How to Make a Succulent Diffuser with Lava Stones and Essential Oils

Learn how to make a succulent diffuser that uses lava stones and essential oils.

What is a Succulent Diffuser?

Want to diffuse essential oils in your home but don’t have a diffuser? Try making a DIY succulent diffuser!

A succulent diffuser is a natural way to diffuse essential oils in your home, while also adding a little decor. 

Made with a real or faux succulent, a little pot or container, some pebbles, and lava rocks, this succulent diffuser can add some color and fragrance to any room in your home.

This post contains affiliate links, from which I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Benefits of Succulents in Your Home

Succulents are plants that store water and have thick leaves and parts, unlike other plants. Because they are able to retain water, they do very well in dry and arid climates. Most of them prefer warm temperatures and don’t do well in freezing temps.

In your home, succulents:

• help you breathe better. Succulents filter the air and breathe out oxygen.
• are easy to maintain. Most succulents are very hardy, and don’t need much space.
• are drought resistant. Succulents require very little watering.
• can help you focus. According to this article, exposure to nature indoors can help you and children focus better.
• can make you happier. Adding a little bit of green to your home and helping a little plant to flourish can make you feel happier.
• are useful. Some succulents, like aloe, can be used for a variety of things, including skin care, health, and more.

TIP: Want live succulents delivered to your home?
You can get a succulent subscription box from Succulent Studios. Use my referral code UkV54IpPKAPF to get $5 off your first month! I personally get this box and love getting 2 new succulents every month. See my unboxing here. 

While this little project could be done with a real or faux succulent, I encourage you to try it with a real succulent to get all of these great benefits.

Did you know that there are benefits to having succulents in your home? Click to Tweet

Why Lava Stones?

In this little DIY, lava stones are needing for diffusing essential oils. Why?

Lava stones are porous due to the air bubbles in them. When essential oils are poured on them, the oils fill in the little pockets of air in the stone. Eventually the oil evaporates from there, creating a little diffuser that could last days or possibly longer.

These are the stones I chose for this project.

You could use medium sized stones in succulent diffusers, or you could use the smaller lava stone beads that are usually used in diffuser jewelry.

Succulent Diffuser Instructions

For this succulent diffuser diy project you’ll need:

• a little planter/pot with drainage holes
• succulents, real or faux
• succulent soil mix*
• small decorative pebbles
• lava stones
• essential oils of your choice

*If using faux succulents, you will not need the soil mix. You may need a small piece of foam brick to fill the space in the bottom of the planter and keep the faux succulent in place.

All of the products mentioned in this project can be found here. 

Get the step-by-step instructions below.

Instructions

1. Add essential oils to lava rocks. When I put essential oils on lava rocks, I like to put them on a paper plate and let the oils absorb first. This way I can make sure that extra oil isn’t seeping into the soil mix and potentially harming the succulent. Of course, if you’re using a faux succulent, there’s no need to worry about that!

2. Fill the planter with succulent soil mix (or foam block). The soil that I chose to use is made especially for succulents.

3. Add the succulents. For a small pot, one succulent might be enough. You can add more to larger pots, planters, or succulent bowls. Add a little extra soil mix around the succulent (real ones only). Before the next step, you can add a little water.

4. Cover the soil with small decorative pebbles. The ones I used were about an inch or less, but you can use smaller ones if you prefer.

5. Add the lava stones. You can place one or two right on top of the small pebbles.

And that’s it! The scent could last anywhere from a few days to a week or more. When you want a stronger scent, just add more oils.

Note: Succulents don’t need a lot of water to survive. You can water once a week or when you notice that the soil is dry. (You may need to remove a pebble or two to check.)

Summer Diffuser Blend Recipe

Try this Summer Diffuser Blend, created by Simply Earth Essential Oils, on your lava rocks.

Tip: Have pets? Be sure you know which essential oils are safe for pets!

Ingredients:

• 1 drop Head Soothing Essential Oil Blend (Ho Wood, Lavender, Frankincense)
• 1 drop Palmarosa Essential Oil
• 1 drop Star Anise Essential Oil
• 1 drop Grapefruit Essential Oil

Add the oils to the lava stones and let them absorb.

Want to create a blend? Add 25 drops of each oil to an amber bottle and shake to mix.

Make Your Own Succulent Diffusers

Ready to make your own? Let me know when you do! Snap a photo and share it on Instagram. Make sure to tag me @mommyknowswhatsbest ! I’d love to see what you create.

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