How to Refill a Reed Diffuser (and When to Change the Fibre Reeds)

Updated 27 October 2026

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Written by IVNA London

To refill a reed diffuser, wait until it is almost empty and throw away the old fibre reeds, then rinse and dry the bottle if you are changing scent. Pour in the refill over a tray, add fresh fibre reeds, and flip them after an hour. The step most people skip is changing the fibre reeds, but old fibre reeds are clogged and will not work well. For a reed diffuser that stays noticeable between refills, see our guide to strong reed diffusers.

How do you refill a reed diffuser, step by step?

Wait until it is nearly empty, because topping up old oil mixes stale fragrance in with the new.
Remove the fibre reeds and throw them away, since they will not work well with the new oil.
Rinse the bottle if you are changing scent, using warm soapy water, then rinse it well and let it dry fully. Any water left inside will stop the oil travelling up the fibre reeds.
Pour the refill in over a sink or tray, and use a small funnel if your bottle has a narrow neck.
Add fresh fibre reeds, then flip them after about an hour so the scent starts to fill the room.

Why should you change the fibre reeds?

Fibre reeds are full of tiny channels, and over time these fill with dust and thickened oil. Clogged fibre reeds stop drawing the oil up, so the bottle stays full but the scent disappears. This is the number one refill mistake in UK reviews, but luckily it is simple to fix.

These are the signs that your fibre reeds need changing:

They are dark all the way to the top, which shows they are full of old oil.
Flipping them makes no difference to how strong the scent is.
You are changing scent, and old fibre reeds still hold the old fragrance.

How often should you refill?

Refill it when the bottle is almost empty, and how long that takes depends on the room, the heat and the number of fibre reeds you use. See how long reed diffusers last for a guide to what you can expect.

What should you refill it with?

Use a proper reed diffuser refill oil, which is made to climb the fibre reeds. Water, perfume, essential oils in water and household products do not travel up fibre reeds well and can be unsafe. You can read more in can you refill a reed diffuser with any oil?

Is refilling cheaper?

Usually, yes, because a refill saves you paying for a new bottle and packaging each time, and large refills can lower the cost per week further. See is a 1 litre refill worth it? to work out the numbers for your home.

How do you refill safely?

Refill over a sink or tray, because the oil can mark wood and paint if it spills.
Wash your hands after you have finished, before you touch your face or any food.
Keep the refill bottle out of reach of children and pets, both during and after refilling.

Quick answers

Can you reuse reed diffuser sticks?

Not well, because they clog over time, so use a fresh set of fibre reeds each time you refill the bottle.

Can I refill a reed diffuser with a different scent?

Yes, but rinse and dry the bottle and use new fibre reeds, or the old scent will mix in with the new one.

Can you top up a reed diffuser?

You can, but it is better to finish the bottle first and then refill it with fresh fibre reeds.

When to start fresh

If your bottle is old or stained, or you want a new scent, a fresh reed diffuser is a simple choice because it comes with new fibre reeds. Choose by room: the Kew Morning reed diffuser suits kitchens and hallways, and the Mayfair Library reed diffuser suits living rooms. For bedrooms, the one to choose is the Hampstead Spa reed diffuser. If you want to keep your bottle, each of our 200ml reed diffuser refills comes with a fresh set of fibre reeds for £42. Each of our reed diffusers handmade in England comes as a full bottle with fibre reeds.

If you still have questions, you will find more answers in our reed diffuser FAQs.

New to IVNA London? Every scent we make comes as a reed diffuser and a matching luxury scented candle, both handmade in England.