Here's how much essential oil to put in your diffuser (2024)

FAQs

How much essential oil should I put in my diffuser? ›

Between 3 to 5 drops of an essential oil are recommended to use in a diffuser, if the diffuser's size is 100 ml. So 3 drops is a standard amount that can be used as a trial, if you are using an aroma diffuser for the first time.

Fill the reservoir with water.

Fill a glass or small measuring jug with water and pour it into the reservoir on top of the diffuser. Some diffusers may have a line or indicator to guide how much water you should add to the reservoir. If not, fill it around halfway to reduce the chance of water spilling.

When diluting essential oils with a carrier oil, it's important to follow these dilution guidelines. For adults: 2.5 percent dilution: 15 drops essential oil per 6 teaspoons carrier oil. 3 percent dilution: 20 drops essential oil per 6 teaspoons carrier oil.

Get an Oil Diffuser

But many people who have used these diffusers have wondered, “How many drops of essential oil do you put in a diffuser?” Follow the “three drops per 100 mL” rule of thumb and you'll be enjoying the benefits of your diffuser in no time.

There is so much to learn about essential oils and their benefits, but it's always good to know how to use them safely. Oil diffusers are safe for the lungs and, when used correctly, they have many benefits!

Don't overfill your diffuser with water. If you exceed the maximum fill line, your diffuser could overheat. Try to use distilled or purified water in your diffuser wherever possible. Tap water contains minerals that could build up in your diffuser, damaging the internal mechanisms.

Dilution Ratios for Essential Oils

Whichever dilution method you choose, the essential oil content should only account for 0.5% to 2% of the total blend. This equates to 3 to 12 drops per ounce of finished product.

Use the right kind of water

Most diffusers work best with room temperature tap water because it contains natural minerals that help the oils diffuse into the room. Additionally, it's important to not overfill your diffuser.

The inhalation of essential oil vapors is not generally dangerous, but very intensive inhalation for more than about 20 minutes may lead to respiratory distress and/or neurological symptoms, such as headache, nausea, burning of eyes and throat, cough, shortness of breath, or slowed breathing in young children.

Potential Problem: Your Essential Oils are too Diluted

A very common cause of diffuser problems is when the oil or blend you're using is too diluted. Double check your recipe, and if necessary, add a few more drops of essential oil to the mixture and see what happens—oftentimes this is enough.

Can you leave a diffuser on while you sleep? ›

As long as you're using a high quality diffuser and high quality,all natural essential or aroma oils, there's likely no risk to diffusing your oils overnight. However, if you'd like to take extra precautions, the easiest safety solution is to get a diffuser with an automatic shut off feature.

Most essential oil dilution rates should be 3% or less for topical use (as an example, 3 drops of essential oil to 97 drops of carrier oil). This dilution rate would be considered safe and effective for most aromatherapy applications.

Tips for Measuring Essential Oils

There are approximately 20 drops in 1 milliliter.

Peppermint essential oil

A 2013 study suggests that when a healthy person uses peppermint oil, it can help to relax the muscles of the windpipe, known as the bronchial muscles. This may explain why this essential oil can ease breathing in people with coughs.

Inhalation and Diffusion

It is not advisable to directly and intensively inhale essential oils for longer than 15-20 minutes, such as with steam inhalation. However, this does not apply to ambient inhalation from essential oils vaporized into the air.

1. Eucalyptus essential oil. Eucalyptus essential; oil is recognized for its ability to treat coughs and associated respiratory ailments like pharyngitis, bronchitis, and sinusitis, says this study.

Some diffusers require or work best with different types of water. The instructions included in many of today's essential oil diffusers recommend that you use tap water in your diffuser because it includes natural minerals that help the water diffuse into a vapor better than distilled water.

Fill Up the Tank—Because the diffuser relies on water to help create a nice-smelling mist, you will routinely have to fill it up with water. Our diffuser has a clearly marked fill line so you always know exactly how much water to use.

Yes, you can use distilled water in your diffuser. Many diffusers specifically state that they can only be used with distilled, purified or filtered water, but using distilled water is also safe for a diffuser that can use tap water unless otherwise specified.

How often should you flip your diffuser? ›

You'll need to flip your reeds regularly, we suggest every few days, to keep the scent fresh and fragrant. Keep in mind that the more your flip, the quicker the oil will evaporate. Diffusers don't require a flame or heat source for them to work, making them a safe and practical way to fragrance your home.

After each use, you should empty any remaining water and essential oils from the diffuser, wipe it with a clean cloth and ensure that it is thoroughly dry before replacing the lid and storing your diffuser. Once a month, you'll need to give your diffuser a deep clean.

Ideally, a diffuser should be rinsed clean after every use, especially if you are changing the oil scents. Then, depending on how frequently the diffuser is used, it should be thoroughly cleaned at least monthly to remove dust and build-up that affects how well it works.

The usual amount of water held by a diffuser is 100ml, and typically it is recommended to add 3-5 drops of essential oil per 100ml of water. Of course, the amount you choose to add will vary according to personal preference, as well as the size of the room – larger rooms will benefit from slightly more oil.

By applying essential oils undiluted on the skin over time, your body can begin to trigger an immune response which can lead to sensitization. When you dilute your essential oils, you decrease the likelihood of this happening.

As a general rule, essential oils should be used in a 2% dilution. That means about 40 to 80 drops to a 4-oz. bottle of carrier oil, or about 10 drops to a tablespoon of oil.

Placing your diffuser somewhere high up and open is always best as it can then utilise any airflow to fill the room. We advise to keep the diffuser out of direct sunlight to avoid the oils evaporating, which would not help those luxurious scents last.

Once a diffuser is constantly running it disperses into the air in an upwards motion. So it is best not to place the diffuser in an area is close to any surface above it. We have seen damage on mirrors, paintings, cabinets and towel holders from the placement of oil dispensers.

"We see many examples of people using it improperly which causes skin burns, irritation, or sensitization," says Jean Liao. In fact you shouldn't really be blasting it for hours straight at all. His recommendation is to turn your diffuser on between one and three times a day for up to 30 minutes at the maximum.

Diffusing, ingesting, or wearing essential oils may have negative health impacts, including allergic reactions, difficulty breathing, and asthma attacks. Consult your physician before adding essential oils to your regimen. Essential oils are highly concentrated. It is best to use them in a well-ventilated area.

What are the negative effects of essential oils? ›

The safety of any essential oil depends largely on the person using it, but like any plant product, these oils can contribute to skin irritation, respiratory symptoms and even hormone-related symptoms.

A: No, you can only add oils to it.

Make sure there are plenty of reeds

As the reeds are the vehicle for the fragrance, the more reeds you have, the more 'transport links' there are for the scent to travel into the surrounding room. If you find that your reed diffuser is lacking in potency, try adding more reeds to your diffuser.

It is best to place the humidifier at least 3 feet away from your bed. This is to avoid being directly exposed to too much moisture and to allow the moisture to be distributed evenly around the room.

There is no proven evidence that essential oil diffusers improve Indoor Air Quality. Try dusting and vacuuming on a regular basis. Consider adding an Indoor Air Quality system that is proven to work, such as an air filtration system, a humidifier, or a dehumidifier.

How long should you be diffusing essential oils? There is no exact science to diffusing. There's also no standard recommendation for how long to diffuse your oils. A standard rule of thumb is to diffuse for 15 to 20 minutes, which is more than enough time to saturate a standard-size room with scent molecules.

Essential oils don't spoil like food does, but they do change over time. Because it's hard to determine what the oils have changed into, it's also hard to determine whether or not they're safe to use. The bottom line is, don't inhale expired essential oils or use them on your skin after they have expired.

While you can always diffuse one oil at a time, combining oils is a fun way to make your own bespoke, custom blend—and the potential combos are pretty much limitless. "You can create an aroma that's as dynamic and unique as a luxury candle, in a really natural way," Panton says.

How many drops of oil should I put in my diffuser? ›

Between 3 to 5 drops of an essential oil are recommended to use in a diffuser, if the diffuser's size is 100 ml. So 3 drops is a standard amount that can be used as a trial, if you are using an aroma diffuser for the first time.

Essential oil websites tend to say that you can get between 15-20 drops per ml. However, some studies have shown numbers on the high end of that spectrum, with an average of about 30 drops per ml. For a 5 ml bottle, that means you could expect to get between 75 and 150 drops, with an average of 112.5.

When diluting essential oils with a carrier oil, it's important to follow these dilution guidelines. For adults: 2.5 percent dilution: 15 drops essential oil per 6 teaspoons carrier oil. 3 percent dilution: 20 drops essential oil per 6 teaspoons carrier oil.

You cannot have your diffuser on without feeling like you need to leave the room. The problem… diffusing too much at one time may cause dizziness, nausea, headaches, confusion, and lethargy.

Keep to the rule of one ounce of water per 10-12 drops of essential oils. With all ingredients mixed, they are ready to go into your diffuser.

Using too much oil can leave you with an overpowering smell that can lead to headaches and respiratory irritation.

As long as you're using a high quality diffuser and high quality,all natural essential or aroma oils, there's likely no risk to diffusing your oils overnight. However, if you'd like to take extra precautions, the easiest safety solution is to get a diffuser with an automatic shut off feature.

The answer is yes it is safe, but even more than that, breathing in essential oils can be good for you. Inhaling essential oils isn't just pleasant because of their gorgeous scents and aromas they release, but it can actually positively affect your mental and physical wellbeing too.

Some diffusers require or work best with different types of water. The instructions included in many of today's essential oil diffusers recommend that you use tap water in your diffuser because it includes natural minerals that help the water diffuse into a vapor better than distilled water.

Most diffusers work best with room temperature tap water because it contains natural minerals that help the oils diffuse into the room. Additionally, it's important to not overfill your diffuser.

What are the side effects of a diffuser? ›

nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. skin irritation (skin exposure) eye redness, irritation or pain (eye exposures).