Last Updated: February 27, 2024
How good can it be to ease your anxiety by just taking a deep breath? Aromatherapy—an alternative form of holistic therapy— is an age-long practice of using essential oils for therapeutic purposes. Studies have shown that your sense of smell can impact your body’s response to stress, and essential oils may have the ability to interact with the brain and the nervous system to influence mood and health. They can help you relax and unwind from a busy day when you are spending most of your time indoors or coming home after a day of hard work.
What are Essential Oils?
Aromatherapy involves using essential oils, highly concentrated extracted from plants with curative properties such as eucalyptus, orange, lime, cinnamon, myrrh to help physical or psychological wellness. These oils are called “essential,” as the natural properties and scent of the plant they are derived from remain intact. The liquid is extracted by distillation, enabling a product to evaporate at normal temperatures without leaving a residue or oil behind.
To obtain the purported benefits of essential oils, it is ideal to inhale or apply them directly to the skin. Essential oils are available as sprays to rub them onto hands and body or add a few drops to boiling water to create a facial steamer. However, diluting essential oils with a diffuser is one of the quickest and simplest methods to get the most out of the essential oils. Essential oil diffusers break down the aromatic compounds of essential oils into an inhalable form and disperse the oil’s therapeutic aromas throughout the surrounding environment. When you inhale this fragrance, smell receptors activate and interact with the brain and nervous system to affect emotions and health.
See also – Check out the best steam humidifiers.
What does an Essential Oil Diffuser do?
Essential oil diffusers disperse natural oils into the air — lavender, eucalyptus, or lime to freshen up a room and reduce feelings of anxiety. They also help in moistening the skin, improving sleep quality, relieving stress, and reinforcing immunity.
Electronic Diffusers convert water into a fine mist and disperse it in the space along with essential oils. Add water to the water tank of the diffuser, and carefully place a few drops of essential oils in the water tank. Place the lid on the top before turning on the machine. Water is pulled through the nebulizer and rises inside the cover, escaping silently through a small vent. The device releases a very fine mist that resembles smoke but is harmless, cool water with an added pleasant scent.
Type of Essential Oil Diffusers
Essential oil diffusers can be divided into four types– Ultrasonic, Nebulizer, Heat, and Evaporative.
Ultrasonic diffusers
Ultrasonic diffusers use a vibrating diaphragm to turn the essential oil and water mixture into a fine, cool mist—creating an effect like boiling water but without the heat. Ultrasonic diffusers also act as humidifiers as they convert water into moisture, thereby raising the relative humidity of the environment. They are ideal for dry air climates and air-conditioned and windowless rooms. Ultrasonic diffusers are preferable to use with essential oils diffused for emotional support, such as insomnia, anxiety, and memory.
An ultrasonic diffuser comes in all price ranges, is easy to clean, operates quietly, and is sturdy. Since ultrasonic diffusers dilute essential oils with water, they do not disperse an intense concentration of the essential oil into the atmosphere. But the scented mist they spread is sufficient enough to eliminate unpleasant odor in your space.
Nebulizers
Nebulizers are similar to perfume atomizers in delivering potent bursts of aromas into the air. These devices vaporize concentrated oil by blowing compressed air into mist, producing a more pungent smell. Nebulizers don’t use water or oil and hence disperse moisture without altering the chemical composition of the oil, thereby retaining its potent aroma and potential benefits. And by breaking them into tiny molecules, nebulizer diffusers may facilitate the absorption of essential oils into the body. On the downside, Nebulizers are expensive, noisier, and fragile, and since they are made of glass, they take more cleaning to prevent clogging and consume more oil than other types of diffusers.
Evaporative diffusers
Evaporative diffusers transform essential oils from liquids to gas and disperse them throughout the air. A pad or wick placed in the machine absorbs the essential oil, and then airflow from the fan dispels the oil’s scent and other components into the air. Evaporative diffusers aren’t the quietest bunch, but the fan allows the oil to evaporate more quickly and circulate the oils throughout the room. Evaporative diffusers can dispel oils rapidly and are generally less expensive than other kinds of diffusers. However, the evaporative method can be unbalanced, releasing lighter oil components quicker than heavier ones and thus disrupting the therapeutic benefits. Because of this fractioning, evaporative diffusers may function best as personal diffusers and in small rooms.
Heat Diffusers
Heat diffusers use a mixture of essential oils with water to convert into a fine mist and disperse into the atmosphere. Candle burners, electric heat diffusers, lamp rings, and steam inhalers are some types of heat diffusers. Heat diffusers are not as efficient as other diffusers as heat breaks down the chemical compounds of essential oils, thereby rendering them less effective and requiring more essential oils to get comparable results.
Things to Consider While Buying an Essential Oil Diffuser
Purchasing the right diffuser may significantly impact your essential oil therapy experience, determining oil potency, accessibility, etc. Consider the below points to refine your choices.
Area Coverage: For small rooms, the square footage of the diffuser is not critical. However, if you want to use it in an open space or large room, look for diffusers with high square footage as the bigger the space, the longer it will take the diffuser to disperse essential oil’s scent. An ultrasonic diffuser with a large water tank would be ideal for ample room as it can distribute a higher intensity of the oil aroma/scent. Avoid using evaporative diffusers for small spaces as the noise from the fan could interrupt your sleep or distract you at work.
Noise Level: Oil diffusers are noisy devices, especially large ones with a fan. Quieter essential oil diffusers will ensure the unit remains unobtrusive to your lifestyle and that you can use the diffuser in any part of the house without disturbing you when you are trying to sleep or holding an important meeting.
Tank capacity: Diffuser water can run anywhere from 100 milliliters to more than 1 liter of water, but on average, they hold around 300ml of water. Opt for a model with a large capacity tank if you do not want to refill your essential oil diffuser more than once or twice a day. However, if you prefer an inconspicuous and cheaper unit that takes up less space, you may decide that having to refill multiple times a day is not such a big deal. The best diffusers balance the benefits of bigger size with a small footprint. However, a greater reservoir size also means a bulkier diffuser.
Timer: The run time of a diffuser depends on the tank capacity and mist intensity settings. If you are looking to scent a large bedroom or a living room, you may find that the diffuser will need to run for a long time to spread your essential oil aroma effectively. A longer runtime will allow you to turn the diffuser on and let it do its job without having to worry about it. Some large diffusers also come with timers to automatically schedule your diffuser to turn off after a few hours, so you don’t overdo it, and save you from refilling the tank before the subsequent use.
Automatic shut-off: An automatic waterless shut-off ensures that the machine will automatically turn off if you are away from your diffuser or are asleep when the water runs out. It reduces the risk of the motor overheating and causing any damage.
Mist Settings: Adjustable mist levels are essential to control the strength of the aroma and the level of humidity in your room. Some models are equipped with a basic high and low mist setting, while high-end models also feature a dial where the mist intensity is fully adjustable. This feature allows you to control diffusion/operation time as per requirement and save precious essential oils.
5 Best Essential Oil Diffusers
1. ASAKUKI 700ml Premium, Essential Oil Diffuser, 5 in 1 Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Fragrant Oil Vaporizer –
The Asakuki ultrasonic essential oil diffuser is a multifunction aromatherapy device. It features seven different LED light colors, multiple mist diffuse modes, as well as a safety auto-switch that prevents it from overheating.
Besides its uses in aromatherapy, the Asakuki essential oil diffuser also functions as a humidifier that can help to improve your home’s atmosphere quality, cover the smell of pets or smoking, and protect your family from dry air and static electricity. The aromatherapy device uses ultra-high grade, safe, and eco-friendly PP materials, as well as state-of-the-art production processes and strict quality control. The outer shell is a translucent, semi-matte white color that gently diffuses the light. It’s relatively bright, and in addition to picking from seven colors, you can set each color to “high” or “low” brightness.
The Asakuki essential oil diffuser features an easy to clean large 700 ml water tank and can continuously operate for 20 hours. The ultrasonic diffuser provides two quiet ultrasonic mist function levels and comes with continuous mode and three timers (steady on/ 1H / 3H / 6H). The machine features an auto-off switch that prevents overheating when the water runs out. The fragrant oil vaporizer comes with a 1-year warranty and a 6-month money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Stronger Vibration Frequency
- Thicker Mist Spraying Amount
- Continuous Operation
- 6 Months Money Back Guarantee
Cons
- The power plug gets in the way of the functions
2. ROSUMM Large Capacity Ultrasonic Cool Mist Portable Air Humidifier Aromatherapy Diffuser –
Create a relaxing, calming, and spa-like atmosphere with the ROSUMM 700ML oil diffuser. Featuring ROSUMM’s patent ultrasonic diffusion technology, it breaks up essential oil into tiny micro particles to achieve complete fusion with water molecules.
The Rosumm diffuser can reach a max mist output of 80 ML/H, which can be used as a diffuser and as a humidifier that gives you an excellent aromatherapy experience. The machine features breathing mood lights to create a calming ambiance that helps promote sleep, de-stress, and lift your mood.
The ROSUMM diffuser is made up of premium BPA FREE PP material, while the structure of the bottom base is double thickened, of which the sturdy and quality build can promise longer performance life. The ultrasonic diffuser comes with a built-in dual voltage protection system, which provides you and your family with a safe humidifying environment. It has a variable control bar that allows you to control the mist volume, turn it on and reset the device by simply sliding the bar from leftmost to rightmost.
The ROSUMM diffuser comes with ten therapeutic grade essential oils, including Rose, Peppermint, Lavender, Tea Tree, Sweet Orange, Lemon, Cinnamon Cassia, Bergamot, Rosemary, and Eucalyptus. All ROSUMM products are covered with a 365-Day Trial.
Pros
- Large Capacity Diffuser
- Quiet diffuser for running at night
- Thick mist production even on the lowest setting
Cons
- It does not last 8 hours on the lowest setting even with tank filled to the max
- Annoying red flashing light when low
3. 1500ml Exqline Diffuser for Essential Oils Large Room –
The Exqline large capacity essential oil diffuser efficiently maintains essential oil integrity and holistic properties. The aromatherapy diffuser can humidify rooms up to 325 sq. ft., while its aromatherapy scent coverage area is 450 sq. ft.
The Exqline essential oil diffuser boasts of large capacity and longer running time. The machine comes with a 1500ml and supports overnight operation with a full water tank (up to 10-20 hours working time). The essential oil diffuser features a 270° rotating knob for mist output control and a side vapor nozzle for 360° oriented diffusion.
The Exqline essential oil diffuser comes with two light options, bright and dim, that provide you with a cozy atmosphere in rooms. The large room ultrasonic diffuser produces less than 35 dB of noise, perfect for a disturbance-free sleep at night. The machine comes with a 1-year warranty as well as lifetime customer service. The manufacturer recommends using water-soluble essential oils with this aroma humidifier.
Pros
- Whisper-quiet design for interruption-free working and sleeping
- BPA-free and waterless auto-shutoff for utilization safety
- Wider Coverage Area
- Large Capacity Tank
Cons
- Lifting off the entire top assembly is complex and tends to leak water
- The power LED is very bright
4. URPOWER Large Capacity Modern Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser with Adjustable Mist Mode –
The Urpower ultrasonic aroma diffuser comes with a 700 ml tank. The machine comes with two mist modes, low and high, and has a mist output of 30-45 ml in low settings and 40-70 ml in high mist settings. The extra-large tank means that you can run it all day or night without having to refill, and the auto shut-off kicks in and turns the unit off when the water gets too low.
The essential oil diffuser is extremely quiet without annoying noise that won’t disturb you when you sleep or at work. The machine comes with an auto shut-off function that gives you peace of mind when using the diffuser. When it is detected that there is no more water or water runs out, the diffuser will automatically power off for safety insurance.
The colors are pretty and vibrant, and the light settings allow you to dim the brightness for nighttime use. The wood detail on the diffuser blends into its surroundings and doesn’t look tacky or cheap.
It is also super quiet, with almost no perceptible mechanical noise. You can hear the water in the unit when it’s on; it sounds like a gentle babbling brook or a little stream – relaxing and soothing.
Pros
- Good capacity/run time
- Corner spout allows repositioning of vapor
- Auto-off timer options
- Whisper-quiet operation
Cons
- No directional nozzle for mist
5. BlueHills Premium 3000 ML XL Essential Oil Diffuser Aroma Humidifier –
The BlueHills essential oil diffuser comes in a 3200 mL easy-clean tank made from high-quality materials to keep your living space safe and stylish. The prominent diffuser measures about 11.5 inches in height and 6 inches in diameter and will last for up to 45 hours on low mist with a single fill.
Crafted with premium materials, the BlueHills essential oil diffuser features seven different LED light colors. The aromatherapy diffuser comes with a button to easily on/off the light. The BlueHills Premium Diffuser has an automatic safety function that automatically shuts the device off when a deficient water level is detected, protecting the diffuser and prolonging its lifespan. The diffuser also doubles as a humidifier simply by running the machine without adding essential oils.
The BlueHills Premium Diffuser allows you to adjust mist output with the handy adjustment knob. Whether you like it high or low, simply turn the knob and enjoy the clean and refreshing mist.
Pros
- 7 Led Light Colors
- High Capacity Tank and Run Time
- Easy to clean
- Adjustable mist output
Cons
- Instructions to install are not clear
Tips for Using Essential Oil Diffuser
- Use a new essential oil diffuser a couple of times at a smaller capacity before running it at maximum mist capacity.
- As a rule of thumb, add less water initially and slowly increase its capacity. If the aroma weakens after running for several hours, add some drops of essential oil while diffusing.
- Place the essential oil diffuser on an even surface when it is running.
- Ensure that the lid and base of the diffuser are correctly aligned after refill.
- Wipe the diffuser with a cloth after refilling to ensure no water remains on the device.
- Always use 100% pure essential oils in the diffuser to avoid corrosion.
If you have small children or pets, store your essential oils out of reach, as they can be attracted to the smell of essential oils. Certain oils can be harmful if ingested, even in small quantities. You should also check whether your kids or pets are allergic to certain kinds of essential oil scents.
Cleaning your diffuser
It is vital to regularly clean your aromatherapy essential oil diffuser so that bacteria and mold cannot grow in the tank and to ensure that oil residue does not build up.
Use a little fragrance-free dish soap to clean the diffuser, and you can also run the machine in a well-ventilated space for a few minutes with water and a few drops of white vinegar every so often. If you’re switching oils in the diffuser, wipe out the diffuser with a damp cloth.
If you are using a nebulizer, clean it with thick oil such as sandalwood after every use. You can also rub alcohol on the device once a week. If you’re switching oils, ensure to clean the appliance before subsequent usage. It is also worthwhile periodically soaking your nebulizer in dish detergent to keep it pristine.
Lastly, an ultrasonic essential oil diffuser may produce white dust if you use tap water in the tank. If you have problems with white dust, try using distilled water in the tank instead.