How to Use an Essential Oil Diffuser

There’s no denying that essential oils are all the rage right now. In fact, the essential oil market is expected to continue witnessing steady growth in the forthcoming years. Studies have shown that besides having beautiful smells, essential oils can have medicinal effects such as reducing stress, improving mental clarity, uplifting your mood, and purifying the air. An effective way of reaping the benefits of these oils is with essential oil diffusers. These devices allow you to inhale the aromatic oils so they can have a stronger effect on your respiratory system, brain, and emotions.

An essential oil diffuser breaks down essential oils and spreads them throughout a room without changing their delicate chemical structure or emitting hazardous volatile organic chemicals — provided it’s used correctly. But have no fear if you don’t know how to diffuse essential oils. We’ve rounded up everything you need to know to use an essential oil diffuser safely and correctly.

Getting Ready to Diffuse Essential Oils

The first step to beneficial and effective essential oil diffusion is ensuring the oils you purchase for use in your diffuser are of high quality. Consider the factors below to avoid making a wrong purchase:

Packaging: Essential oils should be packaged in dark bottles that are well sealed. That’s because the oils tend to deteriorate more rapidly on exposure to sunlight and heat. Steer clear of essential oils that are in clear bottles or in containers that have been opened.
Cost: Pay attention to whether the price of the product is comparable to similar products. Beware of cheap products because they’re usually made or diluted with potentially hazardous chemical ingredients.
Plant details: A trustworthy company will list details of the plant from which the essential oil has been derived on the bottle. For instance, you’ll see the Latin name of the plants or their country of origin.
Purity: Pure essential oils don’t contain any artificial ingredients, fillers, or pesticides. Look for products that contain only 100% essential oils. Avoid those that have a lower percentage or don’t provide any percentage details.
Smell: Your essential oil diffuser will fill your room with the fragrance of the essential oils you put in it. Therefore, buy a product with a scent you’re perfectly comfortable with. The product may be of poor quality if it doesn’t smell as you expect it to.
Growing practices: You should check whether the packaging has a statement on the plants used to create the essential oils being wildcrafted or grown organically. If it doesn’t, that could be because the plants were mass-produced and had pesticides sprayed on them. Therefore, it may be best to avoid such a product.

It’s also necessary to know the primary purpose for which you want to diffuse essential oils. That’s because different oils are associated with different effects. For example:

Frankincense, lavender, chamomile, and basil are generally considered to create a calming effect thus can help alleviate anxiety
Bergamot and peppermint have stimulating effects and so can help fight depression
Lemon, May Chang, cedar, pine, and juniper help remove foul odors
Lavandin, clove, lemongrass, and geranium help repel insects
Clove, eucalyptus, thyme, and rosemary open your airways

Do research or talk to an aromatherapist to know the best oils for your specific needs.

Location

Once you’ve purchased high-quality essential oils, you’ll need to pick a suitable location to place your diffuser. Diffusers are best kept out of the reach of pets and children. However, it should be on a surface that lets you see and access it easily. You’ll also want to place your diffuser away from windows, direct sunlight, and fans. The major reason for this is that the diffuser’s water can be depleted early if it’s placed near a fan or in direct sunlight.

You can place the device on a high shelf to facilitate maximum dispersal. If you’re going to be using it on a wooden surface, it’s advisable to have a kitchen towel or placemat underneath it. Make sure the device is in an open area in the room that’s not immediately below a surface. The water the diffuser sprays could cause damage to the surface above it.

It’s also worth mentioning that most essential oil diffusers don’t have long electrical cords. For that reason, the location you choose should have an outlet nearby.

Setting Up an Essential Oil Diffuser

Once you’ve acquired the right essential oils with you and have placed the diffuser in a suitable location, you’re ready to start diffusing.

Add water

Remove the diffuser’s lid and fill the reservoir with clean, room-temperature water. Take care not to overfill as that may make the device fail to operate properly. Use the fill line on the unit as a guide. Some diffusers that don’t have a fill line come with a measuring cup, so you’ll need to consult the manual for the exact amount of water required. While you can use tap water, you’ll reduce the number of times you have to clean your diffuser if you use filtered or distilled water.

Add the oils

Essential oils are highly concentrated, meaning a small amount is enough to produce a considerable amount of fragrance. Obviously, you wouldn’t want to overwhelm an area with scent. 3 to 10 drops to be added of essential oil to the water in your diffuser. Most experts say 6 drops are enough, but you can add more if you’re looking for a more powerful scent. However, if you’re an essential oil diffusion newbie, it’s best to start with fewer drops. You can add a single type of oil such as lavender or a blend of oils.

Power on

Put the lid back on and turn on the diffuser. Some diffusers have extra options such as different light settings. Set your preferred features.

How long should you diffuse?

You don’t have to run your diffuser throughout the day to get maximum benefits. As a rule of thumb, diffuse for 20 to 30 minutes then take one or two hours off. After all, your nose goes numb after around 20 to 30 minutes, so running a diffuser longer than that doesn’t yield any extra benefits. Additionally, an hour or more of continuous diffusion can cause headaches, nausea, and aggravate high blood pressure.

If you want to know what the best essential oil diffuser is take a look at our reviews of what we think are the best on the market.

Maintaining an Essential Oil Diffuser

Fortunately, unlike with many other home appliances and surfaces, you shouldn’t worry much about your diffuser turning into a breeding ground for mold. Essential oils are generally antifungal or antimicrobial, so they help prevent the growth of contaminants like mold. So does that mean it isn’t necessary to clean your diffuser? Not really.

The leftovers of essential oils — especially those that are highly viscous like vetiver and patchouli — can affect the experience you’ll have when you add a different oil to the diffuser. The intermingling of the old and new scent may degrade the new oil’s efficacy. For instance, the leftover grapefruit oil that you had diffused moments earlier to keep you energized may make it harder for you to experience the calming effects of the lavender oil you’re planning to diffuse next.

Luckily, cleaning an essential oil diffuser doesn’t necessarily have to be a monumental task. Here are some simple cleaning tips:

After each use, wipe away the excess essential oil or water with a Q-tip or microfiber cloth.
Give the device a thorough clean once or twice each month. If the reservoir is plastic or ceramic, clean it with warm, soapy water. If it’s glass, use diluted vinegar. You could also dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and use it to get rid of any visible oil buildup on the diffuser plate.
Never clean the diffuser with harsh cleaners.
Always unplug the diffuser before starting to clean it.
After cleaning, let the diffuser components air dry.

Keep in mind that with some diffusers, cleaning them with certain cleaners such as vinegar may void their warranty. Therefore, consult the diffuser’s manual or the brand’s customer care or seller before attempting to clean a unit under warranty with household remedies.

Additional Tips When Using Essential Oil Diffusers

There are some tips you should consider when using an essential diffuser:

Don’t diffuse many different essential oils together. They may overwhelm your senses. For the best results, consider using just two or three at any given time.
If you choose to blend different oils, use those that are from the same therapeutic group. For instance, you won’t get the relaxation you desire if you mix a soothing oil with an energy-boosting one. Pre-made blends are available in stores.
Take care not to get essential oils to your hands when filling your diffuser. If you do, wash your hands immediately. Remember, the oils are natural but potent.
Don’t diffuse intense essential oils around kids and pets. You can place the diffuser in a room they can’t access or in a place that’s high and wide enough to make the aroma subtle.

Essential oil diffusers are excellent for use in the bedroom, living room, office, and anywhere else you use to lounge or work. You can use them with an energizing oil blend to get you fired up in the morning, with a nighttime blend to snooze soundly, and for just about any other personal need in between. We believe the diffuser tips and information you’ve gained here will help explore and appreciate the power of aromatherapy.

How to Use a Oil Diffuser