Have Some Questions About Essential Oil Diffusers?
We’ve searched the internet and we have answers!
In this article we’ll address some of the common questions people also ask about diffusing essential oils without a diffuser, how to use essential oil diffusers and essential oil diffuser recipes. If you haven’t seen our previous articles yet, we address some of the basic questions and go into more detailed information here:
- Using Essential Oils Without a Diffuser
- How to Use Essential Oil Diffusers
- Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes
So now, without further ado, let’s get to the questions!
How to Diffuse Essential Oils Without a Diffuser
How do you diffuse essential oils yourself?
“Pour ¼ cup of hot tap water into an attractive jar or container. Add ¼ cup alcohol (I used rubbing alcohol but apparently vodka works, too) and 20-25 drops of whatever essential oil you want to use. Swirl to mix.”1
Treehugger.com has an interesting DIY diffuser recipe you can try at home. This is typically done with essential oil diffusing reeds. Since the alcohol evaporates faster than water, it carries the oils with it up the reeds, diffusing them throughout a small area. As you can tell from the instructions though, this might not be the most efficient way to diffuse essential oils, as it requires quite a lot for one use. But it’s still a great DIY project you can try at home if you don’t have an essential oil diffuser.
How can I use essential oils without a diffuser?
“Here are 8 ways to use essential oils without a diffuser:
- Cotton ball. Simply put a few drops of your oil of choice, or your favorite blend of oils, onto a plain cotton ball. …
- Spray bottle. Any type of spray bottle will do. …
- Tissue method. …
- In the dryer. …
- On the stove. …
- Diffuser necklace. …
- In the bath. …
- Palm or bottle method.”2
While aromatherapy diffusers are certainly one of the most popular ways to use essential oils, that definitely doesn’t mean it’s the only way! In our recent post about the Top 10 Ways to Use Essential Oils Without a Diffuser, we actually discuss a few more of our favorite methods. However, we did skip a few that this articles does mention. If you’ve already read Our Post and you’re looking for even more ways to use essential oils, check out the cotton ball, tissue, dryer and stove methods the Keeper of the Home article mentions!
Is it safe to directly inhale essential oils?
“Essential oil diffusers are used to vaporize oils, releasing small amounts into the air. The same safety concerns regarding inhaling essential oils also apply to using oils in a diffuser. Overall inhalation is considered a very safe method of using oils that poses a low level of risk.”3
Directly inhaling essential oils is probably the simplest way to incorporate the benefits of essential oils and aromatherapy into your day. As the answer says, it is considered to be very safe and low risk, especially when compared to some of the other Ways to Use Essential Oils Without a Diffuser like topical application or ingestion. These other methods require more care and research before considering because the effects of essential oils on skin and the digestive system vary greatly. Meanwhile, the safety of inhaling essential oils is much less dependent on the individual essential oil. However, which essential oil you use will have a huge impact on the results and benefits you receive.
What happens if you inhale essential oils?
“Be sure to keep your eyes closed, as some essential oils can cause a burning sensation to the eyes. Inhaling through the nose will be most effective for sinus issues. Inhaling deeply through the mouth will be most effective for respiratory issues. This is the most effective and intense method of inhalation.”4
The answer from Using EO Safely is a great explanation of when and how to inhale essential oils. Inhaling into the nose can be better for colds, allergies and stuffy sinuses or elevating mood and relieving stress or pain. While inhaling through the mouth can be better for the respiratory system, digestive issues or relaxation. No matter the method, the type of essential oil you are using is equally, if not more, important to the benefits you experience.
Essential Oil Diffuser: How to Use
What does a essential oil diffuser do?
“Essential oil diffusers are used to disperse the small molecules in the essential oil through the air so that they may enter the body. … If you are looking for something soothing to add to your essential oil diffusers, a few drops of ylang-ylang dispersed in the air will send signals to your brain to relax.”5
As we mention in Your Complete Guide to Essential Oil Diffusers, there are four main types of diffusers: the heat diffuser, the evaporative diffuser, the ultrasonic diffuser, the nebulizing diffuser. Depending on which type of essential oil diffuser you are using, the way it works will be different and so will the effectiveness. While all essential oil diffusers are used to disperse essential oils, they are not all created equal. Some might be great for diffusing an aroma throughout a room, but might not transfer the same quality of benefits that another type of diffuser might.
In our post about How to Use Nebulizing Diffusers, we discuss how the nebulizing diffuser works and why it is our favorite. Unlike other types of essential oil diffusers, the nebulizing diffuser does not use water, heat or evaporation to disperse the essential oils. Instead, the nebulizing diffuser uses an atomizer to create a fine mist of pure, undiluted essential oils.
Once you’re using a nebulizing diffuser, the main remaining concern is to make sure that you are using essential oils made from the highest quality, all-natural ingredients. In our opinion, the combination of high-quality essential oils and a nebulizing diffuser is the best way to receive the benefits of aromatherapy.
Can you use regular essential oils in a diffuser?
“Yes, you can use any Essential oil of your choice with a diffuser. You can choose the essential oil according to your mood. Like, you should diffuse Lavender Essential oil for a good night sleep. … Essential oils with citric aroma of orange and lemon and many more.”6
You can use any essential oils in a diffuser you want! Unlike ingestion or topical application, inhalation through a diffuser is extremely safe, no matter which essential oil you are using. As we’ve mentioned before, it is still very important to know which essential oil or essential oil blends you are using in order to make sure you will receive the results you want. But, as far as safety for you and the proper functioning of your aromatherapy diffuser, feel free to use any essential oils you like!
To receive the most benefits, we always advise diffusing essential oils made from 100% natural ingredients.
How much essential oil should you put in your diffuser?
“You are aiming for a slight hint of scent, rather than a dousing. The usual amount of water held by a diffuser is 100ml, and typically it is recommended to add 3-5 drops of essential oil per 100ml of water.”7
These instructions are specifically for ultrasonic essential oil diffusers. As we mentioned in Your Complete Guide to Essential Oil Diffusers, ultrasonic diffusers are some of the most popular. They require water and typically include a lamp as well. Ultrasonic diffusers work by vibrating at an ultrasonic speed to agitate the water, which is then dispersed in a fine vapor, carrying some of the essential oil molecules with it.
Check how much water your ultrasonic diffuser can hold and follow the instructions in the answer accordingly. Depending on the size of your diffuser, anywhere from 3-10 drops of essential oil is typically enough for the smaller and medium-sized aromatherapy diffusers.
How do you mix essential oils with water for diffuser?
“Add Oils. -Next, add 3-10 drops of essential oils to water. You can use a single essential oil like lavender, or an essential oil blend. See below for recommend oils to diffuse.”8
Just like the previous question, this answer is specifically for ultrasonic essential oil diffusers. When using an ultrasonic essential oil diffuser, first add the water to the diffuser reservoir and then add in a few drops of your favorite essential oil or essential oil blend. You don’t actually have to do any mixing, as the ultrasonic vibrations made by the diffuser will do more than enough to mix the water and the essential oils together before dispersing them.
How long should I diffuse essential oils?
“Generally, my understanding is that you should never diffuse more than an hour long of any essential oil, but some more potent oils or blends should only be diffused for 20 minutes! Another issue with diffusing essential oils is pet safety.”9
While we haven’t heard too much about pet safety when it comes to diffusing essential oils, we agree that in general, you shouldn’t continuously diffuse essential oils for more than an hour at a time. Diffusing essential hours continuously for a few hours without taking a break can lead to over-exposure, which sometimes results in headaches. For the best results, diffuse for an hour or less and then take at least an hour or two break before diffusing more essential oils.
How long do essential oils last?
“Essential oils which contain a lot of monoterpenes or oxides have the shortest shelf life, of approximately 1-2 years. Essential oils which contain a lot of phenols may last up to 3 years. Essential oils which contain ketones, monoterpenols, and/or esters have a shelf life of 4-5 years.”10
As you might be starting to discover, the specific type of essential oil we’re discussing has a wide range of effects ranging from the benefits you can receive, to how you should inhale it, to how long is will last before expiring. For more information about how long a specific essential oil will last, you might have to do some research, but like the answer suggests, you can expect any essential oils you purchase to last at least a year, with some lasting up to 5.
Benefits of Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes
Are aroma diffusers healthy?
“Essential oils don’t just add aroma to a room, they also provide numerous health benefits for the household. Using a room diffuser is probably the easiest way to dispense these benefits into the air so as to improve your health, boost your energy and promote good sleep, among others.”11
Aromatherapy and diffusing essential oils can provide a ton of different benefits for your home! As we’ve said, the effects you receive depend entirely on which essential oils or essential oil blends you use, but if you’d like a general list of benefits you can expect, here’s our top 14 benefits of diffusing essential oils from our post on Essential Oil Diffuser Benefits:
Our Top 14 Essential Oil Benefits
- Improved Sleep
- Stress Relief
- Pain Relief
- Relieve Headaches & Migraines
- Boost the Immune System and Fight off Colds & The Flu
- Create a Healthy Environment by killing Bacteria & Mold
- Improve Lung & Respiratory Health
- Support Digestion & Control Appetite
- Detoxification for the Hair, Skin & Organs
- Improve Cognitive Function, Memory & Concentration
- Increase Energy
- Balance Emotional Health & Hormone Levels
- Repel Insects
- Eliminate Odor & Acts as an Air Freshener (Safer alternative to candles & incense)
Can essential oils really purify the air?
“4 Benefits of Essential Oils. … Purifying the Air: Research shows that lavender, eucalyptus and tea tree oil all possess l antimicrobial properties that, when evaporated, can begin eradicating airborne fungi and bacteria within 30 to 60 minutes.”12
As we mentioned in our previous article about Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes, many essential oils have a combination of antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties that help to purify the air and fight mold and bacteria in your home. Some essential oils are better than others for this task, so this might be the perfect situation to try an essential oil blend. Certain essential oils like lavender oil, eucalyptus and tea tree oil, like the article mentions, are great for cleaning and bacteria fighting. Many of the citrus essential oils like lemon oil, orange oil and grapefruit oil are also great for disinfecting surfaces and purifying the air.
What are the benefits of oil diffusers?
“It’s no secret that essential oils are all the rage these days and for good reason! Their healing and supportive properties allow us to get restful sleep, soothe away pain, boost our energy, mitigate negative emotions, relieve stress, and can even help balance our hormones.”13
That’s just the beginning of all of the amazing potential benefits of diffusing essential oils! We mentioned our Top 14 Benefits a few answers ago. For more detailed information, check out our article on Essential Oil Diffuser Benefits!
Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes
Can you mix essential oils in a diffuser?
“Essential oils are often diluted with other oils, such as coconut, jojoba, almond, or even vegetable oils, which are called carrier oils. The standard dilution is 2%, Zielinski says. That’s about 12 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil if you‘re mixing up a concoction of your own.”14
Mixing your essential oil or essential oil blends with carrier oils is definitely a great idea if you’re planning on using the mixture for topical application or a massage, but it’s not necessary for use in your aromatherapy diffuser. Especially if you’re using a nebulizing diffuser, which diffuses the pure essential oils using an atomizer, mixing with a carrier oil is definitely not necessary and can even damage your diffuser, as atomizers were not meant to diffuse carrier oils. The same is most likely true for ultrasonic diffusers as well.
If you would like to mix an essential oil blend together, you can mix it together in your diffuser. Just add in the correct ratio of drops of your essential oils and you’re all set. This mixing should work fine for all types of aromatherapy diffusers. If you like, you can also mix the essential oils together in a bottle, using the correct ratio, and then use a dropper to transfer the essential oil blend to the diffuser.
Can I mix any essential oils together?
“For an herbal scent, try mixing marjoram, rosemary, basil, and thyme oil. To make a minty smell, play around with peppermint, spearmint, and sage. Or, if you’re looking for a citrus scent, try blending orange, lemon, lime, and bergamot oil. To learn how to mix essential oils together to make a blend, scroll down!”15
Short answer: yes! You can mix any essential oils together you like! This may not be the best option though, as different essential oils have different effects. So generally, we recommend mixing together essential oils blends that have similar benefits so that they can work together to achieve the results you desire.
As the answer mentions, you can also mix essential oil blends to create combinations with similar aromas or scents. Typically, similar essential oils may have similar properties, but that is definitely not always the case. For essential oils you can mix together for a variety of different effects, check out our recent post on Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes.
What essential oils are good for diffusers?
“The 5 Best Essential Oils For Diffusers
- For Restless Nights: Chamomile Essential Oil. Plant Therapy Chamomile Roman Essential Oil. …
- For A Case Of PMS: Grapefruit Essential Oil. Aura Cacia Grapefruit Essential Oil. …
- For Headaches: Peppermint Essential Oil. …
- For Anxiety And Depression: Frankincense Essential Oil. …
- For Grounding Your Spirit: Cypress Essential Oil.”16
This answer has some great essential oils and their uses. But it’s important to know that there is some overlap too. For instance, in our article about How to Use Lavender Essential Oil, we mention that it can be used to help with anxiety and depression, as well as restless nights and headaches. Castor Oil has plenty of uses, one of which is Castor Oil Therapy, which helps with PMS and menstrual cramps.
What are the best smelling essential oils?
“The reason they’re my favorites is that these oils offer a wide variety of health benefits. They don’t just smell good….
The 10 essential oils everyone should stock up on
- Lemon oil. …
- Cinnamon oil. …
- Lemongrass oil. …
- Clary sage. …
- Lavender oil. …
- Tea tree oil. …
- Eucalyptus. …
- Rosemary oil. …
- Sweet orange oil. …
- Peppermint oil. …”17
Almost all of these essential oils made it on our list of Top 11 Essential Oils for Diffuser Blends! We have to admit, smell is pretty subjective though, so we’d expect a list of best smelling essential oils to have a few different ones than us. For more information on which essential oils to use together and for what benefits, check out our post on Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes.
What essential oils go best together?
“10 Best Essential Oils for Mood
- Lavender. Lavender is one of the most versatile oils, which is why we love it so much. …
- Frankincense. Frankincense can help ground you when you feel anything but. …
- Wild Orange. …
- Peppermint. …
- Bergamot. …
- Ylang Ylang. …
- Vetiver. …
- Sandalwood. …
- Rosemary. …
- Roman Chamomile. …”18
Just like the last answer, many of these essential oils made it onto our list of Top 11 Essential Oils for Diffuser Blends! Meanwhile, ylang-ylang essential oil, sandalwood essential oil, chamomile essential oil and vetiver essential oil are 4 of our 5 Favorite Essential Oils to use for Calming & Relaxation. This answer has a great list of essential oils to use in blends, but maybe not all together.
Check out our page about Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes to learn which ones are best to use blend together!
What can you put in a diffuser besides essential oils?
“Yes, you can use a diffuser without essential oil. Just add water into the diffuser, so it can works as a mini humidifier to enable you stay away from dry skin. If you just add water into the diffuser, purified water is a good choice. With essential oil, it’s a diffuser; without oil, it also can work as a humidifier.”19
This is another answer that is specific to ultrasonic aromatherapy diffusers. Since the ultrasonic diffusers use water to diffuse the essential oils, if you operate them without essential oils, they will still create a mist out of the water vapor. This can be used as a DIY at-home humidifier if you ever need one!
We hope you learned a few things about how to use essential oil diffusers and essential oil diffuser recipes! If you have any more questions, please feel free to comment on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!
Sources
- https://www.treehugger.com/green-home/make-your-own-chemical-free-essential-oil-diffuser.html
- https://keeperofthehome.org/8-ways-use-essential-oils-without-diffuser-plus-way-get-3-free-bottles/
- https://draxe.com/essential-oil-safety/
- https://www.usingeossafely.com/inhaling-essential-oils-why-you-should-when-and-how/
- https://organicaromas.com/blogs/aromatherapy-and-essential-oils/benefits-of-an-essential-oil-diffuser
- https://www.quora.com/Can-I-use-any-kind-of-essential-oil-with-an-oil-diffuser
- https://completehomespa.com/essential-oil-diffuser-drops/
- https://www.lovingessentialoils.com/blogs/diffuser-recipes/how-to-use-an-essential-oil-diffuser
- https://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2014/09/essential-oil-safety.html
- https://www.usingeossafely.com/shelf-life-of-essential-oils-and-how-to-make-them-last-longer/
- http://www.alyaka.com/magazine/effects-room-diffusers-overall-wellness/
- https://poplarnetwork.com/news/should-you-diffuse-essential-oils-improve-indoor-air-quality
- https://www.holistichealthherbalist.com/7-benefits-of-using-an-essential-oil-diffuser/
- https://www.health.com/stress/essential-oil-mistakes
- https://m.wikihow.com/Blend-Essential-Oils
- https://www.bustle.com/p/the-5-best-essential-oils-for-diffusers-8142340
- https://www.wellandgood.com/good-looks/10-best-essential-oils/
- https://helloglow.co/essential-oils-for-mood/
- https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-use-a-diffuser-without-essential-oil-Can-I-do-that