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.

If a large bottle new reeds might also be worth it.

If you buy ones with good quality fibre sticks, you do not have to flip them. Poor quality or reed sticks you do. Just read the instructions

Hsdnt thought about it but flipping the ones that the reeds aren't "working" makes sense.

The idea is the reeds soak/suck up the smelly liquid up to the top of themselves, and then the smell gets wafted from the top of them. If the reeds can't be bothered doing their job, flipping them over gets the ends sat in the liquid (ie soaked) the smelly liquid sticking up.

Sorry sbout getting all technical there, but that's the official description 😄.

Gross little dust collectors

Stink sticks

I like the Aldi ones.

The best ones I've found are Urban Apothecary. Expensive, but I currently have one that's lasted over a year & still smells great

We've got a gorgeous Ortigia one, still going strong after 6 months

Yes I knew, love Fragonard ones

Yes i did know be careful when you pull them out to flip them if they drip they can stain or even mark a surface

Reed Diffusers? Yes. I did know that. There’s a picture on the packaging telling you to do it.

Yes.

💯😂

Yes of course I knew that. I thought everyone who had Reed diffusers would know?

I’ve got some decorative reeds, little china flowers at the top, but I only put one or two in with the ordinary ones and flip those

Knew about the flipping of the sticks. But the best thing is you can now get refills of the scented oil. I got some very good value ones in Aldi recently, plus our local DIY store sells replacement sticks.