These fun ornaments are a festive way to disperse the aroma of your favorite holiday oils into the air! These also make great gifts, and can be a fun way to introduce others to essential oils and aromatherapy.
Materials Needed:
Glass Ball Ornaments: For this project, the smaller size glass ball ornaments work best. Since the ornaments will be holding essential oils, be certain you choose glass, and not the shatter-proof plastic ornaments. You can also substitute a regular 15 ml glass vial, a 1/3 oz. roll-on bottle, or one of the re-fill bottles for the plug-in diffuser.
Aroma Testing Strips: Used to diffuse your essential oils. You will need about 15-25 strips for this diffuser.
Essential Oils: Choose your favorite essential oil or blend to give your essential oil diffuser its own unique aroma. You will need about 5-10 ml for this diffuser.
Jojoba or Fractionated Coconut Oil (Optional): These oils can be used to slow the rate of diffusion from your diffuser if desired. About 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon is sufficient.
Instructions:
Fill the glass ornament or container with 5-10 ml of your desired essential oil or blend.
If desired, mix 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of jojoba or fractionated coconut oil with the essential oils in the vial.
Stack the Aroma Testing Strips on top of each other. Place the stack of strips red-line side down into the glass ornament or container. If the container is fairly full of oil, you will need to place the testing strips in slowly, giving them time to absorb enough oil so they are able to fit into the container without over-flowing the oils.
Fold the outermost testing strips over 90° just above the top of the glass ornament or container so they are pointing away from the rest of the testing strips. Fold the next set of testing strips in the same way with the fold about 1/4" to 1/2" above the fold of the previously folded testing strips. Continue folding the strips in this way until you get to the middle strip (or strips). Leave the strip (or strips) in the middle unfolded.
Trim the edges of each of the folded strips so they form the basic shape of an evergreen tree (wider at the bottom, then tapering up to the point at the top).
If you are using a glass ball ornament, you may want to create a base by using an additional testing strip and forming it into a circle that is just big enough to still allow the glass ball to rest in it without rolling on the surface below. If the ornament still seems un-stable, place the circle you created on top of a sheet of stiff paper or cardstock. Use a hot glue gun to fill the circle about 1/2 way with hot glue (making certain the glue stays contained within the circle), then place the glass ball into the hot glue in the circle, and allow the glue to cool. When it is completely cool, cut away the extra paper around the circle, and you should now have a steady base attached to the glass ball.
Place your assembled ornament in your desired location (you may wish to choose a location where it is less likely that the diffuser may accidentally get knocked over and spill). After about an hour, the oil will saturate the Aroma Testing Strips and will diffuse into the surrounding room. Refill the oil in the ornament as desired.
Extra Ideas
Use colored labels, ribbon, raffia, glitter or other items to decorate your ornament as desired.
If giving this ornament as a gift, place the oils in a separate, sealable glass container, and include instructions for the recipient on how to assemble this diffuser. You may also wish to include an extra vial of essential oils to refill this diffuser.
(Opens a printer friendly page for this article in a new window.)
