Reed Diffuser Formulation Questions

Here are the answers to your questions about creating reed diffusers:

1. Slowing Down Evaporation with DPG or Musk

To slow down the evaporation rate of your reed diffuser mixture (70% base, 30% fragrance/essential oil), you can add a fixative like Dipropylene Glycol (DPG) or certain musk compounds.

• Dipropylene Glycol (DPG): DPG acts as a solvent and fixative, helping the fragrance evaporate more slowly and last longer. Based on product information, DPG can be used at 1-100% when mixing with perfume. For slowing evaporation in a reed diffuser, you would typically add a percentage to your base/fragrance mixture. The exact amount needed will depend on the desired evaporation speed and the specific fragrance used, requiring some experimentation.
• Musk: Certain musk aroma chemicals also function as fixatives and can help extend the scent's longevity. However, musks are also fragrance ingredients themselves, contributing to the overall scent profile.

2. Difference Between DPG and Musk for Reed Diffusers

Dipropylene Glycol (DPG) and Musk serve different primary purposes in fragrance formulations, although both can act as fixatives:

• Dipropylene Glycol (DPG): DPG is primarily a solvent and carrier for fragrances. Its main role in a reed diffuser is to dilute the fragrance and help it travel up the reeds. It also has fixative properties that slow down the evaporation rate of the fragrance. It is a liquid and dissolves fragrances well.
• Musk: Musks are a class of aroma chemicals known for their distinct scent (often described as sweet, powdery, or animalic) and their ability to enhance and fix other fragrances, making the overall scent last longer. While they have fixative properties, they are added for both their scent contribution and fixation, whereas DPG is primarily for solvency and evaporation control.

For reed diffusers, DPG is a common and effective choice specifically for controlling the evaporation rate and ensuring good diffusion through the reeds. Musks can be added for their scent and additional fixative effect, but DPG is more directly used as a base component to manage evaporation speed. Neither DPG nor musks are typically classified as surfactants; DPG is a glycol solvent, and musks are fragrance molecules.

3. Diffuser Base vs. Reed Diffuser Base and Alcohol Content

"Diffuser base" and "Reed Diffuser Base" generally refer to the same type of product designed for use with reeds to disperse fragrance.

Regarding alcohol content, the Reed Diffuser Base (Type 1) product description explicitly states that it does not contain any type of Alcohol, Dipropylene Glycol, or Propylene Glycol. This makes it a less flammable and safer option compared to bases that might contain alcohol.

4. Adding Baking Soda to Fragrance Mixture

It is not recommended to add baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to your reed diffuser fragrance mixture.

• Baking soda is a solid powder and will not properly dissolve in the oil-based or glycol-based diffuser liquid. This will result in a cloudy mixture and can clog the reeds, preventing proper diffusion of the fragrance.
• Baking soda is alkaline. Adding it to your fragrance mixture could potentially cause unwanted chemical reactions with the fragrance components, altering the scent or causing degradation.

Baking soda is effective at absorbing odors in its dry form, but it is not suitable for liquid fragrance applications like reed diffusers.