How to Make Your Home Smell Like Jo Malone’s Lime Basil & Mandarin?
There’s something about walking into a place and “wish my home smelled like this.”
When you drop your keys, you’re trying to drop the day but if your hallway still smells like outside, you are not quite home yet.
We tend to think of fragrance as something “nice”. In reality, it can do something more practical than that, it can help shift a space from outside to inside.
For me, Jo Malone’s Lime Basil & Mandarin is the starting point. I add my own twist with some sandalwood to anchor it.
Here is how I recreate that balance at home in a simple and affordable way.
DIY Reed Diffuser: Jo Malone’s inspired Lime Basil & Mandarin
What You’ll Need
This makes about 100 ml of diffuser blend.
60 ml (¼ cup) fractionated coconut oil (carrier)
40 ml essential oils:
30ml Lime, Basil & Mandarin blend
10 ml Sandalwood
5–7 reed diffuser sticks
A 120- 150 ml glass jar
How I Make It
Measure 30ml of the Lime Basil & Mandarin blend and 10ml of sandalwood into a small ramekin or bowl.
This follows a simple 3:1 ratio (citrus to sandalwood). I use a pre-blended version for convenience (mine is from Nikura) but you can also mix your own.
Pour the essential oils together and stir gently.
Add 60 ml of carrier oil to your diffuser bottle and stir gently.
I use fractionated coconut oil it’s light and clear so you don’t need alcohol. If you’re using almond or another heavier carrier, add 1 tsp of alcohol to help the oils blend.
Let the blend sit for 1 or 2 hours with the bottle lid on.
When set, soak the reeds for a few hours, then flip the sticks so the scented ends are on top. Et Voila!
Where I use it
This works well in the hallway where the transition for outside to inside happens.
Place the diffuser near the entrance so the scent meets you as you walk in.
The citrus helps clear the outside air, while the sandalwood brings depth so the space feels settled.
Follow Your Nose
Now you’ve got your reed diffuser sorted (I love this one in the hallway or lounge), why not try making a simple 2-scent DIY Room Spray for an instant refresh, ideal for soft furnishings or another room?
