DIY Succulent Diffuser & the Best Essential Oil Recipes (Updated 2020)

Celebrate National Cactus Day with this fun DIY project! Diffusers are a great addition to any household. They relieve stress, elevate moods, promote relaxation in the body and mind, and they fill your space with pleasant aromas.

There’s an overwhelming amount of diffusers on the market but it can be narrowed down to four main types: heat, ultrasonic, nebulizer, and evaporative diffusers. Read about our review of the top 10 diffusers here.

This DIY succulent diffuser falls into the evaporative category as it exposes essential oils into the air and allows them to disperse naturally.

Normally, the essential oils are dropped on to porous materials such as cotton balls, tissue paper, reed, or flannel. But in the case of succulent diffusers, your best medium of evaporation choices are pebbles and lava rocks. You may buy lava rocks from Amazon or from your local landscape supplies shop.

Most of the other materials you’ll need can be bought at any hardware, except for the essential oils. Before you start your DIY project, be sure to grab your favorite aromatic oils!

How to Make Your Own Succulent Diffuser

We have three easy-to-follow methods for DIY-ing a succulent essential oil diffuser. You may take your pick depending on the available materials you have. Or, you can try all three to jazz up your succulent or cacti collection!

Method 1

Materials & Tools Needed:

• Ceramic pot
• Drill
• Small shovel or plastic spoon
• Succulents of choice 
• Potting soil
• Lava rocks
• Aroma Foundry Essential Oils
• Water

Approximate your materials however you wish. You can adjust your materials depending on the size of your succulent oil diffuser. Double or triple the quantity if you want to make more.

Directions:

1. Drill three holes at the bottom of your ceramic pot to create a drainage system for your succulents.
2. Set your pot on a plant dish to take any excess water or soil that could potentially leak out during the DIY process. 
3. Fill your ceramic pot halfway through with potting soil
4. Using your small shovel or plastic spoon, loosen your soil to incorporate oxygen into the dirt. 
5. Pour water into the soil until it is fully hydrated. You can test the soil by pushing your fingers into it. If you can stick your finger into the soil and touch the bottom of your pot with ease, you’re good to go. 
6. Pull your succulents out of their temporary containers and cluster them in the middle of your pot. Arrange them however you’d like. 
7. Add in additional potting soil as needed and gently pat around the roots to secure them firmly in place. 
8. Cover the exposed soil with two inches of lava rocks
9. Add 5 to 10 drops of your favorite Aroma Foundry essential oils depending on the level of scent intensity you want your succulent essential oil diffuser to emit.

You’re not limited to using just one type of essential oil to perfume your diffuser. There’s also the option of mixing scents for a complex and layered aroma.

 

Method 2

Succulents may be extremely low maintenance, but not everybody has a green thumb. This second method is great for people who aren’t very fond of gardening but would like to try. Also, because this method makes use of a weighted bottom that baby proofs the jar, it is a great option for people with young children and nosy pets.

Materials & Tools Needed:

• Clear glass jar
• Large marbles
• Pumice stones
• White pebbles
• Plastic succulents
• Aroma Foundry Essential Oils

Directions:

1. Fill a glass jar three-quarters of the way with large colored marbles. The marbles will act as an anchor to prevent your glass jar from tipping over. Additionally, it adds dimension to an otherwise bland looking jar.
2. Pour a layer of white pebbles over your marbles to fill in the glass and act as a layer of soil for your plastic succulents.
3. Arrange your succulents around the inner rim of the glass and dig the wired roots into the white pebbles to anchor them. 
4. Fill the middle portion of your glass jar with pumice stones. They will substitute the porous lava rocks as the scent evaporation agent. 
5. Drop in your favorite essentials oils and enjoy the scentsational relaxation abilities of your succulent diffuser.

 

Method 3

Go big or go home with this Sansiveria scent diffuser! Snake plants are a household favorite because they purify the air,  and they absorb excessive amounts of carbon monoxide in the air. Not everyone is a fan of mini house plants, some people like to supersize! 

By the way, snake plants thrive off neglect. So if you forget to water it, your succulent diffuser will be fine.

Materials & Tools Needed:

• Fully grown snake plant  
• Large terracotta planter pot
• Aroma Foundry essential oils
• Potting soil
• Rocks
• Gravel
• Shovel
• Water
• Pumice stones
• Lava rocks
• Gardening gloves
• Tray 
  
• Newspaper

Directions:

1. Line the base of your terracotta pot with a layer of rocks. This will be your pot’s drainage system.
2. Pour some gravel into the pot to fill the crevices. Your gravel layer should be about 2 1/2 inches thick. Gravel helps with water retention, and it will save your snake plant in case you forget to water it for a couple of months. 
3. Line a flat surface with newspaper and set your tray on top of the protective layer. 
4. Prepare a mixture of potting soil (preferably cactus potting soil) and pumice stones. Stick to a 3:1 ratio, so three parts potting soil and one part pumice stones. 
5. Slip on a pair of gardening gloves and mix your potting mixture until both elements are fully-incorporated.
6. Carefully take your snake plant out of its temporary planter and massage the roots until the soil comes off. Rinse the roots until the water runs clear. 
7. Place the snake plant inside the pot and fill it with the potting soil mixture. Leave an inch on top to accommodate the lava rocks you will be pouring in later. Press the soil down until your snake plant can stand on its own. 
8. Fill space with lava rocks.
9. You’ll need 10 to 20 drops of essential oil in this succulent diffuser because there’s more ground to cover. Use your favorite Aroma Foundry essentials oils and enjoy your snake plant lava rock diffuser.

 

Which Scents Go Where?

These succulent diffusers can be used anywhere around the house. Read through our guide for some ideas on which scents can work wonders around your home.

In the bedroom

For a sleepy time concoction, combine our lavender essential oil with bergamot essential oil. Both lavender and bergamot are known for improving sleep quality and inducing calmness. This makes this duo the perfect combo for settling down and helping you catch the Zs.

In the bathroom

Although we spend the least amount of time in the bathroom, it is the one place in our homes where we can refresh ourselves with some “me time.” Add a little pizzazz to your shower experience by dropping eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils into your bathroom succulent diffuser. 

When your shower starts to steam up, the eucalyptus oil will diffuse into the evaporated water and give you that Bali spa experience. It eases stress, relieves muscle pain, and adds a touch of sophistication to your daily showers.

The peppermint oil will refresh and awake you, prepping you for the day ahead with its cool notes. Peppermint also contains properties that can fix any congestion issues you may have had from the night before.

In the living room

They say that the living room is the heart of the house. This is where the family communes together at the end of the day to enjoy each other’s company and wind down before it’s time for bed. That’s why it’s important to keep the air clear of any negativity.

Breathe away the bad vibes with this mood-lifting scent combination! A mix of lavender, grapefruit, and ylang-ylang essential oils.

Grapefruit is popular for its ability to remove toxins. The oil contains various phytochemicals that are known for its anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, antioxidant, diuretic, stimulant, and tonic properties.

As for ylang ylang, this essential oil transports you to a calming inner place with its unique and floral aroma. Not only that, it’s also known to clear your mind of negative emotions and feelings of animosity.

In the dining room

Did you know that you can control your cravings or kickstart your appetite with the use of essential oils? Well, you can!

Our appetite regulation six-pack is the perfect blend of oils to layer onto your succulent table centerpiece. Aroma Foundry’s appetite regulation essential oil pack includes Spearmint, Tangerine, Citronella, Bergamot, Grapefruit, and Lime Essential Oils.

Whether you’re on a diet or in need of gaining a few pounds this six-pack blend is sure to help you out.

In the kitchen

Everybody loves the kitchen, so it makes sense to keep it smelling clean and fresh 24/7.

Using air fresheners can be very hit or miss in the kitchen because you don’t want any overpowering scents messing with the smell of what you’re cooking. Luckily, this kitchen companion isn’t nearly as invasive as commercial air fresheners.

Splash a couple of drops of lemon and tea tree essential oils for a citrusy and refreshing combination. You can swap out the lemon oil for some powdered cinnamon if you want a warmer scent to flood your kitchen.

In the office

Who said these succulent diffusers are limited to home use? Definitely not us! Aside from perfuming your space, essential oils have the power to induce productivity.

If you’ve ever heard of Pavlov’s dog then you know about stimuli and reaction. Think of yourself as Pavlov’s dog and Rosemary and Patchouli essential oils as your stimulus. You associate these scents with the office which will, in turn, make you more productive.

And did you know that succulents are great office plants because they absorb radiation? Set it next to your computer and its dual-purpose capability will surely brighten your space.

Perks of Having Succulents at Home

Plants are an essential element of any home. Aside from their decorative properties, they serve some health benefits too.

Purify air

As we’ve mentioned earlier, succulents have the ability to purify the air. Succulents emit vapor into the air and cleanse it of many volatile organic compounds by pulling the contaminated air into the roots and breaking it down as plant food. 

Improves humidity

Dry air causes dry skin, colds, strep throats, and cough. People that live in seasonal climates will benefit greatly from succulents in the wintertime as they help retain humidity in the air. Say goodbye to unnecessary flaky skin! Your succulent essential oil diffuser is here to save the day. 

Succulents thrive in any climate

Succulents and cacti are the best low-maintenance plants. No wonder they’re such a hit with first-time gardeners. They can survive drought, flood, heat, cold, dust, and babies tearing them apart. They’re like your childhood pet rocks but prettier.

 

Succulents vs. Cacti

The words succulent and cactus have been used interchangeably, but what people don’t seem to realize is that they’re not one and the same thing. All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. 

Succulents are a type of plant that store water in their leaves, stems, and roots. Cacti are fleshy plants that store water, making them a subcategory of the succulent. For a cactus to be considered a succulent it should have areoles. Areoles are mounds from which flowers, spikes, and leaves grow. 

This quarantine season is the perfect time to get crafty! And what better time to try out this succulent essential oil diffuser than on National Cactus Day? 

Don’t forget to add some variation to your diffusers. Buy different types, textures, and colors of succulents and experiment with different essential oil blends. We all have different preferences when it comes to scents, but it doesn’t hurt to share your favorite mixtures. 

If you enjoyed reading this blog, please share your DIY succulent diffusers on Instagram and use the hashtag #AromaFoundry. 

Happy National Cactus Day!

Author Profile

1. Overview
2. How to Make Your Own Succulent Diffuser
3. Which scents go where?
4. Perks of Having Succulents at Home
5. Succulents vs. Cacti
6. References