Benefits of diffusing essential oils
So what exactly does it mean to diffuse essential oils and why would you do it? Electric diffusers use various methods to disperse essential oil containing water droplets through the air in a fine intermittent or continuous mist. There are also passive diffusers, such as reed diffusers and other waterless diffusers.
Diffusers are not only a natural substitute for accessories and air fresheners although. Each essential oil has powerful chemical properties from its parent plant. These chemicals bind to our olfactory receptors (how we smell) and affect our limbic system. These nerves in our brain control our hunger, emotions, anger, sleep, and more, so it makes sense that diffusing oils can have a real effect.
There’s a number of studies (plus a lot of anecdotal evidence) that diffusing essential oils can produce the following benefits, depending on the type of oil:
- Reduce stress
- Improves mental clarity
- Improves mood
- Soothes and has a calming effect (useful before sleeping)
- Purifies the air
Essential oils are much more than home fragrances. We need to be cautious about how we use them in our homes and our children.
The best essential oil diffusers
There are a few different types of essential oil diffusers, which is one reason why choosing the right one can be a little overwhelming. Here are some of the different types:
- heat diffusers
- Evaporative diffusers
- Nebulizer diffusers
- Ultrasonic diffusers/humidifiers
In addition to researching them, I tried each type of diffuser and learned what I like and don’t like about each one.
1. Heat diffuser
A heat diffuser (just like it sounds) uses heat to turn water with a few drops of essential oil into a gas that disperses into the air. They can be electric or use the heat of a candle/flame.
I haven’t found a heat diffuser that works as well as the worst nebulizer or ultrasonic diffuser I’ve ever tried. So I can’t make any recommendations on these types of diffusers. Since heat affects the beneficial properties of essential oils, I definitely do not recommend this method for diffusing oils in general.
They can also be dangerous to use at home with curious children or pets who could knock them over. Heat diffusers (especially those that use a candle) do not have an automatic shut-off, so it is not safe to use them unattended or while sleeping.
2. Evaporative Diffusers
These diffusers use a fan to increase airflow through a pad or liner soaked in essential oil. As the liquid evaporates, the aroma (and its properties) move into the air.
Another type of evaporative diffuser is diffuser pendant jewelry. The theory is that the essential oil will naturally evaporate and permeate the air and skin. I don’t find this type of diffuser as effective as the other two.
Reed diffusers work the same way and can offer a subtle scent whether you’re working at a desk or have it next to you. They are not good for large rooms or areas.
3. Nebulizer diffusers
Misting diffusers are often considered the most powerful type of diffuser, and with good reason. They do not need water or heat for the essential oil to reach the air. Nebulizing diffusers work by using an atomizer to create fine particles of essential oils in the air and blow them into the air.
If you don’t know, misting diffusers are my favorite type of diffuser. If someone gets sick, they can keep a nearly continuous flow of essential oils in the air and fill a large room many square feet.
Here is my experience with this type of diffuser:
Advantages:
- It connects directly to the essential oil bottle and can be turned on with the flip of a switch.
- No water or setup required
- Strong concentration of essential oils released into the air. Ideal for large areas such as the living room.
- Timers control run time and rest time. It allows you to control how long it runs and provides an option other than continuous use.
- There is no light so they can be used at night since we avoid night lights
Cons:
- The noise level is higher than that of ultrasonic diffusers.
- It uses oils faster than ultrasonic or other diffusers because they adhere directly to the diffuser.
- More expensive than most ultrasonic diffusers (although not by much)
We use: This advanced aromatherapy essential oil diffuser from Amazon. Now I saved up and ordered a pair of these because they work so well. Even just diffusing for 15 minutes will leave a lasting essential oil scent for hours.
4. Ultrasonic diffusers
Ultrasonic diffusers work similarly to nebulizing diffusers by creating a fine mist. The difference is that ultrasonic diffusers Use water and essential oils to create an ultrasonic cool mist of water/oils that is released into the air. They release moisture into the air, but not as much as a true humidifier. It can be useful in winter if you have it at your side, but for a stronger humidifying effect you will need a real humidifier.
Ultrasonic diffusers also do not emit as strong a concentration of essential oils since they also use water.
Many ultrasonic diffusers have multiple light settings and you can choose between different colored LED lights. This is not a feature I use, especially at night (this is why). In some of them you can turn off the light, but this is not always the case.
You can now find tons of inexpensive ultrasonic diffuser sets even in big box stores, online, and at drugstores. Many of these may work well, but they come with bottles of cheap “essential oils” that are really just fragrance oils. If they sell precious oils like sandalwood, jasmine, and rose for only a few dollars a bottle, it’s a good way to know that they are not actually essential oils.
Advantages:
- Less expensive than nebulizer diffusers
- Helps slightly humidify the air (beneficial in cold months)
- many options to choose from
- Don’t use heat
- The water tank has a large capacity.
Cons:
- It needs water to function
- Should be cleaned occasionally
- Some have lights that cannot be turned off.
- It is not as effective as nebulizing diffusers.
we use: There are several different types of ultrasonic diffusers and I have found that some work better than others. These were our favorites:
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BZseed Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser, 550ml Ultrasonic Fragrant Oil Large Room Humidifier, Diffusers for Home with Timer and Waterless Auto-Off, 7 Color LED Lights,Cool Mist Humidifiers
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ASAKUKI 500ml Premium, Essential Oil Diffuser with Remote Control, 5 in 1 Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Fragrant Oil Humidifier Vaporizer, Timer and Auto-Off Safety Switch Brown
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EQUSUPRO Essential Oil Diffuser 150ml Metal Aromatherapy Oil Diffuser Ultrasonic Cool Mist Diffuser with Auto Shut-Off Protection,7 Colors Changed LED for Home Office SPA Yoga
Other ways to freshen indoor air
Essential oils are a great way to freshen your indoor air with natural scents, but they’re definitely not the only way! We keep our indoor air clean naturally with:
- Indoor plants to filter the air – A NASA study found that the plants were effective to filter VOCs and other toxins from indoor air.
- Salt lamps, beeswax candles and charcoal bags – Three simple ways to clean indoor air without the need for a diffuser or essential oils. They don’t offer a natural aroma like oils do, but they can remove harmful compounds from the air.
- Air filters. Given the amount of toxins in indoor air, air filters are a necessary and beneficial step. I explain why we love ours (we have several) here. You’ll want to make sure you don’t use an essential oil diffuser right next to an air filter that’s on. The air filter will simply filter the essential oils from the air.
Conclusion: choosing the best essential oil diffuser
Essential oils may seem like perfumes that you can mix and match, but they are actually powerful plant essences with medicinal effects. Using a diffuser is a big step, but everyone should do their homework. If you have family, make sure you spread alone kid-friendly essential oil blends and take breaks using a model with intermittent mist settings.
If you have pets at home, it is also important to spread safely around them. Birds are very sensitive to volatile oils and most experts recommend not diffusing them around them. You can read more about how spread safely around pets (and when to avoid it) here.
