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Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Diffusers
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different styles of electric and passive diffusers and nebulizers.
Many more types exist. |
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Diffusion is the process of
dispersing essential oils so that their aroma fills a room or an
area with the natural fragrance. From the simple to the elaborate,
many different methods exist for diffusing oils into a room. Three
easy methods exist which can be done with things you probably already
have in your household. In addition, there are numerous diffusers
and diffusing devices available for purchase from aromatherapy vendors.
This article will detail the different types of devices and methods
that may be used. For blends that you can try once you have your
diffuser, be sure to visit the Diffuser
Blends page.
Simple Tissue Diffusion
- Place 3-4 drops of essential oil on a tissue. Place the tissue
near you. As movement occurs in the room (i.e. as you move or
as someone walks by), you will notice the aroma.
- Advantages:
This method can be used anywhere and is quickly transportable.
- Disadvantages:
This method does not emit much aroma into a room.
Steam Diffusion
- Boil 2 cups of water. Pour the water into a bowl and add up
to 10 drops of oil to the water. Use fewer drops if you are using
an oil that may cause irritation to your mucous membranes (i.e.
cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary, pine, thyme, cajuput, etc.). Use
of energizing or relaxing oils can make this method useful any
time of day or night. The steam will heat the oils and cause them
to evaporate quickly into the room.
- Advantages: This method will quickly diffuse the oils
into a room.
- Disadvantages: The aroma is not exceptionally long-lasting.
Additionally, the heat may alter or destroy certain constituents
of the oils and thus the therapeutic benefit may not be as optimal
as using cold-air diffusion methods.
Candle Diffusion
- Light a candle and allow it to burn for about 5 minutes. Extinguish
the candle, place 1 drop of essential oil in the melted wax (not
on the wick!) and then relight the candle. Essential oils are
highly flammable, so great care must be used.
- Advantages: This method can be used most anywhere that
a candle may be used.
- Disadvantages: Essential oils are flammable, so great
care must be used. The aroma is not long-lasting. The heat may
alter or destroy certain constituents of the oils and thus the
therapeutic benefit may not be as optimal as using cold-air diffusion
methods.
Diffusers and Diffusion Products on the Market
The descriptions below are generalities about
the different products that are available. Always check the specifications,
requirements and safety comments supplied with the particular product
you are interested to confirm that it is suitable for your needs
and expectations. To locate vendors that sell diffusers, visit
the Diffusers
& Nebulizers Category of AromaWeb's Business Plaza.
Lamp Rings
- Lamp rings are a terra-cotta ring that sets directly onto a
light bulb. It has a grooved lip that goes all the way around
it. This lip holds essential oil. The heat from a light bulb heats
the essential oil in the Lamp Ring and the oil is then gently
diffused into the room.
- Advantages: Lamp Rings are usually very inexpensive.
- Disadvantages: If any essential oil gets onto the light
bulb, the light bulb could break. The heat may alter or destroy
certain constituents of the oils and thus the therapeutic benefit
may not be as optimal as using cold-air diffusion methods.
Clay Pot Diffusers
- Clay pot diffusers go by many names, but they resemble small
terra-cotta pots. They also can be found in various small shapes
such as pyramids. A clay pot diffuser contains an opening for
adding essential oils. Usually a cork is the method by which the
opening is closed. The oils permeate through the pot and then
diffuse out into the room. The intensity of the aroma depends
on how much essential oil is added to the clay pot.
- Advantages: Clay pot diffusers are very inexpensive,
easy to use, and do not require electricity or batteries.
- Disadvantages: The aroma is strongest shortly after adding
essential oil to the clay pot and then dissipates as time passes.
As such, it’s hard to keep the same level of aroma in the
room.
Candle Diffusers
- A candle diffuser is a diffuser that utilizes a tea light or
other candle to gently heat the essential oil to promote diffusion
into a room. A candle diffuser is usually ceramic or metal. The
diffuser has an opening or space for a candle and a little bowl
or tray for storing a tiny quantity of essential oil. Candle diffusers
come in many shapes and colors from the modest functional piece
to the piece that acts both as a work of art and as a candle diffuser.
- Advantages: Candle diffusers can be inexpensive, depending
on the style and design. Candle diffusers do not require electricity
or batteries.
- Disadvantages: One needs to be as careful with using
a candle diffuser as with using candles in general. Also, one
must be sure to keep replacement candles on hand. The aroma generally
diffused by a candle diffuser is very light and it does not usually
diffuse an entire room. The heat may alter or destroy certain
constituents of the oils and thus the therapeutic benefit may
not be as optimal as using cold-air diffusion methods.
Fan Diffusers
- Fan diffusers come in a variety of sizes, shapes and styles.
A fan diffuser uses a fan to blow the essential oils into the
air. To use a fan diffuser, essential oils are usually placed
onto a disposable absorbent pad or into a tray. The pad or tray
is placed into the unit and then powered on. The fan then blows
air across this pad or tray and carries the aroma throughout the
room. Since fan diffusers come in a variety of sizes, some fan
diffusers will only diffuse a small room whereas others can diffuse
very large areas. Some fan diffusers require the use of an absorbent
pad (the pads can usually be reordered from the retailer or directly
from the manufacturer). In others, the use of absorbent pads is
optional.
- Advantages: Fan diffusers are available in a wide variety
of brands and styles. Depending on the brand and model, fan diffusers
can fragrance a large area. Fan diffusers are generally easy to
use. Some fan diffusers are powered by both electricity and batteries
making them quite portable.
- Disadvantages: Some fan diffusers, depending on the brand
and model, require the purchase of replacement absorbent pads.
Some fan diffusers are noisy.
Electric Heat Diffusers
- Similar to a fan diffuser, heat diffusers use heat and a fan
to gently heat the oil and disperse the aroma into a room.
- Advantages: Electric heat diffusers may fragrance larger
areas, depending on the brand and style. They can also help to
more efficiently disperse the aromas of thicker oils such as Sandalwood
and Patchouli.
- Disadvantages: Heat may alter or destroy certain constituents
of the oils and thus the therapeutic benefit may not be as optimal
as using cold-air diffusion methods.
Nebulizers
- A nebulizer is a device that takes essential oils and breaks
them into separate molecules before dispersing the smaller molecules
into the room. It is said that these smaller molecules can be
more readily absorbed by the lungs and thus create greater therapeutic
value than by use of other diffusion methods. A nebulizer is a
small (perhaps 8" x 4" x 6") device that consists
of two main parts: the plastic base that contains the motor and
a very unusual, clear blown-glass looking device that holds and
"nebulizes" the oils. Instead of the use of the unusual
glass piece, some nebulizers use a special bottle that looks like
a Boston round bottle.
- Advantages: It is said that nebulizers can supply greater
therapeutic benefit than the use of other diffusers because they
break the oils down into smaller molecules.
- Disadvantages: The glass piece is breakable and expensive
to replace. Compared to other methods, cleaning the glass between
different oils is time consuming. Depending on the style nebulizer,
thick oils such as Sandalwood and Patchouli usually cannot be
used as they can clog certain style nebulizers.
For Those Who Own a Food Dehydrator
I do not recommend purchasing a food dehydrator
for diffusion purposes as it is a little bulky and cumbersome for
this purpose. If, however, you already own a food dehydrator, you
may have nice results in using it as an alternative to diffusing
EOs. Excalibur,
makers of high-end food dehydrators, say that you can dry evergreen
branches directly in the machine to experience the aroma. They also
mention that you can place a wet sponge with a few drops of oil
on it (they say vanilla extract, but this should work with EOs)
into the dehydrator. It goes without saying, however, that you should
follow all safety precautions and instructions for your dehydrator
model and only leave your dehydrator running for this purpose for
a short period of time.
To locate vendors that sell diffusers, visit
the Diffusers
& Nebulizers Category of AromaWeb's Business Plaza.
For blends that you can try once you have your
diffuser, be sure to visit the Diffuser
Blends page.
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