How to use and maintain your essential oil diffuser? (2024)

FAQs

How do you maintain an essential oil diffuser? ›

Routine Cleaning of Your Oil Diffuser

Use a 1:1 water and white vinegar solution to clean the empty reservoir and the mist vent. Wipe it down with a dry cloth or cotton ball, and allow it to air dry between uses, rather than reassembling it while harboring moisture.

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.

Some very basic oils like Lemon and Peppermint may be able to be diffused for longer amounts of time at low levels of output, but the general recommendations are to limit diffusing sessions to 30-60 minutes, depending on the oil. More intense oils such as Eucalyptus may need to be limited to 20-30 minutes per session.

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.

So, after each use of your diffuser, be sure to fully empty it of all water and oil and give it a good clean.

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.

If you're using too much essential oil in your diffuser, you may start to notice that you're getting headaches or migraines more often. You might find yourself getting dizzy or experiencing vertigo more often. And you may even get nauseous or start vomiting if you're really going overboard with it.

If your reed diffuser is new, and you're worried that you can't yet smell it, know that it can take up to 24 hours before you begin detecting the scent. The reeds need time to soak up the oil and to begin releasing the fragrance into the air.

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.

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.

Where should a diffuser be placed in a bedroom? ›

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.

Johns Hopkins also advises against using essential oil diffusers, small household appliances that create scented vapor. Diffusion in a public area or household with multiple members can affect people differently. For example, peppermint is often recommended for headaches.

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.

"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.

“Yes, you can use a diffuser without essential oil. Just add water into the diffuser, so it can works as a mini humidifier to enable you stay away from dry skin. If you just add water into the diffuser, purified water is a good choice. With essential oil, it's a diffuser; without oil, it also can work as a humidifier.”

There is no proven evidence that essential oil diffusers improve Indoor Air Quality.

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.

Fractionated coconut oil is the most popular carrier oil for essential oils, and for good reason. Coconut oil, extracted from the fruit of the coconut tree, is a super-oil full of natural antioxidants and is in itself an excellent antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory oil.

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.

What is a good mix of essential oils for diffuser? ›

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.

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

We recommend filling the water slightly below the max fill line. Make sure the unit is sitting on a hard, flat surface. Do not place it on something soft, like a towel that could absorb the ultrasonic vibrations. Make sure the unit is not sitting directly under an air vent or fan that may be dispersing the mist.

How Often Should You Flip the Reeds? Flipping your reed sticks every so often provides a fresh burst of fragrance and helps prevent the reeds from getting clogged. We recommend doing this around once a week or every two weeks. To do this, take the reeds out and put the dry end into the vessel.

Tilt your head to diffuse.

Leaning forward and allowing your hair to flip over can also help the hair dry more evenly and get more coverage with the diffuser, she added. If you're going to flip over, she recommends getting the ends of the hair somewhat dry first before doing so.

Inhaling essential oils that are diffused is safe for most people. However, some people may react to the fumes and get an asthma attack. Breathing in essential oils can cause a severe lung infection known as pneumonitis in some people.

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.

Should you put diffuser by window? ›

Tips For Choosing The Right Spot For Your Reed Diffuser

Avoid radiators and windows as heat will make the fragrance evaporate faster. The area should be dry and not exposed to direct sunlight. Choose high-traffic areas such as bathrooms, hallways or interior doorways.

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!

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

Enjoying essential oils this way does still come with a few risks. First, the vaporized oils can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. While some advertise essential oils as a way to ease asthma symptoms, these chemicals can, in some patients, also trigger asthma attacks.

Unfortunately, essential oils do not improve indoor air quality. In fact, they actually worsen indoor air quality when used in diffusers. Using aroma oils on your skin, in a bath or shower, simply smelling the oil or using dry evaporation methods are generally fine for indoor air quality.

Dr. Block advises against diffusing lavender and tea tree oils because of the potential complications, particularly in children and teens. Pregnant women and people who have hormone-related medical conditions such as diabetes should talk to their doctors before using essential oils topically or with a diffuser.

Some also believe that essential oils can have a subtle effect on the body's chemical and energy systems. Because of this, aromatherapy is often used as a natural remedy to help relieve anxiety and stress. Topical applications and inhalation are some common ways that essential oils can be used for aromatherapy.

How do you make essential oils last longer in a diffuser? ›

Carrier oils are your friend

Carrier oils such as coconut, jojoba or grapeseed are rich in fatty acids which have a similar structure to the natural oils found on the skin. This means they can penetrate the top layer of skin, and retain the essential oil fragrance for much longer than other forms of dilution.

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. Greenair says that warm tap water is what they prefer you use in Greenair diffusers.

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.

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.

Flip the reeds regularly

It might make your reed diffuser run out quicker, but flipping the reeds regularly encourages the fragrance to be released, therefore making it smell stronger. We recommend flipping the reeds weekly to make the most of the scent.

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.

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

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.

However, when you buy a diffuser, you can expect the reeds to last approximately six months. This could be sooner, depending on how it's treated, but six months is the general rule. When you learn how to use a reed diffuser properly, you can keep the scent lasting for quite a long time.