Sometimes I look around for something to write about and I think, for example, yes, I could write about those little bottles I collected and turned into oil diffusers. And then I go to take a photo, and I think, yes, I really haven’t dusted for a while.

So, my point is that writing a blog can help you keep your house clean!

As to the bottles, I did have the AMAZING? idea of collecting interesting bottles and filling them with essential oils and reeds for our second had Christmas a couple of years ago.

It was after I had been to Camberwell market and seen the bottles at the bottle stall. I went back the next week full of enthusiasm but the bottle man wasn’t there. He only has his stall once a month. Luckily for me someone else had a collection of bottles (with lids). For a dollar or two each. Perfect.

I then bought some carrier oil (almond or maybe safflower I think – it has to be a light oil), added quite a few drops of essential oils and a dash of vodka to help the oil soak into the reeds.  Note you need to shake the oil and vodka and essential oils to mix them together.

Obviously then all I needed was the reeds. But I couldn’t find them in large bundles (ie packet of 100 or so ) anywhere.  And you can’t use skewers (they don’t soak up the oil).

It turns out that you can buy reeds from online candle supply shops. Who would have guessed ….

Anyway, they were a very successful present. And having a lid on the ones I gave away meant I didn’t spill the oil all over the other presents.   And making them with an oil base rather than a water base is worth it – they last for ages.

So, look out for some interesting bottles and you too could be thinking craft, dusting and blogging all in the same breath (of delightfully lavender, bergamot and orange oil scented air).