Which Aromatherapy Diffuser Is Right For You?
One of the most popular ways to enjoy aromatherapy in your daily life is by using an aromatherapy diffuser or burner.
All you have to do is add a few drops of essential oil to your device of choice, sit back and enjoy all the emotional benefits that the essential oils deliver.
The great thing about using diffusers is that they allow everyone at home (or in the same space) to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of essential oils, without suffering any of the side-effects often associated with synthetic fragrancing products used around the home these days. Many people report suffering from headaches or even eye irritation after using some home fragrance products bought on the high street.
This is not the case when using the all-natural approach using essential oils or fragrant essential oil blends such as Quinessence Mood Enhancers. But there are lots of different types of aromatherapy diffusers to choose from, and it can be tricky deciding which type of diffuser or burner is right for you.
Aromatherapy diffusers help set the mood
Aromatherapy is great for setting a mood and creating a relaxing ambiance around your home, as well as uplifting your spirits. Whether you want to create an atmosphere of intimacy, relaxation, or vibrant energy, there are essential oils to help you in your goal – that part is simple. But it’s important to remember that there are several types of aromatherapy diffusers on the market at prices ranging from as little as £10 up to £50. They all look different, and they all have their own strengths and weaknesses, so there’s a lot to think about before parting with your cash.
Before shopping for your diffuser or burner be sure to check out the various designs and decide what you need stylistically, functionally, and of course, what you can afford. These are all personal choices that can only be made by you, so look for the one that best suits all your personal requirements before getting out your credit card.
Here are the most popular choices of the aromatherapy diffusers used today;-
Ultrasonic diffusers
These are the latest hi-tech, state-of-the-art products for diffusing essential oils. This type of diffuser uses ultra high frequency sound waves created by special vibrating plates to break down the essential oils into microscopic particles which are blended with water vapour and then dispersed into the air. Very cool.
No, it really is cool, because no heat is involved whatsoever in this process, which means that you can enjoy more of the essential oils true aroma. Ceramic candle burners often create too much heat which changes the aroma of oils – and can particularly change the fragrance of essential oil blends.
That’s because essential oil blends contain a mixture of top, middle and base notes to create a new aroma, and heat can cause the top and middle notes to evaporate far too quickly leaving only base notes behind, thereby dramatically changing the intended aroma.
Simply fill the water tank of an ultrasonic diffuser and add 6 to 10 drops of individual or blended essential oils and the unit will dispense beautiful aromas in your home for hours. Many ultrasonic diffusers have rotating coloured lights to add to the relaxing ambience, and some even include a timer, humidifier, ionizer and air purifier. Ultrasonic diffusers are low maintenance and very easy to clean.
Electric heat diffusers
This type of electric diffuser slowly heats the essential oils placed on the surface of the unit to a temperature that is just sufficient to evaporate the essential oils. They contain a thermostatically controlled heating coil and the heat warms up a ceramic surface plate where the oils are placed.
Electrically powered heat diffusers are still very popular due their easy-to-use design, you simply plug them in and add a few drops of oil – no water required. Unfortunately, some models do still get quite hot and can cause the aroma problems mentioned previously, while other don’t really get hot enough. On the plus side, these diffusers offer a clean, safe and effective way of vaporising oils without using a naked flame. However, they are a bit more difficult to clean if the unit is left running after the essential oils have evaporated, since a sticky residue can begin to build up.
Electric fan diffusers
This type of diffuser uses an internal fan to disperse the essential oils into the air around you. Drops of essential oils are placed on an absorbent pad that is inserted into the device, and air is drawn through the pad and diffused out into the room by the fan.
There is no heat is involved with electric fan diffusers, and the absorbent pads are disposable which means you can avoid the chore of regular cleaning. The main complaint about this design is that many people think they are a bit noisy, with the fan buzzing away all the time in the background. If you prefer to enjoy your essential oils for a few hours at a time around the house, the sound of the fan might be a bit intrusive for you, plus you must keep adding more drops of essential oil to the pad. This means you will also need to buy replaceable pads fairly regularly too.
Candle burners
This is the tried and tested design first used when aromatherapy became popular back in the 1980’s. The traditional burner design will be familiar to most people, and typically incorporates a glazed ceramic pot and lid that is filled with water, powered by a candle. That’s right, a candle! It probably seems a bit ‘Heath-Robinson’ to most younger folks these days, but this design still gets the job done, and at a very low cost. They can often look very pretty and can blend in well with any type of decor around the house too.
The small physical size of the lid on these units means that the water must be topped-up regularly or the essential oils easily get boiled away once all the water has evaporated. Not a good smell! Controlling the temperature of the water can be tricky with these units; too little heat means no aroma, and too much will frazzle the oils. Ceramic burners are the most difficult to clean, especially if a residue is left to build up for a long period. Also, these units should not be left unattended around children due to the obvious risk from the naked flame.
All that said, many people still feel that the ritual of filling the lid with water, adding the essential oils, and lighting a candle all adds to the aroma-therapeutic experience. And there’s no denying that the romantic light emitted through the decorative floral patterns incorporated in traditional ceramic burners does add a certain “Je ne sais quoi” to events.
Copyright © Quinessence Aromatherapy Ltd 2022. Written by Geoff Lyth
