Should I get an essential oil diffuser?

If you’ve ever wondered if you should get an essential oil diffuser, the answer is a definite yes. I’ve used one in my home for several years and I’ve found there are so many benefits to having one. Here’s a look at what a diffuser is, how they work, and a few of the health and energy benefits of having one.

What is a diffuser?

An essential oil diffuser is a device that emits a stream of lightly scented essential oil into the air in your home. Essential oils are plant extracts broken down into a concentrated form, and they come in all different types. You can read about the different kinds of diffusers in the health and wellness buying guide.

To use an essential oil diffuser all you have to do is add your favourite essential oil, plug the diffuser into an outlet, and it will release the oil into your air. There are a lot of different types of diffusers including those that use heat, cordless diffusers, some you can add water to, and others that have built-in lights or white noise options. There are also some cute kid’s diffusers in the form of cute pigs or frogs.

What’s the difference between a diffuser and a humidifier?

A diffuser and a humidifier might seem like the same device, but they differ in that a. diffuser will send a mist of essential oil into the air while a humidifier only emits water mist. Humidifiers are designed to add moisture to the air in your room, but a diffuser is only designed to release essential oils. If you’d like the best of both worlds you can choose a combination humidifier and essential oil diffuser.

Health benefits of using a diffuser

You may think the best part of having a diffuser is how wonderful it makes your room smell, but essential oil diffusers actually have different health and energy benefits.

1. Diffusers can boost your mood

If you’re feeling down and you’d like a bit of a pick-me-up, diffusing some types of essential oils can help. You can try chamomile, bergamot, or lavender to reduce stress and anxiety. I also like orange essential oil for boosting my mood, especially on rainy mornings.

2. Boost your immune system

In the cold winter months when everyone is catching a cold or flu, a diffuser can cleanse your home’s air and promote overall health. You can try essential oils like lemon, tea tree, and mint as they are considered antiviral and antibacterial.

3. Boost your brain function

When you’re working at home or need to concentrate, you can use your diffuser to improve your focus and memory. You’ll want to diffuse oils like lemon, basil, and rosemary to boost your cognitive function and improve your concentration.

4. Improve the quality of your home’s air

An essential oil diffuser can help reduce respiratory issues like asthma and congestion. If you have a cold and want something to clear your sinuses, add a few drops of tea tree, eucalyptus, or peppermint to your diffuser.

5. Essential oils help you sleep

I have always struggled with sleep, and I find one way to get a better rest is to add lavender to my essential oil diffuser. I turn it on half hour before I head to bed and when I’m ready to sleep the room is full of the light scent of lavender.

Which essential oils are best for a diffuser?

There are so many different essential oils you may have a hard time choosing the right type for you. To help, here’s a quick list of 10 essential oils and the type of health or mood benefits they have.

1.  Lavender – helps with relaxation and sleep
2. Peppermint – Boosts energy, helps with concentration
3. Lemon – Calms anxiety and stress and can help boost your mood
4. Eucalyptus – Helps with breathing issues and congestion
5. Tea tree oil – Tea tree has antiviral and antibacterial properties so it can help boost your immune system and is great for your skin
6. Rosemary – Improves memory, concentration, and boosts brain function
7. Ylang Ylang – Boosts your mood, reduces stress, and reduces inflammation. It’s also said to have libido-boosting benefits
8. Clary Sage –  Helps with hormone regulation, reduces stress, and can help improve mood
9. Frankincense –  Has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce inflammation
10. Palo Santo – One of the best essential oils for calming you and reducing anxiety

One of the best parts of essential oils is how you can mix them together to create custom scent. For example, Ylang Ylang mixes well with Geranium, Bergamont, or Patchouli.

Which essential oil diffuser will you choose?

There are a lot of different types of diffusers to choose from. My current favourite is my essential oil diffuser with Himalayan salt block, and my daughter loves her cat-themed diffuser with LEDs. Whichever you choose, you’ll enjoy breathing in the clean, fresh smell of your favourite essential oils. You can find the best diffuser and essential oils for you at Best Buy.