choosing an essential oil diffuser

Diffuser Essentials: Guide to Choosing an Essential

Oil Diffuser

Essential oils are extracted from the leaves, flowers, stems, and roots of plants. Not only do these natural scents smell wonderful, they have many therapeutic benefits. The study and practice of using essential oils is “aromatherapy”

One easy way to bring aromatherapy into your life and home is through an essential oil diffuser. There are many on the market and this guide is meant to help you sort through some of the factors to consider when purchasing a diffuser.

You can find more information about diffusing essential oils, including product reviews at www.diffuseressentials.com

http://www.diffuseressentials.com/

Types of Diffusers

Active Diffusers: Use air pumps or ultrasonic technology to break essential oils into fine droplets and physically propel them into a room. These types produce the best scent coverage and most therapeutic results

Passive Diffusers: Work with the natural volatility of essential oils (i.e. they evaporate easily) and use a holder such as a cotton pad, or terracotta disc to hold the oils and allow them to evaporate naturally. Some passive diffusers use heat (e.g. from candles, AC, 12V, USB) to hasten evaporation. Scent is more subtle.

In both cases, albeit more so with passive diffusers, scent level is also dependant on the oil used—some have a stronger, longer lasting smell.

How to use an aromatherapy diffuser

Essential oils are very concentrated. Therefore they should not be ingested, nor should they be applied topically unless diluted as 1-2% essential oil in 98-99% carrier oil (e.g. olive, avocado,jojoba, etc.).

Using a diffuser allows entry of essential oil molecules through the lungs, which allow exchange into the bloodstream. Molecules also enter the olfactory system through the nose and can trigger psychological responses (think of how smelling apple pie makes you feel).

Because essential oil molecules are diluted in the air, concentrations are low, making diffusion a safe method of using essential oils.

Safety tips

Even though diffusers are a safe way to use essential oils, some oils carry safety precautions:

•Some oils should never be used•Some oils should not be used around small children•Some oils are not safe if you have certain medical conditions•Some oils should not be used for more than 2 weeks at a time

Be sure to consult a reputable book or web source before using any oil to ensure it will be safe for you! We have some suggestions on our website.

Using diffusers safely

•Keep open flames or warm diffusers out of reach of pets and children•Nebulizing diffusers should only be run up to 10 minutes three times a day as they produce the most concentrated vapor•Ultrasonic diffusers can be run more frequently as the vapor is less concentrated•Passive diffusers (fan type) can be run more frequently as less oil is being evaporated (they only take a few drops at a time)•With essential oils, less can be more…give yourself a break to smell clean air throughout the day

Choosing a diffuser

The following charts will give you some ideas as to the best diffuser for you. They are meant to get you started in researching individual products. We don’t endorse any one product.

Considerations include:•Why do I want a diffuser—for natural scent, or therapeutic benefits?•How much am I willing to spend?•How big of a room do I want the aroma to cover?•How strong do you want the aroma to be?•Are you willing to invest a little time maintaining (cleaning) your diffuser?•Do you have children or pets?

Natural Scents

• Consider factors such as size of room, budget, and strength of scent

• Any diffuser will work, however here are a few ideas*

• Scentball

• Auracacia Fan Diffuser

• Hubmar Classic Ultrasonic

• Aromastone

• Candle Warmer

• Florame Provencal

Enhance Mood

• Passive diffusers without heat may not emit enough scent (exceptions include personal diffusers)

• Any diffuser will work, however here are a few ideas*

• Aromastone

• Candle Warmer

• Amrita Room Model

• Florame Brume

• Puzhen Sprout

• Aromatherapy pendants

Therapeutic Effects

• Nebulizingdiffusers

• Ultrasonic diffusers

• Some examples of nebulizers include

• Aromis Nebulizer

• Diffuser World Aroma Ace

• Synergy Essentials Nebulizer

• Amrita Tranquility

• Some examples of ultrasonicsinclude

• H2EO diffuser

• Hubmar Classic Ultrasonic

• Puzhen Sha

• Puzhen Touch

• Stadler Jasmine

What is your main purpose in diffusing essential oils?

.

*The suggestions in these graphics are not meant to be an endorsement of any particular product by Diffuser Essentials. Their inclusion is based on suitability for the given purpose, whether the product is generally well reviewed, and suggestions are intended to represent a variety of price points

.

Under $30

•Most passive diffusers are inexpensive

•Some ideas include*

•Hubmar Mio fan diffuser

•HubmarAromashell

•Candlewarmer

•Aromatherapy jewelry

•Personal Inhalers (blanks or premade such as Earth Solutions)

•USB Diffusers (Florame, Aroma2Go, NanoHeat)

$30-80

•Some fan diffusers and many ultrasonicdiffusers are in this price range


•Hubmar Classic Ultrasonic

•DiffuserWorldAromaBreeze

•Stadler Jasmine

•Amrita Room Model

•Puzhen Tao

•PuzhenMarguerite

•Auracacia Fan Diffuser

Over $80

•Most nebulizers and some deluxe ultrasonics are in this category


•DiffuserWorldAromaAce

•Diffuser World AromaWhisper

•Puzhen Sha

•Puzhen Lotus

•H2EO Ultrasonic

•Florame Brume

•Synergy Essentials

•Aromis

*The suggestions in these graphics are not meant to be an endorsement of any particular product by Diffuser Essentials.

Their inclusion is based on suitability for the given purpose, whether the product is generally well reviewed, and suggestions are intended to represent a variety of price points

What is your budget for a diffuser?

<100 sq. ft.

• Passive diffusers with or without heat

• Some ideas include*

• Scentball

• Hubmar Mio

• Aromashell

• Car Diffuser

• Terracotta disc


100-500 sq. ft.

• Passive diffusers with heat and/or fan

• Ultrasonics

• Nebulizers


• Amrita Room Model

• Puzhen Lotus

• Puzhen Yun

• Classic Ultrasonic

>500 sq. ft.

• Ultrasonics

• Nebulizers


• Aroma-Globe

• Aromis

• Amrita Professional

• Aroma Pro

• Aroma Ace

• H2EO Diffuser



How big of a space do you want to cover?

Light

• Passive diffusers with or without heat


• Scentball

• Hubmar Mio

• Aromashell

• Car Diffuser

• Terracotta disc


Moderate


• Ultrasonics


• Puzhen Bamboo

• Puzhen Lotus


• H2EO Ultrasonic

Strong

• Nebulizers


• Aroma-Globe

• Aroma-Ace

• Aromis

• Synergy Essentials

Please note that strength of aroma will also largely depend on the essential oil you choose to diffuse. Some have strong scents, while others do not.



How strong of a scent would you like?

Very Little

• Passive diffusers


• Scentball

• Hubmar Mio

• Aromashell

• Car Diffuser


Somewhat


• Ultrasonics


• Terracotta disc

• Puzhen Bamboo


• H2EO Ultrasonic

• Aroma-Ace

Whatever it takes!

• Most nebulizers


• Aroma-Globe

• Aromis

• Puzhen Lotus

• Amrita Models



Are you willing to maintain your diffuser?

Other considerations:

Will you be using your diffuser around children or pets?

Avoid oil warmers with open flames (candles) or other heat sources

Avoid diffusers with fragile glass parts

Around babies and very small children, a nebulizer may be too potent.

Use caution when selecting essential oils to use around very young

children.

Ultrasonics and passive diffusers are the best choice around children

and pets

There are more articles on diffusing essential oils on our website

including: Which oils to use for a particular condition

Oils that work well in a diffuser Safety

Using essential oils for their antiviral and antibacterial properties Diffuser Reviews

The pros and cons of active and passive diffusersAnd much more

www.diffuseressentials.com

choosing an essential oil diffuser

Health & Medicine