One of the easiest and most effective ways to use essential oils is in an ultrasonic diffuser which diffuses the oils in a cool mist right into the air. If you go online and start looking for one of these diffusers you will be inundated with an endless supply of options made with many different materials, with different lighting options, in different sizes and from the very cheap to the extravagantly expensive. So how do you decide what is the best option? In our last post Kay discussed the benefits and precautions around diffusing and these are all good things to keep in mind. While most manufacturers will boast of the run-time on their diffusers, saying things like 10 HOURS OF CONTINUOUS DIFFUSION, we know that this is not ideal at all. In order to prevent over saturation of the olfactory system and habituation to the scent we should not diffuse for more that an hour at a time. For longer periods using an intermittent diffuser that cycles on and off for at least 30 minutes is ideal.
When we first started using essential oils I received a diffuser as a gift, and it worked fine but as mom started her journey to become a Certified Aromatherapist and shared what she was learning with me I found myself using it less and less. Why? Honestly it’s because I was to lazy to turn it on and off! I would tell myself to turn it off after half an hour and then forget, or not want to get up from where I was ensconced under piles of grading or cuddled up with a good book. Who cares that the diffuser was just a few steps away, I just didn’t want to bother. So I stopped using it. A few months ago I started searching for a diffuser that had an intermittent cycle so that I could use it without worrying about keeping track of time or disrupting my grading flow and I was surprised at just how difficult it was to find one! Most manufacturers are just trying to extend the diffusion time, they don’t seem concerned about the safest and most effective use of the oils, and likely they just don’t know. Some do have what they call an ‘intermittent setting’ but it is only 30 seconds on and off which is not what we want.
Plant Therapy has their AromaFuse diffuser which has an intermittent cycle, but it’s $50… And that is more than I am willing to spend, especially since my old one still technically worked. Finally, after ages of combing through the descriptions of diffusers on Amazon I found the LED Concepts Essential Oil Diffuser. This diffuser is very similar to most that you will find in that it has a light-up feature with LED lights that can cycle through a range of colors or remain at one chosen color. The light can also be dimmed or shut off entirely. What sets this diffuser apart is that it has a 30 minute on/30 minute off cycle which means I can turn it on and not have to worry! Even better it comes with a small remote as well so I can control it without having to get up at all! And to top it all off this diffuser is only $25 on Amazon.
I’ve had this diffuser for a few weeks now and I find myself so much more likely to diffuse with it than I was with my old one. I am sure that there are others out there that have an intermittent setting but this was the only one I found that wasn’t $50+. So when you go in search of a diffuser this might be the one for you. This diffuser sets your up for success and make safe use a breeze!
~ Erin
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Have you seen aromatherapy jewelry? Felt discs in pretty lockets, clay pendants, lava bead bracelets and necklaces are in right now. They are a popular way to use the benefits of essential oils in a way that is similar to using a personal inhaler. Aromatherapy utilizes scent to deliver the therapeutic properties of aromatic essential oils instantly. Inhalation is one of the most effective ways to use essential oils to manage stress, increase focus, relieve anxiety, aid sleep, boost mood and influence emotions. Many times using a whole room diffuser is not a practical or convenient method and aromatherapy jewelry can offer a targeted form of administration that is easy to access. I have come up with a neat way to use local sheep’s wool to make an interesting and practical diffuser pendant. My friend Heather taught me to make colorful felted wool balls from wool that she produced and bartered for as well. I place them in spiral wire cages and use hand sewn silk cording to hang them from. They can be worn as a necklace or used as an indirect diffuser in the car or at work where a whole room diffuser might not be welcome. My Stay Focused blend of essential oils helps to keep me alert on my long commutes though any blend or single essential oil could be used as needed. If you have questions about how to use essential oils in diffuser jewelry or any aromatherapy questions in general, shoot me an email. Happy Spring!