Essential oil diffusers are a great way to enjoy the benefits of essential oils. Not only do essential oils make your home smell wonderful, they can also help you relax and de-stress at the end of a long day.
If you’re not quite sure how to use your essential oil diffuser, this post is for you! I’ll cover some quick steps to get your diffuser set-up and running, as well as some tips for getting the most out of its lifespan.
Keep reading to learn more about how to use your essential oil diffuser in your home, office, or on the go.
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What is an essential oil diffuser?
Essential oil diffusers allow you to distribute the fragrance of essential oils throughout a room.
There are four different types of oil diffusers, the ultrasonic essential oil diffuser being the most popular choice. It uses cold water mist to scent the air. Nebulizing diffusers don’t use any water and diffuse pure essential oils.
Choosing the diffuser type that’s right for you is essential to maximizing your health benefits and getting the most out of your aromatherapy oils.
If you’d like to dig deeper into essential oil diffusers, the different types, styles and options available (as well as the different diffuser brands), read more here.
If you’re ready to shop for diffuser units, you can find a great diffuser for under $40.
Quick Steps to Start Enjoying Your Diffuser
Here are a few quick tips on how to get the most out of your diffuser. Further below in the article, I have more detailed tips on each step.
- Set your essential oil diffuser in a nice, open space such as on a bedside table or kitchen counter.
- Add water to the diffuser according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Next, add a few drops of essential oil – or an essential oil blend – depending on how strong you want the scent to be.
- Turn on the diffuser and enjoy the benefits!
Remember, you can always experiment with different essential oils and oil blends to find what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to try something new!
Diffuser Placement Tips
Place your diffuser in an open space for the full aroma to develop.
Where exactly is the best place to put an essential oil diffuser? This is an important choice. This spot should maximize the aroma, and it should also be in a place that you are happy with.
Does it go nicely with your other décor? Are you able to leave it there without moving it constantly?
Here are a few hacks that can help you decide where in your home is best:
- Choose a spot that you frequent. A bedroom, a kitchen or a living room may all be great spots. To benefit, you need to be near it.
- Think about how your diffuser diffuses. The aroma of the oils will rise on their own. Place the diffuser on a low coffee table rather than on a high shelf.
- Stay away from window sill. Keeping your essential oil diffuser out of direct sunlight will improve its longevity. The sunlight and warmth create a breeding ground for bacteria. Some plastic materials don’t withstand sunlight too well. Go for a cool place without much sunlight instead.
How many drops of essential oils to use in a diffuser
Know your diffuser water tank size before adding drops of essential oils into your diffuser
Essential oils are highly concentrated, which means that diluting them is crucial. If used incorrectly, essential oils can also act as an irritant. The essential oil diffuser dilutes essential oils with water, and thus ensures your oils are in their proper concentration.
First, look for your diffuser’s size. Is it 100 ml, 200 ml, 300 ml (and so forth)? The amount of water that you’re putting your diffuser will ultimately determine the number of drops of essential oils.
The rule of thumb is to add 3-5 drops of essential oils per 100 ml of water in the diffuser. You can download an easy reference chart here.
Finding for absolute best number of drops to add to your diffuser will depend on your personal preference for aroma strength, age, and the size of the room. A larger room will need slightly more oil drops to have the same aroma benefits than a small room.
Top diffuser mistakes
One of the top mistakes of using essential oils is to run your diffuser all day long. Please don’t do that. Don’t be afraid to turn it off.
Your diffuser is putting a scent into the air, and a lot of people forget how potent that scent can get. Don’t make the mistake of leaving it on all day – you don’t need to! Use it for 30 to 60 minutes and then give it a break. If you really love having it on, make sure you turn it off for as long as you had it on, before starting it up again.
Nausea, headache, vomiting, and vertigo are all signs and symptoms of having used your diffuser too much. If you begin to experience these, turn off your diffuser immediately and air out the room.
How to Clean your Essential Oils Diffuser
Diffusers come apart easily for cleaning access.
Like just about everything else, your essential oils diffuser will need to be cleaned for maintenance purposes. If ever it isn’t functioning correctly, this should be your first step of troubleshooting.
A good cleaning can turn a seemingly broken diffuser into a brand new one. Here are some easy steps that you can use to help spruce up your diffuser whenever it needs it.
To maintain your diffuser, you may have to clean it more often than you would think. Essential oils can be corrosive and ensuring that you have a quick cleaning routine is vital for proper care and prolonged use.
Final thoughts
Essential oils are an awesome way to promote your own health and wellness every day. An essential oil diffuser, when selected, placed, and cleaned properly, allows you to enjoy many aromatherapy benefits.
Once you have your own diffuser, you’ll be able to take your favorite oils and use them every single day.
Alternately, here are my best tips on how to use essential oils without a diffuser.
Evalyn Bladstrom
Does Mountain Rose Herbs make their essential oil bottles easy to dispense drops of oil without spillage and waste?
Emma Carter
Yes absolutely. Their droppers are high quality and you can measure a single drop easily.
Anner
Thank you for this article! I’m definitely going to consider investing in oils and a diffuser. I’m happy to read that diffusers come at an affordable price, making them perfect for almost anyone’s budget.