Diffusing Essential Oils – A Luxuriously Aromatic Experience

Scents and aromas provide some of the strongest memories and emotions, so it makes sense then that we’d want to utilize those benefits in our homes. Many today have tapped into essential oils not only for their wide-ranging benefits but also for the aromatic experiences they provide.

Whether you are looking to create sweet floral overtones, fresh earthy scents, or eye-opening minty citrus moods, the options are endless.  Thankfully, creating these scents is easy with the many various kinds of essential oil diffusers available today.

Heat or Cold Diffusion

There are various kinds of diffusers available on the market. The options include lamp rings, water vapor/ultrasonic diffusers, candle diffusers, cool air nebulizing diffusers, and electric heat diffusers. Even wearable diffusers are available today as diffuser necklaces or bracelets.

As tested, cold air diffusion is more recommended than heat diffusion. This is because heat can quickly cause the evaporation and degradation of essential oils. Furthermore, the worst part of using heat diffusion is the potential for creating toxic compounds that may cause cancer (this is true of burning anything in the home).

Therefore, cold air diffusion is the much preferred option for dispersing your oils. This isn’t only due to safety concerns but also because cool air diffusion is well-known to be far more efficient at putting more oils into the air without damaging the underlying plant compounds they consist of.

Without using heat, essential oils can be dispersed into one room or an entire house quite easily. Whether only using single oil scents or blends, you will find that diffusion with cool-air options is quite effective.

Benefits of Diffusing Essential Oils

Anyone who knows anything about aromatherapy knows that there are real and tangible benefits to the scents and the moods we create in our environment. So, let’s take a look at a few reasons why diffusing is a great practice in the home.

• Cleanses the air

Essential oils fight mold and microorganisms that are present in the air. You can use tea tree, cinnamon, or rosemary in your preferred diffuser equipment. Not only can oils fight mold, mildew, or bacteria, but they will also make your house smell amazing. All this can be done while, at the same time, making your home smell like a spa haven. 

• Helps you de-stress, relieve anxiety, and promote relaxation

Did you know that essential oils can help improve your mood in an instant? They do this by affecting the brain’s emotional center through the sense of smell. As a result, your mood becomes more positive, and you’ll have more active manifestations of increased energy. If you are feeling a little low and anxious, try oil diffusion.

Be sure to read our write-up on essential oils for anxiety, where we detail many of the studies that have been performed and list 12 perfect essential oils for this use.

• Relieves congestion problems

Put an end to the struggle of a congested nose due to colds and allergies. Did your grandma or parents ever use Vicks vapor rub to clear your congestion? If they did, you know how quickly that stuff works.

But there’s no need to use a store-bought vapor rub that may contain unnecessary chemicals and synthetic compounds, especially since you have access to two main ingredients (camphor and eucalyptus). Use any blend of oils like peppermint, camphor, eucalyptus, or lemon for your decongestion on those days you’re feeling down or in the beginning stages of a sinus infection.

Note: Around children, camphor and any essential oils can be dangerous. Follow all safety precautions before using. Always dilute. Start with less rather than more.

• Sets the mood

Whether you want to create a romantic mood, a morning awakening mood, or a warm and welcoming mood, dispersing EOs allows you to choose exactly how you want your home to smell on any occasion. I especially like the idea of seasonal diffusing.

To find out which essential oils are best suited for each of the four seasons, be sure to read our post on it: 12 Captivating Essential Oil Blend Recipes for Every Season.

• Promotes a good night’s sleep

Do you suffer from insomnia? If you do, then you need to try diffusing essential oils in your room to help you sleep better. Some well-known essential oils that you can try include lavender, chamomile, or sage. I also find that our children sleep much better when we diffuse various essential oil blends.

Among these essential oils, lavender has been proven to show good results in terms of relaxation and better sleep. But there are many relaxative essential oils to choose from, primarily those in the post we linked to about anxiety.

• Encourages focus during learning activities

If you plan to homeschool, creating an environment conducive to learning is very important. If you’re a teacher, you know just how important this is. You don’t want a sterile environment or one that overly distracts you. Rather, you want to create an environment that will help your children focus on the information that is being presented while teaching.

Citrus oils are great for focus, as well as oils that promote relaxation.

Popular Methods of Diffusion

The options for diffusing oils are almost endless. Thankfully, the equipment needed for any of the below methods can be found in any price range. So, Regardless of which method of diffusion interests you, there are entry-level options you can try before investing more money in a quality diffuser.

• Nebulizing Diffusers

A nebulizer comprises a pump and a glass nebulizing bulb that allows the essential oils to be processed and released into the air as a mist. It discharges tiny atomized oil particles into the air very efficiently and quietly. Using a nebulizing diffuser is one of the best ways to disperse your oil scents around the home.

Like other cold-air diffusers, your oils will remain at room temperature in these diffusers, allowing their natural makeup to stay intact. Also, since the EO particles are so small, they’re more evenly and efficiently dispersed.

However, a nebulizer can be a little expensive, and the glass part is quite fragile. If you don’t handle it carefully, you might break it. Furthermore, since some essential oils are thick substances, they can sometimes clog these diffusers. Therefore, it’s necessary to clean these units occasionally. It helps if you use your thicker oils like Myrhh with thinner oils to prevent any buildup.

• Cool mist ultrasonic diffusers

This may just be the most popular diffuser option available, maybe because it’s the simplest to use. For these diffusers, you’ll only need water and any essential oils of your choice. These devices generate a cool mist that consists of water vapor and essential oil molecules. This vapor is then evenly dispersed throughout the room.

Unlike some other devices, these are very easy to use and will hardly (if ever) need to be cleaned. However, even these kinds of diffusers can be expensive, depending on the brand.

That said, there are many options out there that are rather inexpensive, but the most inexpensive units may not last quite as long. You’ll also notice that some of these diffusers have features like empty notifications, silent mode, illumination, and larger water basins; some may operate quieter than others.

Whatever the case, if you want to purchase a cool mist diffuser for your room, thoroughly browse first to see what features are available. Once you get a good idea of the available options, you’ll have a better idea of how much you want to spend and be more able to pick a diffuser that has all the features that are right for you.

• Tea-light diffusers

For this method, all you’ll need is the essential oil of your choice, a ceramic candle diffuser, water, and non-toxic tea-light candles. Pour hot water on the small ceramic diffuser until it is filled. Next, light the tea-light candle. Lastly, add a few drops of any essential oil of your choice to the water basin you’ve filled with water.

The heat from the candle below the small water basin will cause steam to spread throughout your area and fill it with the scent of your essential oils.

Add extra EOs and water as necessary if the scent begins to fade. This method is simpler and more affordable than other diffusing methods, but it requires burning. Again, many varieties of these kinds of diffusers are available, so do your research if you go this route.

Since this method does involve burning candles, be sure to keep this sort of diffuser out of the reach of any children in your home. While these kinds of diffusers are inexpensive and easy to use, it’s not recommended to regularly burn substances (even candles) in the home so as not to spread harmless smoke around your house.

• Diffuser Necklaces and Bracelets

Wearable diffusers are becoming more and more popular, especially with the growing number of options and styles available. The great thing about these is that you can bring your scents with you, even when you’re on the go.

Better yet, these don’t require any power source and are very simple to use. You can even use bug-repelling oils in your necklace or bracelet while you’re outside to keep the mosquitos away!

Final Thoughts

There really is something special about scents in general because they convey feelings and moods that nothing else can. That’s why aromatherapy is such a wonderful tool, even if you just want your home to smell comforting and welcoming. Whatever needs and preferences you have for your home, essential oil diffusion is simple and easy, and there are many options to choose from.

If you’re new to essential oils, you should also check out some other amazing sources we have that will be sure to “fill you in” on where to find them and how to use them safely. So, check out the additional sources below.

Further Reading:

• Where to Buy Essential Oils – Important Facts You Need to Know
• How to Use Essential Oils Safely: 7 Ways to Enjoy Them Carefully

Diffusing Essential Oils FAQs

What are some benefits of diffusing essential oils?

Diffusing oils can purify air, provide calming or uplifting aromas, and help create a relaxing environment. Certain scents are known to promote relaxation, sleep, clarity, or other positive outcomes.

What types of essential oils are best for diffusing?

Many oils can be diffused, but some top choices are lavender, lemon, peppermint, bergamot, and eucalyptus. Diffusing blends are great, too. We prefer adding floral scents to spicy scents. The options are almost endless, and it can be rewarding to combine fragrances you wouldn’t typically think would complement each other.

How long does the aroma from diffused essential oils last?

Diffused oil aromas typically last 1-2 hours, depending on how large the water reservoir is. Once diffusing is over, lighter citrus or floral scents may fade faster than woodier, earthier scents. Also, if you diffuse regularly, you may become more accustomed to the scents, making them smell like they’ve dissipated when they haven’t.

What are ultrasonic diffusers?

Ultrasonic diffusers use electronic vibrations to diffuse essential oils as a fine mist. They don’t require heat or evaporation, preserving oil integrity. They also provide lovely ambient aromas.

Is it safe to diffuse essential oils around pets?

Diffusing oils around pets is not generally recommended. Oils like tea tree, cinnamon, peppermint, and citrus are especially problematic for cats and dogs. It is better to keep diffusing to rooms pets don’t access or ask your veterinarian exactly which oils should and should not be used around your pets.

What is the best way to clean an essential oil diffuser?

Use hot water and dish soap or an all-natural cleaner weekly. For tough build-up, try filling the dish with equal parts water and vinegar and running it for 5-10 minutes before rinsing it out. We clean our diffusers once per month or so without issues.

How often should you change the water in a diffuser?

It’s best to change the water daily to prevent mold or bacteria buildup. We recommend diffusing until all water has been used up. That way, water isn’t sitting, which could lead to the aforementioned issues.