rosehip
• Sacha inchi

Out of these five, you’ve probably only ever heard of two. Maybe you’ve only heard of one or even none of them.

The five best carrier oils for reed diffusers based on scentlessness are:

• Apricot kernel
• Grapeseed
• Jojoba
• Safflower
• Sunflower (organic)

Gosh! Why are there so many “bests”? I just need a carrier oil.

Honestly, your best carrier oil will depend on what you care about. Do you want your carrier oil to absorb quickly and start working in minutes? Or, do you want a carrier oil that is scentless, that moves slower, but lets your essential oil fragrance stand out?

Let’s get into more detail. Shall we?!

5 Fastest-absorbing Carrier Oils for Reed Diffusers

Abyssinian, baobab, hazelnut, rosehip, and sacha inchi are the fastest absorbing carrier oils. They are the fastest because they are extremely thin liquids making them easier to travel quickly through reed sticks.

You forgot to take the trash out last night, your house reeks, and your guests are coming over this afternoon! These five fast-absorbing carrier oils are best for people who are looking for a more immediate scent.

5 Best Scentless Carrier Oils for Reed Diffusers

Apricot kernel, grapeseed, safflower, and organic sunflower are fast-absorbing but not as fast as some of the others previously listed. All five carrier oils have practically no scent, preventing them from clashing with your essential oil fragrance.

You should know the difference between unrefined and refined carrier oil and how it affects odor. Unrefined carrier oils carry a stronger scent and are natural, which means they go rancid quicker than unrefined carrier oils.

Refined carrier oils contain less active components, meaning they’ve been tweaked a bit and are less natural. They carry less scent compared to unrefined carrier oils and they have a longer shelf life.

Why Jojoba Carrier Oil is Okay to Use in Reed Diffusers

You may be wondering why jojoba carrier oil is part of the five best carrier oils for reed diffusers. You’ve read in other places, jojoba carrier oil should be avoided in reed diffusers.

Well, we are telling you differently. Jojoba oil is a thicker carrier oil, meaning it absorbs slower than the other nine carrier oils listed here.

Jojoba oil is terrific in reed diffusers for people who can’t handle strong and forceful essential oil scents but love the look of reed diffusers. If you want a mostly odorless carrier oil and want to prevent those nasty migraines from strong scents, then go with a jojoba carrier oil.

The greatest quality of jojoba carrier oil is its long shelf life. Out of these 10 carrier oils, jojoba lasts the longest, making them awesome to put in reed diffusers that sit out and open to fresh air. Jojoba oil is also extremely easy to find online or in-store.

The “clogging” trait of jojoba carrier oil, also doesn’t make sense. Reed sticks clog when they become oversaturated.

Your reed sticks become oversaturated when thinner carrier oils absorb too quickly. So, technically, a thicker carrier oil, like jojoba, will clog and oversaturate your reed sticks a lot slower than a thin and fast-absorbing carrier oil like hazelnut.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Almond Oil in Reed Diffusers

Too often you see people suggesting almond oil as one of the best carrier oils for reed diffusers. Sure, almond carrier oil is thin and considered an average to fast-absorbing oil, but what people forget to mention is how quickly almond oil spoils.

If your reed diffuser bottle allows too much air into your essential oil and almond carrier oil mixture, it will cause it to go rancid a lot quicker. So, as long as your reed diffuser bottle has a small and tight bottleneck, almond oil should be okay to use as a carrier oil.

Just remember, almond oil does tend to spoil a lot faster than other carrier oils. If you do plan to use an almond carrier oil in your reed diffuser, then you just need to change it out more frequently when compared to other carrier oils.

For example, you can probably leave jojoba oil in a reed diffuser for four months or longer. While almond carrier oil, you will need to replace it every two months.

If you’ve ever wondered about using baby oil in your reed diffuser, check out our article here.

Which Carrier Oil is the Best for Reed Diffusers?

The answer depends on what you are looking for. If you have nut allergies, then you know you should avoid hazelnut carrier oil.

Fast-absorbing & Strong Scented

For a large and open living room, you will want a strong scent. You are probably also looking for a fast-absorbing and quickly dispersing carrier oil since it will take some time for your oils to travel the length of your room. If this is you, then go with Abyssinian, baobab, hazelnut, rosehip, or sacha inchi carrier oil.

Slower-absorbing & Weaker Scented

For a much smaller living room, bedroom, or bathroom, you’re going to need a slower absorption carrier oil to prevent an overstimulating fragrance. The better carrier oils for you are the apricot kernel, grapeseed, jojoba, safflower, and sunflower oil.

Odorless or Minimal Scented

Those of you that want your essential oil scent to be the all-star, you’re going to need a carrier oil that is scentless or has a minimal odor to it. You’ll definitely want to avoid baobab and possibly rosehip, depending on the brand. Some rosehip carrier oils are stronger in scent.

Color-based Carrier Oil

The color of carrier oil can also dictate which carrier oil is best for your reed diffuser. Here is a quick reference color chart to help you decide on a carrier oil.

Considering All This

The best carrier oil for reed diffusers depends on how quick you want to smell your oil mixture and if you want your carrier oil to be odorless. Thinner carrier oils travel through your reed sticks a lot quicker, while odorless carrier oils don’t interrupt your essential oil fragrance.

You decide which carrier oil works best for your needs. We hope this article was informative and helped you learn something new. We wish you the best in choosing the best carrier oil for your reed diffuser.

Emily Cummings

I currently work as a medical receptionist, but my ultimate goal is to work as an occupational therapy assistant. Helping others achieve a better quality of life is something I’m after. That’s one of the main reasons I started this blog. Learn more about me.