Making a Diffuser Blend with Essential Oil and PG

You asked if you can make a diffuser blend using only Essential Oil and Propylene Glycol (PG) without a dedicated diffuser base or alcohol, and what the effects would be.

Here's a breakdown:

• Essential Oils: These are the concentrated fragrance compounds. They need a carrier to disperse the scent.
• Propylene Glycol (PG): PG is a solvent that can dissolve essential oils. However, it is relatively viscous and does not evaporate easily.
• Diffuser Base / Alcohol: Products specifically designed as diffuser bases or alcohols (like ethanol) are formulated to effectively dissolve essential oils and, importantly, evaporate at a rate that allows the fragrance to disperse into the air via reeds or other diffusion methods. They typically have lower viscosity and higher volatility than PG.

Using only Essential Oil and PG:

While PG can dissolve essential oils, using only this combination without a proper diffuser base or alcohol will likely result in:

• Limited Scent Throw: The fragrance may not disperse effectively into the air because PG evaporates slowly and is more viscous than ideal carriers.
• Weaker Fragrance: The scent might be noticeable only very close to the diffuser.
• Poor Performance in Reed Diffusers: The mixture may not wick up the reeds efficiently due to the viscosity of PG.
• Slower Evaporation: The fragrance will evaporate much slower, potentially reducing the overall effectiveness and longevity compared to standard formulations.

In summary, while you can mix essential oil with PG, it is generally not recommended for making effective reed diffusers or other passive diffusers because PG lacks the necessary volatility and physical properties for good scent dispersion. Dedicated diffuser bases or alcohol are formulated specifically for this purpose.