Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh With The Help Of An Empty Jar

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There are tons of clever ways to reuse old glass jars around the house. Whether they're leftover from pasta sauces or preserved food, are the remnants of a candle, or previously contained health and beauty products, these sturdy, eco-friendly containers deserve a life beyond their original purpose. Many hacks for repurposing glass jars involve using them for storage or organization, but this simple DIY provides a clever way to freshen up your space.

If you have reeds, a jar, and some fragrance oils, you can DIY a reed diffuser to help freshen your space without the risk of an open flame. This is great for homes with curious kids, for those with crazy pets, or as a candle alternative that keeps your dorm room smelling fresh. As an added bonus, it can help you save a ton of money. While there are some inexpensive reed diffusers out there, luxe options can cost upwards of $50 and don't give you the flexibility to play around with your scent blend. By making your own, you're responsible for the final fragrance, and if you're not a fan or you want to change it out seasonally, you can always dump it out and try again — no expensive purchase necessary.

Reed diffusers use reeds made of natural materials to absorb and release fragrance into the air. As such, they're absolutely essential for this DIY, but thankfully, they're not very expensive. A 120-pack of Iron Banyan Reed Diffuser Sticks costs about $6 on Amazon, which should give you more than enough to make multiple diffusers and have refills for years to come.

To allow the fragrance to freely travel up the sticks, however, you have to thin it out a bit. All you'll need for this task is some rubbing alcohol or vodka, some warm water, and your fragrance of choice. Combine ¼ cup alcohol, ¼ cup warm water, and around 20 drops of your essential or fragrance oil in your jar. You'll want to pick a jar or bottle with a narrow opening for the reeds — if the mouth is too wide, drill a hole in the jar's lid that's an inch or so wide and put it back on. Using a fully open, wide-mouth jar will cause your fragrance solution to evaporate immediately rather than be diffused into the room over time.

After a thorough mix, insert your reeds to let the diffuser begin releasing its scent. It won't be as strong a throw as a powerful candle, but it can still do quite a bit to freshen up a space. Display it in a small room, like a bathroom, for the most noticeable impact, or place it somewhere you'll frequently catch a whiff as you pass by, like your nightstand or a table in your entryway, to enjoy a touch of pleasant fragrance throughout the day.

If you already have a go-to fragrance blend you use in your essential oil diffuser, it shouldn't be difficult to craft an inviting scent from the same materials. If you're new to blending your own fragrances, however, it can understandably be a bit intimidating. For a simple diffuser that will give your space a specific feel, stick with one essential oil. Lavender is perfect for rooms where you want to relax; lemon provides an energized, fresh feel; and peppermint helps you feel more alert and focused.

To step it up a notch, consider blending oils you think smell pleasant. What you personally enjoy will come down to preferences, obviously, but some tried, and true combinations include geranium and peppermint, jasmine and lemon, and lavender and oregano. It might also be worth checking out the candles you use around your house and your perfume or cologne to see which fragrance notes you gravitate towards — you might be able to create a similar scent.

While essential oils are the easiest way to pull off this DIY, you don't have to limit yourself to them. If you have them on hand, this is the perfect time to utilize dried herbs, fruits, spices, and florals that release fragrance. For a wintry mix, for example, you could add in some rosemary, dried oranges, star anise, and cinnamon sticks. There's plenty of opportunity to play around with this DIY, so don't be afraid to get creative!