Once your Aromastone Bear comes home, good aftercare starts with gentle handling and a light touch when adding fragrance. Let the piece finish drying as instructed, protect its surface, and refresh the scent only when needed. These habits help preserve the colours and details you chose during the workshop while keeping everyday maintenance manageable.
Let Your Bear Finish Drying Before First Use
Follow the drying and finishing instructions given during your session. A piece that is firm enough to remove from its mould may still need further drying before it is ready for fragrance or packing away.
Place it upright on a clean, protected surface with air circulating around it. Avoid testing the finish repeatedly with your fingers, especially around freshly decorated areas. Keep the workshop packaging nearby, but leave the bear unpacked while it finishes drying.
Drying time depends on the casting material, thickness and finish. If you cannot remember when to begin scenting, check with your facilitator. A guessed overnight waiting period is less useful than instructions for the actual piece you made.
Add Fragrance Carefully to the Right Area
Use the oil recommended for your workshop piece and follow its directions. Apply it to the absorbent area identified during the session; do not assume every painted or decorated surface is suitable.
EPIC’s Aromastone Bear guide recommends gradual application and protecting nearby surfaces. Make each refresh easy to control:
- Move the bear away from your laptop, paperwork and other belongings.
- Set it on a washable, non-porous dish with enough room to catch accidental drips.
- Apply a small amount according to the oil and workshop instructions.
- Allow it to absorb before deciding whether more is needed.
Stop if oil begins pooling or running down the bear. Gently blot loose surface oil without rubbing the decoration. Adding more at that point makes the application harder to control.
Refresh According to Scent Strength
Use the fragrance around your normal sitting position as your guide. You do not need to add oil every morning simply because a new workday has started.
EPIC’s desk diffuser maintenance advice notes that scent duration varies with the stone, fragrance, airflow and surrounding space. Wait until the aroma becomes faint before refreshing it.
If you want to try another fragrance, let the previous one fade first. Some scent may remain, so expect a possible overlap during the change. Keeping one fragrance for regular use makes the result easier to judge. Avoid trying to overpower an unwanted scent with repeated applications of something stronger.
Choose a Protected Position on Your Desk
Give the bear a stable place where your elbow, charging cable or bag will not knock it over. Leave enough space to lift it comfortably when cleaning your desk.
Keep a non-porous dish underneath, and check that its underside is smooth and clean before placing it on furniture. Move cold drinks elsewhere so condensation cannot collect around the base.
For a desk near a window in Singapore, choose a spot sheltered from direct afternoon sun and rain through an open window. Avoid placing the bear directly in the blast of an air-conditioning vent or desk fan. Keep it away from hot equipment and open flames.
Remove Dust Without Scrubbing the Finish
Unless your facilitator confirms that the finish tolerates wet cleaning, make gentle dry dusting your default. Use a clean, soft artist’s brush to lift loose dust from the surface and around the ears and paws.
Support the bear from underneath while you work. Use light strokes, and stop if colour or surface material comes away. Avoid rubbing with rough cloths or picking at marks with a fingernail.
Do not introduce wet wipes, alcohol, bleach or abrasive cleaners without checking their suitability. A cleaning method meant for another household ornament may be unsuitable for your workshop finish. Wash the separate display dish as needed, then dry it completely before replacing the bear.
Handle Marks and Damage Conservatively
If a darker patch appears after scenting, pause further applications and check for loose oil. A colour change alone does not tell you whether the piece is damaged, and an absorbed mark may remain.
Avoid sanding the patch or painting over it as a quick fix. Extra coatings can change how an absorbent area takes up fragrance. Photograph the mark in good light if you need advice.
When asking for help, include the name of the oil, where you applied it and when the mark appeared. These details are more useful than guessing what caused the change.
New cracks, flaking decoration or a base that no longer sits securely deserve attention before further use. Keep the bear somewhere protected while you establish what has changed.
Pack and Store It Without Pressure
When taking your diffuser between home and the office, lift it by the body with support underneath. Avoid carrying it by an ear, limb or attached decoration.
Use a small rigid box with clean, soft cushioning that prevents movement without pressing against delicate details. Pack the oil bottle separately, upright and securely closed. Keep the box above heavier items in your bag.
For a longer break, put the dry bear in a clean box in a dry indoor cupboard. Avoid damp packing material or wrapping a freshly scented surface. Keep the fragrance bottle’s label so its storage directions and recommended use period remain available.
Keep Fragrance Comfortable in Shared Spaces
Before bringing the scented bear into a shared office, check any workplace fragrance policy. EPIC’s guidance on considerate desk fragrance use recommends keeping scent restrained and responding to colleagues’ discomfort.
If someone finds it unpleasant, stop using fragrance around them. An unscented bear still makes a personal desk ornament, although an already scented piece may need time elsewhere for the aroma to fade.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does My Aromastone Bear Need Water?
No water reservoir or routine water top-up is needed. Use the fragrance application method shown during your workshop; do not improvise a water-and-oil mixture.
Can I Use Perfume Instead of the Recommended Oil?
Check first. Perfume, room spray and reed diffuser refills have different formulations. A pleasant smell does not establish compatibility with your bear’s material or decoration.
What Should I Do If My Bear Gets Wet?
Blot surface moisture gently, then leave it to air-dry on a protected surface. Avoid a hairdryer or oven. Seek advice if its finish changes or it becomes unstable.
Can I Glue a Chipped Ear Back On?
Keep the detached piece and ask which repair method suits the casting material. Avoid applying an unverified adhesive, particularly near an area used for fragrance.
What Care Information Should I Include When Gifting It?
Pass on the workshop instructions, recommended oil details and a note identifying where fragrance should be applied. Include any remaining drying time and explain how to handle the decoration.