It’s the season! With winter here a lot of people attending my Non Toxic Workshops are asking me how to choose a diffuser for their essential oils. I’ve put together a list of things to consider when choosing a diffuser to help you make a decision.
First, what is a diffuser?
A diffuser is an electrical device used to “diffuse” essential oils, or release them through the air. It’s a great way to enjoy the benefits of essential oils. The diffuser spreads the essential oil of your choice throughout your room or your house for the time you choose. It creates an inviting scent and is safe and easy to use—as long as it’s being used properly.
Types of diffusers:
There are mainly 2 types of diffusers on the market: nebulizers and ultrasonic diffusers.
Nebulizers are very useful if you are looking to cover a large area with one device. Nebulizers do not use heat or water to “diffuse” the oils. You simply fill the nebulizer with straight essential oils and start it. These types of devices are typically more expensive than ultrasonic diffusers, use more oils to work, but also come in a wider variety of material than ultrasonic diffusers (including glass and wood), emit a stronger scent and are better at covering large areas.
On the other hand, ultrasonic diffusers are mostly made of durable plastic, are easier to clean, use water to diffuse the oils (not heat), use less oils to function than the nebulizers, are generally more affordable to purchase but cover smaller spaces (about 400 square feet).
As most people diffuse in smaller rooms (think bedrooms, living rooms, office, etc…), I will focus on what you need to consider when purchasing your first ultrasonic diffuser.
1- The size of the area to cover:
When purchasing a diffuser, think about where you will most often use it? Do you plan on putting it in a bedroom? A living room? An office? Do you plan on using it in a large open floor plan area? Once you have an idea, make sure the diffuser (or nebulizer) you pick covers that area.
2- The timer function:
You do not need to diffuse essential oils for hours on end for them to be beneficial. In fact, diffusing for 10 minutes, stopping for 20 minutes will give you all the benefits you are looking for. Some diffusers come with timers, some come with “Bursts” features, some can run different lengths of time before stopping. Make sure your diffuser has a timer feature!
3- The light:
Some diffusers double down as night lights (and some offer different choices of colored lights). While kids typically love those, you might not. If you do not want one with a light that runs non stop while the diffuser is on, make sure you choose a diffuser that has no light or a light that can be turned off manually if needed while the diffuser keeps running.
4- BPA free:
If you choose a plastic diffuser (and most of them are) make sure you pick one that is made of BPA free plastic. You do not need Bisphenol A to be diffused along with your oils.
That is about all you need to know about diffusers! There are thousands of models, going from about $15 to over $100, with aesthetics to please everyone so all you have to do now, is find the one for you!
If you would like some suggestions, join us at www.GetNonToxic.com/VIP where I will share my suggestions also!