This is a great DIY trick for refilling those oil plug-ins without having to pay for the refills. Let’s face it, when you buy the refill oils you are mostly paying for the container that they come in. Instead of doing that, you can just refill it yourself and save a fortune – plus you get to choose the oil that you use so your home will smell like you want it to.
The steps are so easy and you can use any scent that you want. Refilling your oil containers also cuts down on the amount of trash that you have so this is a cheap and environmentally friendly tip. There are just a few steps:
- Take the wick out of your old plug-in
- Fill the container about ½ full with your favorite essential oil
- Fill the remainder of the container up with water
- Replace and use
Note that you can also use liquid potpourri that you can find at any Dollar Store for around $1. If you are using this method, eliminate the water and just fill the entire container with liquid potpourri. Then just plug it in and enjoy! This really is an easy way to fill those plug-ins and save money to boot.
Vanessa Beaty says
Thank you Jacquelyn <3
ANNA K says
COULD I FILL IT WITH ANY LIQUID FROM A DIFFUSER? I LOVE THE JO MALONE DIFFUSERS! THANKS!!!
nanda says
Most helpful
nanda says
Very helpful
meagan says
I’ve done this recently and the wick expands after being in the water/potpourri. This prohibits me from using it again. Is there a solution that works for you that doesn’t cause this? Aside from just buying the air wick refills again?
TERESA says
I use shoelaces as wicks. Works great. Just cut them to the length you need, thread one end through the cap and then double back with that same end so it fills the cap.
callisto says
yes ur right i just did it because i refilled mine and they puffed up so i did shoelaces and it worked and my house is full of pleasent smells now
N C Carlson says
Thank you so much for the shoelace trick! I was wondering how to avoid the odor of the original wick.
meagan says
Never mind I read some comments that answered my question. Thanks for your diy ideas. Very helpful.
callisto says
PEOPLE DONT USE WATER … IT DOESNT MIX AT ALL U WILL BE PISSED OFF HERES WHAT I DID
1…. TAKE OFF THE CAPE
2… CLEAN THE BOTTLE AND THROW AWAY THE WICK
3…. GO GET SOME ESSENTIAL OIL OR HIGHLY FRAGRANCED OIL U LIKE
4…. A SHOE LACE
5 .. QTIP
6…. CUT THE SHOELACE TO THE SIZE N LOOP IT OVER THE QTIP AND TAPE THE TIP OF IT
THIS IS BECAUSE I STRUGGLED TO GET THE LACE IN THE PORT OF THE PLUGIN SO IT WILL STAY STRAIGHT
7… FILL WITH THE OIL AND PUT THE TOP ON
8… IF U PAY CLOSE ATTENTION U CAN C THE OIL RISING ON THE LACE AND PLUG IT IN …
9… WITHIN 5 MIN U WILL SMELL IT AND U WILL C THAT THIS WAY WORKS BETTER THEN ANY PERSONS IVE DOE IT TO 6 AIRWICK PLUGINS AND IT SMELLS SOO GOOD
10 …. ONCE THE OIL FINISHES JUST GET NEW OIL AND START AGAIN
Cristy says
How in the world do you get the wick out??
Anonymous says
just pull it out
sam says
Hi
I am from those people who deosnt understand wirhout pictures I am more visuel or stupid hihi but sorry I cant understand the shoelace thecnic is it possible to make me drawing or pictures pls pls pls thank you
Dabney Goss says
Use regular rubbing alcohol instead of water. (Not 91% which is flammable).
Caster400 says
Our just just use a spray with 3cup water and the oil u want and from a distance in the room w Lil baking soda. So dont have to worry about fires. Or accident s. Use it as room spray instead .. Use as needed.?? I hope I helped
Tonya says
Has anyone ever tried a body spray to fill the empty bottles with if so did it work?
Kris says
I wanted to make my own air freshners. I think they are too expensive especially since they only last a month or so. I also cannot find a tolerable fragrance. Air wick no longer uses a scratch and sniff on their packaging. So, I made orange oil from Pininterest and I have many empty Airwick plug ins, but I could not find how to replace the wick. All the sites do not address replacement. I tried washing one but it fell apart so I tried some cotton furniture cording. I am trying to see if this works.
ann says
Search ebay for Replacement Wick (PE/PET FIBER) for Plug-in Air Freshener
Dana says
You can buy replacement wicks from Amazon. I think maybe 6 for $4.95 I believe.
Lisa says
Even if it is healthier than perfumes, this sounds incredibly expensive. I know that “cheap oils” are available. But they’re not usually therapeutic grade and of just poor quality, you may as well buy the perfumed stuff. My oils are $20 for a small bottle. I would literally have to dump an entire bottle into one of these to fill it halfway. That does not seem economical at all. I wouldn’t even waste my time or energy on this. I would just use my mister with a few drops my essential oils instead. Am I missing something?
Timothyf7 says
Buy more inexpensive oils for this… this DIY is for aroma, not aromatherapy.
ann says
When refilling air wick plug in do you use 100% fragrance warming oil OR can it be deluted with another oil like safflower oil?
Charlotte says
I was wondering about the wicks. They seem to get all puffy and seems like the refill falls out.Does anyone have this problem and what do you do or suggest?
Timothyf7 says
Available at Amazon!
skarpeci says
I think you can mix essential oil with almond oil as it “is widely used as a carrier in aromatherapy in combination with essential oils.” Other oils become rancid rather quickly.
Timothyf7 says
I would think any carrier oil would work fine. It is only going to last a month. The thinner, the better.
Brian says
I use the highest % rubbing alcohol and 1/2 -of a bottle of scent oils and it works just like the real thing granted the higher quality oil you buy the better it works. But its a DIY THING the whole idea is to save some money dor other things you need so try the rubbing alcohol about 1/2 & 1/2 and youll be good to go
CM says
Am sure someone has experimented…..the whole point of this is to save $ but I prefer not to use fragrance (synthetic./chemical) oil so I am using essential oils (EO) which is a little more expensive than fragrance oil but not as expensive and toxic as using the Air Wick/Glade stuff. My wick is shot so I am doing the shoelace (have a fat sports shoe one that I’ve doubled up) trick. So this is my question, I don’t want to fill with EO because they are expensive – so do I mix EO with water (they do mix because EO is not actually oil), alcohol or carrier oil in my Air Wick?
Lynda Finn says
Unfortunately, where I live, the cost of a 10ml bottle of essential oil is greater than buying a new commercial refil.