To make a reed diffuser stronger, flip the reeds, add one or two more, and move the bottle to a spot people pass often, away from vents and direct sun. If your reeds are a few months old, fresh ones often make the biggest difference.
Here's each fix, from quickest to biggest change, plus what to do when a reed diffuser is simply too small for the room.
Quick fixes that take a few minutes
- Flip the reeds: turning them over puts the freshly soaked ends in the air. Do it over a sink, as the wet ends can drip.
- Add a reed or two: more reeds means more oil moving into the room. Here's how many reeds to put in a diffuser.
- Move it: an entry table or the middle of a room spreads scent better than a corner or a spot by the air-con.
- Check the oil: if the reed ends barely reach the oil, top it up.
Replace tired reeds
Reeds clog with dust and dried oil over weeks of use. Once that happens, a flip won't do much. Swap in fresh ones from a reeds pack of 6 and flip them after the first hour.
As a rule, use new reeds with every refill and whenever you change scent. Our guide to how often to change reed diffuser reeds covers the signs.
Choose a stronger scent
Every kirri product page rates scent strength out of 5. If you love a strong scent, start with a higher number.
- 5 out of 5: Fig Tree, with fig, citrus, lavender, plum and cedarwood.
- 4 out of 5: Country Linen, Botanical Gardens, Zen Garden and Kiwi Coconut Vanilla.
- 3 out of 5: Santal Woods and Dream.
- 1 to 2 out of 5: Bondi, Rose Gold and Coral, which are lighter by design.
Not sure which you'll like? The discovery kit has a 2ml sample of each iconic scent.
Go up a size
The 100ml reed diffuser is made for bathrooms, bedsides and smaller spaces. In a living room, the 200ml reed diffuser will do a better job. In an open-plan area, two diffusers at either end beat one in the middle.
What not to do
- Don't add water or carrier oils: they dilute the fragrance and slow the oil moving up the reeds.
- Don't heat the bottle: keep it away from heaters, stovetops and flames.
- Don't mix scents: topping up with a different scent tends to muddy both.
- Don't pour a refill into an electric diffuser: see the warning below.
Never use a traditional refill in an electric diffuser. Refills are high in perfumer's alcohol, which is what lets them scent a room through reeds without a motor. That alcohol damages electric diffusers, so keep refills out of the Micro, Element, Beacon and Pillar. The Micro and Element take Micro Oil (15ml), and the Beacon and Pillar take Macro Oil (30ml) or Aura Oil (100ml). Not sure what fits? Check which oil fits my diffuser.
When a reed diffuser isn't enough
Some rooms are too big for any reed diffuser. An electric diffuser lets you choose the strength in the kirri app, from delicate to subtle, radiant and intense, and schedule when it runs.
- Element: rechargeable, can also run plugged in, and takes Micro Oil (15ml).
- Beacon: covers up to 300sqm and takes Macro Oil (30ml) or Aura Oil (100ml).
- Pillar: floor-standing, for larger rooms.
Compare the two in reed diffusers vs electric diffusers.
Scent strength FAQs
Why has my reed diffuser stopped smelling?
Usually you've got used to it, or the reeds are clogged. Read reed diffuser not working? Here's how to fix it for every check.
Does flipping the reeds make a diffuser stronger?
Yes, for a few days. It also uses oil faster, so flipping about once a week is a good balance. See how long reed diffusers last.
Will a stronger setup use more oil?
Yes. More reeds, more flips and a busier spot all mean the bottle runs down sooner. Keep a 500ml traditional refill on hand, and follow how to refill a reed diffuser when it's time.
For setup, placement and refills in one place, see our complete reed diffuser care guide, or shop the kirri reed diffuser range.