You know those little bottles of nice smells with sticks in? Did you know you're supposed to flip the sticks?

[cleverhatdisguise]

I know Mumsnetters have conniptions at the thought of any kind of fake smell, but these things are in the shops so some of us are buying them.

I'm not sure I've ever deliberately bought one, but I definitely seem to own one once in a while. It's a pretty bottle of smelly oil with sticks. They always smell nice for a bit and then stop smelling and then sit there getting dusty while the oil gradually evaporates until I throw them away. But today I learned you're supposed to flip the sticks upside down every few weeks. It actually works!!

So, if you've got one and it's stopped smelling - try flipping the sticks.

Thank you :)

I thought this was common knowledge.

Yes, but they’re not all created equal. Some have no smell to them at all even when you flip them.

The M&S ones in the brown bottles, Neom for spendy treats and Valentte are my favourites. Some expensive ones I’ve found are disappointing (Molton Brown!)

Reed diffusers and yes I knew they had to be flipped.

It does say that on the instructions 😄

Nobody told me that but it did seem like the logical thing to do when the smell has faded tbh.

Lol - wasn't obvious to me! And I've been so disappointed with expensive ones that just stop smelling. Can't believe I've wasted them!

And, yes, I admit it is in the instructions, but in my hubris I didn't think I needed to read the instructions for some sticks in a bottle. Just goes to show.

Reed diffusers!! That's what they're called. Thank you.

I didn't know that OP. Thanks for the tip.

Yes, but some don't seem to need it at all and some need flipping every week or so.

I do it ever few days. Then I forget I've done it and get the oil in my eyes or on a sandwich.

You mean reed diffusers. Yes, you need to turn the sticks around so the smell can waft around.

Every day's a school day.

Yes, only because the woman in the shop told me 😆

makes such a huge difference when you do too

Something’s gone wrong with Valentte diffusers.
They used to last really well but my latest ones have only lasted a month or two. Shame because they smell amazing.

I didn’t know this! It sounds logical now you have said it.

Yes. I knew that.

It's a pretty bottle of smelly oil with sticks.

Much more descriptive and informative than what they’re actually called!

I regularly see people raving about the Valente ones but I bought two and they really didn’t smell for very long. Are there any that actually last and smell great?

I did not know that and was just about to chuck one away. Switched it over and voila!

I knew about flipping the sticks over - I have loads of reed diffusers in my house. But I recently bought a set of 'decorative sticks' (they're kind of twisted at the top, vrey lovely) which you can't 'flip' because the twisty-bits won't fit in the bottle. So it can't always be necessary.

Haven't flipped mine for a while so thanks for the reminder.

I currently have a St Eval one on the go!

Reed diffusers, and yes I knew to do this, probably in the instructions on/in the boxes.

I agree with this! It's annoying as they were a good mid-range option but now no better than something I can pick up at TK Maxx.

Well I’d say knowing the meaning of the word hubris is more helpful than knowing you need to flip the reeds! And now you know both.

Next ones are good, but do make sure to flip the reeds.