How to Make a Lava Bead Essential Oil Diffuser Bracelet
A lava bead diffuser bracelet is a stretch bracelet of porous lava stone beads that soak up a drop of essential oil, so you can carry a scent you enjoy through the day. For a 7 inch bracelet you need about 22 lava beads in 8 mm (or 20 beads plus 4 small spacers), about 13 inches of 0.8 mm elastic cord, and a dab of G-S Hypo Cement for the knot. String the beads, tie a surgeon's knot, glue it, hide it inside a bead, then add 1 or 2 drops of oil to the lava only.
What You Need
| Item | For a 7 inch bracelet | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lava beads, 8 mm round | 16 to 22 beads | 22 for an all-lava bracelet, 16 if you add the accents below. A 15 inch strand is enough for 2 bracelets. |
| Accent stones, 8 mm | 4 beads (optional) | Any 8 mm round stone; see the design ideas below |
| Metal spacers, 4 mm | 4 spacers (optional) | 4.2 mm antique silver with a 1 mm hole that takes 0.8 mm cord |
| Elastic cord, 0.8 mm black | About 13 inches | Bracelet length plus 6 inches for tying. Black cord disappears inside dark lava. |
| G-S Hypo Cement | 1 small dab | The precision tip puts glue right on the knot |
| Bead stopper and scissors | 1 each | A stopper or a piece of tape keeps beads from sliding off while you string |
| Essential oil | 1 to 2 drops | Any scent you like |
How the bead count works: 7 inches x 25.4 = 177.8 mm of beads. 177.8 / 8 = 22.2, so 22 beads of 8 mm. In the accent version, 20 beads take 160 mm and 4 spacers of 4.2 mm take about 17 mm, for 177 mm in all, just under 7 inches. As a rule, 2 spacers of 4 mm replace 1 bead of 8 mm. With 6 mm beads you need about 30 (177.8 / 6 = 29.6), and with 10 mm about 18 (177.8 / 10 = 17.8).
Waxed or Unwaxed Lava?
Our round lava beads come in 2 versions. Waxed lava is a deep black: a light wax darkens the color and takes the edge off the rough surface. Unwaxed lava keeps the stone's natural gray, and it is the version we suggest for essential oil; a drop of oil darkens it where it soaks in. A popular approach is a waxed lava bracelet with a few unwaxed beads placed where you want to add the scent.
Lava also comes in rondelles, heishi, coins, ovals and hearts, and in large hole half strands with 2 to 2.5 mm holes. A half strand of 8 mm holds about 25 beads, enough for one 7 inch bracelet with a couple of spares, and the big holes make the knot easy to hide.
Size the Bracelet to Your Wrist
Wrap a soft tape measure around your wrist just above the wrist bone, snug but not tight, or use a strip of paper and measure it flat. Add about 1/2 inch for 4 mm and 6 mm beads and about 3/4 inch for 8 mm and larger beads, because big beads take up room on the inside of the circle. A 6.25 inch wrist with 8 mm beads comes to 7 inches, the size in the table above.
For any other length, multiply the inches by 25.4 and divide by the bead size in millimeters. Our conversion charts list inch and millimeter equivalents. Lay the beads out in order on a towel or bead board and measure the line before you string.
How to Make the Bracelet
- Pre-stretch the cord. Cut about 13 inches of 0.8 mm elastic and pull it firmly a few times along its length, so the finished bracelet does not loosen later. Clip a bead stopper to one end.
- String the beads. Thread the beads in order. Lava holes can be rough, so draw the cord straight through rather than sawing it back and forth.
- Check the fit. Hold the 2 ends together around your wrist. Add or remove a bead now, while it is easy.
- Tie a surgeon's knot. Cross the ends, wrap one around the other 2 times, and pull snug so the first and last beads meet. Tie a second pass on top and tighten it down. Our guide to tying a stretchy bracelet shows the knot step by step.
- Glue the knot. Put a small dab of G-S Hypo Cement on the knot and let it dry fully.
- Trim and hide the knot. Trim the tails to about 1/8 inch, stretch the bracelet slightly, and slide the nearest bead over the knot. Leave the bracelet overnight before you wear it or add oil.
How to Add Essential Oil
With the bracelet off your wrist, put 1 or 2 drops of essential oil on the outside of a lava bead, away from the hole. Let the oil soak in for about 10 minutes, until the surface looks dry, before you wear it. When the scent fades, add another drop. Follow the directions on the oil bottle.
Keep the oil on the lava and off the cord. Oils can weaken elastic over time, so a drop on the outside of the bead is better than one that runs into the hole. If the bracelet starts to lose its stretch, restring it on fresh cord.
Keep oil off porous or soft stones. Pearls, turquoise and amber can absorb oil and stain or lose their luster, so oil only the lava beads in a mixed design, or leave those stones out. Our post on caring for pearl and amber jewelry covers why. Howlite and wood beads soak up oil too and will darken where it sits.
Design Ideas with Lava
Lava and Tiger's Eye
Golden brown bands of tiger's eye against matte black lava is the classic pairing, as in the accent version above.
Black on Black
Mix matte lava with polished black onyx or obsidian. The contrast is all in the finish.
Lava with Soft Color
A few beads of amethyst or rose quartz brighten an all-black bracelet. White howlite gives the strongest contrast; just keep the oil off it.
Seven Chakra Colors
Pair lava with the rainbow run of a seven chakra strand, 1 bead of each color across the top of the bracelet. In metaphysical belief, each of the 7 colors is associated with one of the 7 chakras.
Large Hole Designs
The large hole lava half strands match our large hole stones in 6, 8 and 10 mm. The 2 to 2.5 mm holes take 1.0 mm elastic, doubled if it fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lava beads do I need for a bracelet?
About 22 beads of 8 mm for a 7 inch bracelet, 30 of 6 mm, or 18 of 10 mm. A 15 inch strand of 8 mm lava makes 2 bracelets.
How do you put essential oil on a lava bracelet?
Put 1 or 2 drops on the outside of the lava beads, let the oil soak in until the surface looks dry, then wear it. Add another drop when the scent fades.
Should I use waxed or unwaxed lava beads?
Unwaxed beads are the ones we suggest for essential oil. Waxed beads are blacker and smoother, so many people use waxed lava for most of the bracelet and add a few unwaxed beads for the oil.
What size elastic cord should I use for lava beads?
0.8 mm for standard drill 6 mm and 8 mm lava, and 1.0 mm for 10 mm. Large hole lava takes 1.0 mm, doubled when it fits.
Will essential oil damage my bracelet?
It can weaken elastic over time and stain porous stones. Keep the oil on the lava, away from the holes and the cord, and restring when the cord loses its stretch.
Shop Lava Bracelet Supplies
Find round, rondelle and large hole lava in our lava bead collection, then add elastic cord, metal spacers and findings, and beading glue. For which cord fits which bead, see our guide to elastic cords.
These are traditional beliefs, not claims of physical effect. Crystals are not a substitute for medical care.
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