How to Make a "Pine Cone" Essential Oil Diffuser

Pine Cone Essential Oil Diffusers

This is an absolute favorite homemade project for the colder months (that's fall and winter to those of you in the warmer climates!). Think of a time when holiday charm is all around. Perhaps when you read this that time is already upon us. Perhaps we are several months out. Nevertheless, we would like to share with you what is quickly becoming a crafty favorite. A "Pine Cone" essential oil diffuser. 

What is that you might ask? Well, let us begin with defining what a standard diffuser is in the essential oil world. The most common type of diffuser to disperse essential oils throughout your home is an ultrasonic diffuser.

An ultrasonic diffuser uses a ceramic plate which vibrates electronically and agitates the essential oils (diluted with water) to break oils down to negatively charged base molecules. These molecules disperse, not via steam, but via attachment to positively charged ions in your home such as dust particles (sorry folks, we all have dust no matter how often you clean). They transfer out of the diffuser using water as a transport system. This transport mechanism is important as no heat is involved thereby maintaining all of the properties of the original essential oil as their structure is not altered thermally. I have even heart this transport concept being compared to the water vapor from a waterfall. The fine mist that you see is not "steam", but a product of the ultrasonic agitation of the essential oils via vibration.

So enough of the nerdy stuff. Although using an ultrasonic diffuser is one of the best options to disperse essential oils into your home, we have found an interesting alternative. Enter the "Pine Cone" diffuser. I remember when I first saw this idea that I knew I wanted to give it a try. It looked simple, fun, and very cost effective. You basically need pine cones, essential oils, and just a little bit of time. That's it! Once the project is complete, the pine cones create a perfect centerpiece for any table, unique addition to shelving, or an excellent way to deodorize a bathroom.

"Buyer Beware": You may see similar ideas as you walk into the grocery or craft store this time of year. The only difference is that the scented pine cone bags positioned perfectly in the local stores to grab your attention are saturated with a cinnamon fragrance, which you want to avoid. Please refer to our previous discussion (borderline rant) on the dangers of fragrance in the home:

Most all "scented" products on the market have synthetic or soy based fragrance grade oils. Please use caution with these synthetic fragrances. Be advised of a 2011 report that stated "scented consumer goods showed the products emitted more than 100 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including some that are classified as toxic or hazardous by federal laws.1 Even products advertised as “green,” “natural,” or “organic” emitted as many hazardous chemicals as standard ones". How is that for greenwashing and product deception!

Synthetic fragrances are derived from petrochemicals. Many of these petrochemicals are on the EPA's hazardous waste list! We have got to get these commercially available "scented" products out of our homes!. Please take a moment to search for the ingredients in your everyday products. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is quickly becoming one of our favorite resources on the path to good health.

​When I originally began this wellness journey, fragrance was one of the first toxins that I researched. I found it hiding in a lot of my personal care products and companies used the word fragrance to hide several other chemicals found in the product, which was so scary. Since then, we have slowly switched over to all Young Living products as we removed the store-bought products laden with chemicals I had never heard of. You can continue to learn more about harmful toxins hiding in our homes by reading more about my natural lifestyle. I have also highlighted ways to eliminate the health risks associated with candles by eliminating them altogether.  

You can make an essential oil diffuser out of this little guy!

How to Make a "Pine Cone" Diffuser:
First step, gather a bunch of pine cones. I would make enough that you could fill a bowl or a centerpiece for a table. This is a great way to involve the kids as well. Beware of the sap as you gather the pine cones. I have a great tip for removing sap quickly from your hands: apply a couple drops of lemon essential oil your hands and rub them together, the stickiness will disappear!

Once you have enough pine cones to fill up a nice centerpiece or decorative bowl, it's time to rinse them off. I like to place the pine cones in a big bowl of soapy water to rinse off the dirt. I actually soak mine in Thieves Fruit and Veggie Soak! You can read more about the Young Living Thieves Line. 

After the pine cones are rinsed off, drain the water and perform a quick second rinse. Then lay them out on a towel to air dry. For this part you need to be patient! You will initially notice that the pine cones will close up slightly while wet. They will, however, open back up once dry. You may want to allow yourself a day or two of drying prior to initiating the next step which is the application of the essential oils.  

This is where the fun begins. You will be applying essential oils directly to the pine cones.

​If you do not have any oils yet, here is how to order. If you sign up with us, you will receive plenty of education once you are a member!

My favorite oils to use are Christmas Spirit, Cinnamon Bark, Orange, and Pine. These are all great essential oils to use during fall and winter months. If you need some more inspiration, check out my fall diffuser blend recipes which will give you great combinations for the season!  

I love these essential oils in my "Pine Cone" diffuser because they smell absolutely amazing all while supporting health by eliminating those store bought items.

​Here is a little more info on my favorite oils to use in this craft:

• Christmas Spirit- a blend of orange, cinnamon bark, and spruce that warms the heart. It truly smells like the spirit of Christmas if you could put all of it into a bottle.  Very uplifting and brings a joyful aroma to the room.
• Cinnamon Bark-  enhances the effects of other oils, and promotes a healthy immune response*

• Spruce- grounding, creates balance, uplifting, and soothing

• Orange- encourages a positive outlook on life

• Northern Lights Black Spruce- The aroma of this essential oil is almost magical. It is very supportive to the emotions and beneficial for mental clarity. It’s wonderful for grounding emotions and relaxing to diffuse at night.

To actually make a "Pine Cone" diffuser, I use a glass spray bottle to apply the oils. Fill the spray bottle with warm water and add approximately 10 total drops of essential oils (you may combine the oils I recommend in any fashion however 10 total drops is all you will need for this). I then spray over the pine cones until all of the mixture is gone also turning the pine cones to evenly coat with essential oils.

You can even add a few drops of essential oils directly onto the pine cones if the aroma requires more potency. I typically also add a few cinnamon sticks to the finished product as well. place a few of the , if you want to add your cinnamon sticks to the pine cones and stir them all together. The pine cones will dry in the bowl, but the essential oil aroma will remain! As the aroma fades, simply refresh them by using the spray bottle of essential oil mixture.

I encourage you to get creative with your centerpiece! It seems to be a great conversation starter for friends and family that are over around the holidays. Around Thanksgiving, I like to grab some fallen leaves and acorns from the yard to mix in.

You can even place your scented pine cones in a wicker basket and relocate to a good spot in your home. Bonus tip: Try placing a small bowl on the back of your toilet too (everyone who uses the bathroom will thank you)!

For those of you who enjoy great homemade projects, such as this pine cone diffuser, I highly recommend checking out our DIY reed diffusers post. This one is a lot of fun too! It is great for the holidays and makes for an awesome gift! ​

​As always, if you are new to essential oils and do not have any of your own, consider a premium starter kit from Young Living. This is widely regarded as the simplest way to get started with essential oils. When signing up for your first kit, you will have the opportunity to choose one of our leaders. This is an important step as they will provide you with ongoing support for the lifetime of your Young Living journey at no added cost to you! You can do this simply by visiting the our team page and selecting the individual you would like as your direct upline.

Further, by signing up as a member you will also receive tons of additional promotions such as saving 24% off retail pricing on future purchases of Young Living products.
 
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Young Living products are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. Please see our disclaimer.