I want the benefits of diffusing essential oils when I'm away from the house, and this DIY Essential Oil Diffuser Necklace is the easiest way to do it! Wearing this necklace allows me access to my favorite scents and oils all day long.
What is an Essential Oil Diffuser Necklace?
An Essential Oil Diffuser Necklace is just as it sounds – it's a necklace you wear that will diffuse (or release) an essential oil for aromatic or therapeutic benefits.
The primary component to this DIY Essential Oil Diffuser Necklace is the terracotta stone. This bead holds the scent of the oils and allows them to naturally diffuse all day. Other types of stone and beads will not act as a diffuser, so the terracotta bead is key.
The oils stay on the stone for a long time, so this is a great way to create a unique daily scent and maximize the lifespan of your essential oils (a bottle will last a lot longer compared to applying the oils directly to your skin which often need to be re-applied multiple times throughout the day).
Because the oils will remain on the terracotta bead for up to a week, you might consider making different necklaces for different occasions and oils.
If you're not a DIY person, you can see my favorite option for an essential oil diffuser necklace you can purchase online here.
What are the Benefits of an Essential Oil Diffuser Necklace?
As I mentioned above, the scent of the oil lasts a lot longer on the terracotta bead than it does when applied directly to your skin.
I also prefer to have an Essential Oil Diffuser Necklace that is on an 18″ chain, since it is in the optimal location for me to be smelling the scent all day long. Think: it's like applying Vics Vapor Rub on your chest – but a healthier alternative!
How to make your own DIY Diffuser Necklace
This may look like a lot of items, but it's really so easy and affordable to make. I purchased 14k gold filled options for my necklace, as solid gold made the cost increase, and the finish of gold plated jewelry tends to rub off quickly.
Here's what you need to make this necklace:
- Necklace chain (I like the 18″ length)
- Eye pin
- Jump rings (you'll need 2)
- Terracotta bead (I bought mine here, and was sent 30 beads – guess what all my friends and family are getting as gifts this year!?)
- Decorative stone (I bought a druzy crystal that came pre-threaded with a head pin to make the process easier) A cream or turquoise stone would pair beautifully with the terracotta bead. You can see this post if you'd like to choose a stone/crystal that has healing properties!
- Round or flat nose pliers
- Side cutting pliers
- Essential oil
Here is the step-by-step breakdown of how to make your necklace:
Step 1: Thread your (#4) terracotta bead through your (#2) eye pin.
Step 2: Cut your eye pin with the (#7) side cutting pliers. This can be an estimate (see step 3 for an idea of the general length), and you'll likely have extra eye pins in case you cut it too short the first time.
Step 3: Use your (#6) flat or round nose pliers to create a second loop on the open end of your eye pin. Your two loops will both be facing the same direction. FYI: This new loop doesn't have to be perfectly shaped! Once it is on the necklace, you won't notice.
Step 4: This step shows how your terracotta bead and eye pin should look once you're done – with two loops on either end. Note: both loops are facing the same direction.
Step 5: Open one of your (#3) jump rings with your (#6) flat or round nose pliers.
Step 6: The top image shows how to thread both your terracotta bed (with the eye pin you just looped), and the (#5) decorative stone on your jump ring. Use the flat nose plier to close the jump ring. Make sure the two ends are completely closed, or you could lose a bead. The bottom image shows what this looks like once the decorative stone and terracotta bead are attached by the jump ring.
Step 7: Find the center point of your necklace chain, open your second jump ring, and add it to this location. In the case of the chain I chose, the pendant stays directly in the middle of the chain, however most chains will have the pendant be able to move freely around the chain. If this is the case (your jump ring will be larger than the chain), it won't matter if the location is on the center point of your necklace chain.
Step 8: This step shows how you thread the open eye of your terracotta bead onto the jump ring to attach it to your chain. Again, be careful to fully close your jump ring.
That's it! Your necklace is finished, waiting for a drop of your favorite (#8) essential oil, and ready for you to wear it.
Where can I find the items I need to make this necklace?
I found most of the items listed above at Michael's, and purchased during one of their “jewelry findings” sales. I believe I got all these items 40% off! This includes #1-3 and #5-7 shown in the image and on the list above.
I purchased terracotta stones (#4) from multiple stores on Etsy to test different options, and found these to be the best. Note: you'll have extras! I'll share a tutorial for a car diffuser you can make to use up more of these beads, but you might consider buying additional items #1-3 and #5 so you can make more for yourself or to gift.
My favorite place to get essential oils (#8) is Plant Therapy. You can see a full comparison of the top essential oils in this post. I purchased the Love Potion oil shown in these images from my local health food store. It is not the best quality (not organic), but it's a fun scent for occasional use. You can order it here.
You can also add a terracotta bead to a necklace you already have, and quickly turn it into a diffuser! In that case, you would omit #1 and #5 from the list above.
How to Use an Essential Oil Diffuser Necklace
Using your Diffuser Necklace is so easy:
- Apply a drop of your favorite essential oil to the terracotta bead of your necklace. If you'd like to use a blend of essential oils, you can typically add up to 3 drops of oil to the terracotta bead that I linked to above.
Here's a blog post of my favorite essential oil diffuser blend recipes for various activities, health, mood, and season! - Wear your necklace all day to get the aromatic and therapeutic benefits of the oil you choose!
- Every 3-7 days, you'll want to reapply the oils to your bead. Some oil brands and types are more fragrant, and will last longer on the stone.
Looks so easy to make.
It was! I’m excited to make more.