Last Updated: February 26, 2024
Humidifiers are essential in cold weather because they help increase air moisture. This, in turn, helps reduce respiratory problems such as nosebleeds, bronchitis, and sinus infections. But did you know that adding essential oils to your humidifier can make it even more effective? Essential oils are powerful plant extracts that have many potential health benefits. They can effectively be part of your natural wellness routine when used safely and diluted correctly. In this blog post, we will discuss the best essential oils to add to your humidifier and how to use them.
Can essential oils be used in humidifiers?
Yes, adding a few drops of essential oil to your humidifier can help improve your health in several ways. Essential oils can help purify the air, reduce stress, and promote better sleep. When used properly, essential oils are a safe and effective way to improve your health.
Which essential oils are best for humidifiers?
There are many different essential oils that you can use in humidifiers, but some of the best include eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, and tea tree oil. Each of these oils has unique benefits that can help to improve your health and well-being. The best way to enjoy the benefits of essential oils is to add a few drops to your humidifier and let the aroma fill your home. Some of the best essential oils to use in humidifiers include:
Eucalyptus Essential Oil: Eucalyptus oil has a fresh, minty scent that can help to clear the airways and ease respiratory congestion. It can help relieve respiratory irritation, bronchitis, sinus infections, and the common cold. Blends well with Frankincense and Lavender.
Peppermint Essential Oil: Peppermint oil is refreshing and invigorating, making it an excellent choice for use in the morning or afternoon. This oil has a cooling effect and can help to relieve congestion, headaches, and muscle pain. It can also boost your energy levels and improve mental clarity. Blends well with Frankincense and Lavender.
Lavender Essential Oil: Lavender oil is one of the most popular and versatile essential oils used today. It has a calming and relaxing effect on the body and can also be used to help with insomnia and headaches. Adding a few drops of lavender oil to your humidifier can help you wind down at night and get better sleep. Blends well with all oils, especially citrus oils like Lemongrass and Orange.
Tea Tree Essential Oil: This oil has powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties. It can also help to boost the immune system and fight off infections. Blends well with Frankincense and Lavender.
Some other oils you may want to try to include rosemary, lemon, frankincense, oregano, thyme, grapefruit seed extract, and clove oil. You can also create your own blends depending on your needs. Experiment and find what works best for you!
Lemongrass Oil: It has a fresh, grassy, earthy scent with a strong lemon note. If you are looking for an essential oil that can help give you an uplifting emotional boost, Lemongrass is the one. It’s perfect to use in blends when you are emotionally or physically exhausted, or when you need help focusing and getting motivated. Blends well with Lavender, Tea Tree, and Rosemary.
Organic Orange Oil: has a citrusy, sweet, and refreshing scent. The invigorating scent helps enhance focus, revitalizes and rejuvenate. This oil’s properties make it a wonderful oil to work in the morning or at your office, as it gives you a sense of regeneration and optimism. Orange oil is also a great, natural ingredient to add to your cleaning products for household chores. Blends well with Frankincense, Lavender, and other citrus oils.
How to select essential oils for a humidifier?
When selecting essential oils for your humidifier, it is important to consider the type of oil and the purpose you are using it for. You can use essential oils for a variety of purposes, such as:
- -Boosting your mood
- -Relieving stress
- -Improving sleep quality
- -Reducing inflammation
- -Clearing congestion
Once you know what purpose, selecting the right essential oil(s) will be much easier. For example, if you’re looking to improve your sleep quality, consider using lavender or chamomile essential oil. To reduce inflammation, consider using eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil.
If you’re diffusing for the first time, start with a single oil or a blend designed for beginners.
Not all essential oils are suitable for young children, pregnant women, or those with certain medical conditions. Consult your doctor before using if you have any concerns before using essential oils.
You should also look for an oil that is certified organic and therapeutic grade.
Amount of oil for use: – Essential oils are very concentrated and should be used sparingly. For diffusing, start with just a few drops of oil and increase as needed.
How long to diffuse: start with short diffusing sessions of 15-30 minutes and increase as needed. Diffuse for longer periods if necessary, but always take breaks to allow your body to adjust.
And on the basis of this selection criteria, we have selected some great options in essential oils category available in the market today. Here they are
Our Pick of the Best Essential Oils for Humidifiers
1. SVA Organics Peppermint Essential Oil Organic 4 Oz USDA
SVA Organics Peppermint essential oil is highly recommended for skin care, hair care, scalp care, aromatherapy & massage. It helps to achieve healthy and smooth skin and gives a natural youthful appearance to the skin.
SVA Organics Peppermint essential oil has naturally stimulating properties that give a natural glow and clear finish to the skin. Its cooling and minty aroma is highly beneficial for aromatherapy and body massages. Peppermint works effectively in combating stress, headaches, and various scalp issues.
SVA Organics’ peppermint oil is sourced from India, where the company works closely with more than 60 farms spread all over the country, delivering genuine value without compromising on quality. SVA Organics Peppermint oil blends well with Oregano, Marjoram, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Grapefruit, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Lemon, Rosemary, and Tea Tree essential oils for diffusion.
The 100% pure Peppermint essential oil from SVA is steam distilled, bottled in the USA, and supplied in a glass bottle with a dropper for hassle-free use. Their essential oils adhere to the most stringent standards to bring the highest quality, including GMP Certified, ISO Certified, Kosher Certified, non-GMO, USDA certified, and Organic Certified. Moreover, it is gluten-free, does not include sulfate, and is not tested on animals.
It is recommended to dilute essential oils with a carrier oil before any topical application. Just add two drops of SVA organics peppermint oil to one tablespoon of your carrier oil and rub the mixture into your scalp for 30 seconds or simply diffuse the oil in a diffuser or humidifier. The essential oil is packed in a thick, robust, corrugated cardboard box to keep it safe. The box has a separate area that houses the glass dropper, keeping it from harm since the 4 oz. glass bottle is a lot of oil and heavy. The bottle comes with a sealed, secure cap. Once it comes off, the dropper screws right on and keeps it airtight.
Pros
- Large Bottle
- Robust Packaging
- USDA certified
Cons
- The dropper has a straight tube tapered at the end; there’s insufficient suction to hold the liquid inside.
2. Lavender Essential Oil by Revive Essential Oils –
The lavender essential oil from Revive promotes peaceful sleep, helps with tension relief, can be used to soothe skin irritation, and much more. It can be used for a diffuser, humidifier, massage, aromatherapy, and skin & hair care.
All REVIVE Oils are wildcrafted that are gathered from plants that grow in the wild or organic. That means that the seeds, planting, growing, harvesting, distilling, and bottling are performed with no pesticides and no chemicals and done organically. REVIVE Lavender is grown exclusively in the fertile grounds of Bulgaria, where the climate and altitude create ideal growing conditions.
REVIVE’s Lavender essential oil is 100% pure therapeutic grade, free from additives, contaminants, fillers, synthetics, or dilutions. They are also cruelty-free. Every bottle of Revive Lavender oil is tested for purity and has a GC/MS report specific to the batch.
The scent of Revive lavender oil is not too strong and smells like real lavender. It takes so little at a time in the dispenser. It also comes beautifully wrapped, which you can share as a gift with friends and family.
REVIVE sells its essential oils direct to consumers through the internet. This allows the company to eliminate the cost of those middlemen, pass the savings on to consumers, and offer the same quality oils for less.
Pros
- Value for Money
- Soothing scent of lavender oil
- Only needs a few drops to add to the humidifier
Cons
- A bit watery
3. LagunaMoon’s Top 6 Organic Blends –
Essential Oils are tricky to buy in a variety pack as there are always ones you don’t want, sandwiched in with outstanding ones. However, LagunaMoon’s essential oil sets of top organic blends such as Peppermint, Tea Tree, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Lemongrass, and Orange make pampering a luxurious experience.
LagunaMoon’s essential oils are made from rigorously tested ingredients. The company sources its ingredients from farms with a commitment to regenerative, earth-kind practices by traveling to the places known to cultivate the best varieties, such as eucalyptus essential oil from Australia, lavender from France, and peppermint from India.
While most essential oils go rancid quickly on heat exposure, light and oxygen begin to smell strange and lose potency. LagunaMoon’s FrostProtect bottle keeps its essential oils stable for more than two years, which enables you to enjoy the soothing benefits of your oils for longer.
LagunaMoon’s essential oil provides 4X longer lasting aroma, as they are steam distilled using a unique distillation process in small batches in a local apothecary to preserve their fragrances. The company uses gentle, synergistic carrier oils to enhance its steam-distilled formulas, which preserves their uplifting and refreshing properties.
Pros
- Long Lasting
- High Quality
- Durable bottles
Cons
- Comes without dropper
4. Cliganic’s USDA Organic Aromatherapy Essential Oils –
If you’re new to essential oils or a long-time user, Cliganic’s organic aromatherapy essential oils gift set is your must-have kit. It comes with 8 of the most popular essential oils for you, which have a wide range of benefits, including Peppermint, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Frankincense, and Orange.
Cliganic’s Organic essential oils are made in the USA using the highest standards. The company’s essential oils are USDA-certified organic and Non-GMO Verified. Cliganic offers 100% pure, natural, organic essential oils, with no additives, alcohol-free, no added fragrance, and not diluted. The essential oils are also Vegan and meet PETA’s requirements to be listed as Cruelty-Free.
Cliganic’s 8-pack set comes with essential oils poured into glass amber bottles, which protect the oils from being de-sensitized, weakening their scent and properties. Each bottle comes with a German Dropper Cap (orifice reducer) that gives you better control – one drop at a time!
The Cliganic’s 8-pack essential oil is an affordable gift for even the most expensive tastes. Perfect for gifting on holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. The kit also comes with a booklet with recipes and uses for each oil.
The 8-pack essential oil set comes with Cliganic’s 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, the company will provide a replacement or issue you a full refund.
Pros
- Organic and USDA certified
- Stronger and potent scent
- Well packaged
- Booklet for recipes
Cons
- Smaller in size
5. Breathe Essential Oil Blend 2 OZ – Therapeutic Grade, Undiluted, Non-GMO, Aromatherapy with Dropper
The UpNature Breathe blend of essential oils combines pine needle, cardamom, bay laurel leaf, peppermint, Australian tea tree, lemon oil, and eucalyptus. The mix of essential oils helps with cold symptoms and is perfect for cold and flu season. You can use it in a diffuser or inhalation for soothing relief.
Change of seasons can cause stuffiness, allergies, and congestion. With Essential Oils like Peppermint and Tea Tree, feel that easy breathing again by stimulating, purifying, and soothing the airways. You can also use it in an aromatherapy diffuser or humidifier that helps promote the release of toxins and keep your environment clean. You can also apply the solution topically to the chest, inhale the vapors deeply to restore respiratory function, or help with sinus relief. Moreover, you can also use the blend in baths, massage, and compresses.
The UpNature Breathe blend is 100% pure & natural, therapeutic grade essential oil that is steam distilled. UpNature’s essential oils are sourced from the best ingredients and bottled in California and are GMO-Free, cruelty-free, and not tested on animals.
UpNature recommends diluting the breathe blend with a carrier oil before applying it to your skin to minimize adverse reactions. They also recommend that you patch test the oils for topical use. UpNature offers a full 100% 365-day money-back guarantee if you are not completely satisfied with UpNature Breathe Essential Oil Blend.
Pros
- Large Bottle
- Value for money
- Pain relief
- Longevity
Cons
- The scent is not very strong
Precautions for using Essential oils with Humidifiers
Diffusing essential oils into the air is a great way to enjoy their benefits, but it’s important to use them safely:
When using essential oils in a humidifier, it is crucial to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that you are using the right amount of oil and that you are not over-humidifying your home. Adding too much essential oil to your humidifier can cause respiratory irritation.
Always add the essential oil to the water in your humidifier’s reservoir before turning it on. Start with just a few drops of oil and increase the amount gradually until you reach the desired scent strength.
When using essential oils in your humidifier, choosing a quality oil free from synthetic fragrances or additives is essential.
Please note that you should not use essential oils on infants under six months old. Always consult your healthcare professional before using essential oils if you have any questions or concerns.
Make sure you are using a pure, therapeutic-grade oil.
Clean your humidifier regularly to prevent mold and mildew growth.
As with anything new, start slowly and pay attention to how you feel after using the humidifier with essential oils. If you have any sensitivities, it’s best to avoid using oils altogether.
When diffusing oils, keep the diffuser in a well-ventilated area so that you don’t breathe in too much oil mist.
If you have young children or pets, take extra care to keep the diffuser out of their reach. And as always, consult your doctor before using any essential oils if you are pregnant or nursing.
When using a humidifier, clean it regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This will help prevent the build-up of bacteria and mold.
Essential oils are very concentrated and should be used with care. When diffusing essential oils, always:
- Read the humidifier’s instruction manual before using it with essential oils
- Use a cold-air humidifier or diffuser, never one that produces heat
- Add water to the humidifier before adding essential oils
- Start by diffusing for short periods (15 minutes or less) until you know how your body will react to the oil(s) being diffused. If you have any adverse reaction, stop using immediately. Consult your doctor if necessary.
- Keep the diffuser out of reach of children and pets
Essential oils should never be used undiluted in a humidifier, as they could potentially cause irritation or skin sensitization.
Also, always store your essential oils in a cool, dark place.
FAQs
Do essential oils expire?
Yes, essential oils do have a shelf life and will eventually expire. However, most essential oils will last for several years if stored properly in a dark, cool place. To extend the life of your essential oils, we recommend storing them in an airtight container away from direct sunlight or heat sources. You can also keep them in the fridge!
What are the benefits of using essential oils in a humidifier?
Essential oils can help improve mood, increase cognitive function, reduce stress, and promote better sleep. Additionally, they can also help to relieve congestion and soothe dry skin. When used in a humidifier, essential oils can help to improve the quality of the air you breathe while also providing these other benefits.
Happy diffusing!