THE BEST ESSENTIAL OIL DIFFUSING METHOD EVER!

One of the most enjoyable (and safest!) ways to use essential oils is diffusion!

But with so many models available on the market, it's hard to choose.

Let me walk you through the main diffusers, with pros and cons, and share with you why the nebulizer is the BEST diffusion method.

The burner.

The simplest, most cost-effective method: only requires a ceramic burner and a candle.

The biggest problem with burners is the heat: each essential oil has what we call in aromatherapy jargon a "flashpoint" = a maximum temperature at which it can no longer sustain its full therapeutic benefits.

The temperature in a burner will be too high for many essential oils with a low flash point, like citruses, peppermint, chamomile, and many others.

Not only can you lose the therapeutic benefits of your expensive essential oil, but your oil might simply evaporate!

PROS:

• Unexpensive

• Easy to find

• Easy to use

• SPA-feel

CONS:

• Heat can damage EO therapeutic benefits

• EO might evaporate

• An unpleasant burnt smell can occur with low flash point EO

• It's dangerous to leave a lit candle in a home

• Animals can lick the oil which would be toxic, or burn their whisks

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• If you really have to use a burner, I would recommend checking the flashpoint of your essential oils before you use them (a google search will do). Ensure your oils have a high flashpoint of at least 70' celsius / 158' F (like lavender vera, cinnamon, clary sage, ylang-ylang, vetiver, patchouli, palmarosa, lemongrass...)

• Make sure you keep the burner out of reach from children and pets

• Make sure you never leave it unattended, even at night.

The water mist diffuser

This is the most commonly used method of diffusion.

Unlike the burner, it doesn't use heat and works as a plug-in device.

They come in various sizes, colors, designs...and look pretty. Some have fancy added options like dim light or music player

The downside of it is that it works with water.

Let's dive back into primary school's wisdom: oil and water... do not mix together! Right!!!

Problem number two: stagnant water = bacteria, yeast, and fungi feast. (Even if you add in freshwater each time). Some of these nasties can be pathogenic (harmful) and trigger allergy symptoms: sneezing, eye sensitivity, and even asthma.

Problem number three: Is any more humidity needed when you already live in a tropical area like us in Shenzhen?!! With a whopping 90% humidity most of the year...neh...I don't think so.

PROS

• Playful and aesthetic

• Readily available for all budgets

• Some come with cool added options like lighting and music

• For the fanciest models, customizable diffusion options

CONS

• Works with water = all-you-can-eat buffet for bacteria, yeast, and fungi

• Works with water = more humidity in your home (make sure this is what you want!! Can be great for cold & dry climates...not so great for tropical, sub'trop, and equatorial climates!)

• Oil and water do not mix...not sure the level of homogeneity you really get from blending 2 substances that hate and repel each other! Try to pour 1 drop of essential oil into a glass of water and see what I mean!

• Most devices I've seen can't be disassembled for cleaning.

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• If you still want to go for this model, because you need the humidifying function, ensure you choose a device that can be disassembled and cleaned easily (especially the water tank).

• Clean it at least once a month

• Avoid this method of diffusion at all costs if you suffer from allergy or chronic sinus infection.

The wooden diffuser

No offense to the enthusiastic zero-wasters, but this is the dumbest diffusing method I've ever seen.

This method would have been totally unnoticed by me if it wasn't for one of my essential oil suppliers gifting one of these with each and every single order I place. Generous, uh?

At some point I got curious and tried it: first, it doesn't "diffuse" the essential oil aroma, unless you keep your nose stuck within a 1-meter perimeter (great for kindle-toilet sessions maybe...?), but most disturbing: the wood will absorb your expensive oil...all the way down. So if like me, you had the stupidity to put the piece of wood on a white sink, it will irreversibly stain your sink (it's going to cost me a whopping 2,000 RMB bill when I leave my flat!)

PROS

• The very seducing "naked", minimalistic, zero-waste look

• It's cheap (although believe it or not, vendors still sell this for close to 10 USD on Etsy. But if you deduct buying a new sink like me...NOT WORTH IT!!!)

CONS

• Doesn't diffuse the aroma

• Suck your essential oil dry very fast, so you need to use a lot of oil

• Stains surfaces

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If you still get tempted by kindle-toilet sessions, go for it! just remember to put a small plate under the wood, so it doesn't stain your surfaces.

The Nebuliser diffuser

This is by far the best method of diffusion and a great one to have for any aromatherapy lover.

No heat.

No water.

So how does it work then?

Just add 10-12 drops of pure essential oil directly into the vase.

The plugged-in device works by micro-vibration (=" nebulization"), and breaks down the essential oil molecules into minuscule, almost invisible, very volatile molecules; like a very thin mist.

You get the full therapeutic benefits of your oil (particularly important if you are diffusing to treat a specific condition like cold, or for relaxation purposes).

The device is automated and alternates a few minutes of diffusion with a few minutes of pause (so you don't get overwhelmed with constant diffusion, which is another downside of many diffusers. It saturates your nose and empties your essential oil quickly!). After an hour, it stops automatically, hence It's safe to use at night, even if you fall asleep and forget to turn it off.

Last but not least, its glass tank is very easy to clean: once a month or so, simply fill 1/3 of the tank with pharmacy alcohol, give it a good shake, toss it out in a toilet, and repeat twice more. DONE!

PROS

• Enjoy the full therapeutic benefits of your EO

• A beautiful minimalist design (glass and bamboo), no plastic

• Customizable light (blue, red, pale yellow, or off)

• No humidity or bacteria feast

• An automated cycle of pause and diffusion

• Auto-stop

• Easy to clean

CONS

• More pricey than other options

• Careful with that glass vase!!!

WHERE TO BUY

Right here! we sell the nebulizer diffuser as a set with a FREE 10ml organic certified (AB & Ecocert) essential oil imported from France, which we choose carefully according to season.

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Here is our free tuto on how to assemble and use your diffuser!