DIY Essential Oil Jewelry {Diffuser Necklace & Bracelet}

Essential oil jewelry!

What’s not to love?

Essential oils are rapidly gaining popularity — and with good reason. These powerful plant extracts lift spirits and calm nerves. I like to put a few drops of my favorite oil or blend in my diffuser and enjoy all the benefits of aromatherapy. (Learn more about how to choose a diffuser here.)

Essential oil jewelry was a new concept to me, however. The necklace or bracelet functions as a little mini diffuser. They can be made from terra cotta clay, clay beads, open-work locket pendants, and small bottles that hang from a chain. As your body warms the jewelry resting against your skin, the oils heat up and diffuse aromas into the air.

I quickly realized that essential oil jewelry would be a breeze to make (and fun, too!).

If you’re a beginner, an essential oil diffuser necklace is super easy! I’ll take you through the steps of making both a diffuser necklace and bracelet — so you’ll be making essential oil jewelry on your own in no time. Let’s get started!

Gather Your Supplies

I make both the necklace and bracelet with basic jewelry-making tools. You will need:

• pliers (rounded tip pliers work best, though you can make do with needle nose)
• wire cutters

I purchased a jewelry-making set with 4 sets of pliers, a bead reamer, and a pair of tweezers with a bead scoop. It was very helpful!

For the necklace:

• openwork locket pendant
• a necklace chain or leather cord
• a jump ring
• a flat head pin and beads (if you want to add any other decorations)
• a cotton ball or small piece of felt
• favorite or therapeutic essential oils

For the bracelet:

• transite string or other string
• small openwork bead similar to this but with larger hole
• additional beads
• a small piece of 22-gauge wire
• crimp tubes
• jump rings
• a lobster clasp
• a cotton ball or small piece of felt
• favorite or therapeutic essential oils

Essential Oil Diffuser Necklace

If you’re a beginner, or want to go the simplest route, make your necklace with just the pendant (1) and chain!

Simply use the pliers to spread the jump ring far enough apart to put it through the loop at the top of the pendant. Then, clamp it back together with the pliers. Put it on the chain, and you’re done!

If you want to make your pendant even prettier, add another small pendant to the chain. For this, you’ll need a flat head pin and a few beads (2). Bend the top of the pin around the tip of your pliers and twist the pin around itself to create a loop (3).

Then, thread the necklace chain or cord through the pendants. That’s it (4)!

I find it best to keep the necklace on the shorter side so it isn’t blocked by the neckline of your shirt.

From Necklace To Diffuser

Now, how do you make your necklace into a piece of essential oil jewelry?

Use a small piece of cotton ball — or cut a small round of felt to fit inside the locket. Put a few drops of your favorite essential oil or blend on the cotton. Slip it inside the pendant. When it’s time to change oils, take it out and replace it with new cotton, with new oils!

Essential Oil Diffuser Bracelet

I’ve never seen a diffuser bracelet with a bead like this, so unless proved differently, I’m calling this an original! 🙂

Cut a 12-inch piece of string, wire, or cord. Thread the cord through a crimp bead, then through a jump ring, and back through the crimp tube (1). Pull the crimp tube taut against the jump ring and use the pliers to crimp it flat (2). Cut off the excess cord on the shorter end (2).

String your pretty beads (3)!

I play with the design a bit before I string it on. This way, I’m satisfied with it and don’t have to take all the beads off to make a change.

Once enough beads are strung (this depends on wrist size), finish it off with a crimp tube and squeeze it shut. This ensures the beads stay in place while you add the diffuser bead and lobster clasp.

Now comes the tricky part.

Bend a small hook in the end of your 22-gauge wire. Thread the wire through 2 of the small open holes in the openwork bead (4).

Then, using the pliers, pull the end through and twist the wire together into a small loop, cutting off the excess (5, 6, 7). In the end, this means that you’ll use the bead opposite from how it’s supposed to be used, with the larger hole exposed.

Almost finished! Attach the diffuser bead to the bracelet by threading on a crimp tube and then threading the string through the diffuser bead in the same way as the wire, but on the other side.

Take the string back through the crimp tube. Pull it taut and flatten it.

Now, spread a jump ring apart and put it through the wire loop you just made on the diffuser bead. Also put it through the small loop at the base of the lobster clasp.

Clamp the jump ring back together.

There you have it — a pretty essential oil diffuser bracelet (8)!

From Bracelet To Diffuser

How do you make the bracelet into an essential oil diffuser bracelet?

Take a small piece of cotton, put a few drops of oil on it, and use a toothpick or tweezers to poke it inside the diffuser bead. When you want to change oils, poke out the old cotton and replace with new.

I put the diffuser bead near the clasp so I didn’t have to worry about working it into the rest of the bracelet design. Also, the inside of the wrist is a pulse point (where perfume is traditionally applied). It’s easy to lift your wrist and take a sniff whenever the need arises.

That said, feel free to put the bead wherever you wish!

These make a great gift! Design the jewelry based off of the recipient’s favorite colors, and accompany it with a bottle or two of their favorite essential oils.

If they’re new to essential oils, lavender and any citrus (lemon, lime, or orange) smell lovely. The lavender calms while the citrus uplifts. Use them to relax or energize, respectively.

What do you think about essential oil jewelry? Would you wear them? Care to share your favorite oil or blend with us? Leave a comment!