How to Diffuse Essential Oils

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Diffusion is the spontaneous and random movement of particles of gases, liquids, and solids from a region of high concentration to a region of low concentration. [1] The only safe way to diffuse essential oils is cold diffusion, which doesn’t use any heat. There are different ways that you can go about cold diffusing oils.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Using Direct Inhalation

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  1. Diffusion is, by definition, a spontaneous and random process. This means no heat should be added because then the process no longer spontaneous. While heated diffusion is popular, heating essential oils also decreases their effectiveness. Heating can cause chemical reactions in the essential oil, changing the types of substances in that oil and causing an allergic response.
    • Essential oils are also flammable, which means heating them is an unnecessary risk. [2]
  2. The easiest method to diffuse an essential oil is to open the bottle of the essential oil. When you do this, wave your open hand over the top of the bottle and inhale from the air you are wafting from the bottle.
    • You can also put the oil in a bowl and sniff directly from the bowl. This will help alleviate how strong the oil is directly from the bottle because it is less concentrated.
    • Avoid directly sniffing out of the bottle. Essential oils are very strong and may cause strong reactions.
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  3. You can also try soaking a cotton ball in the essential oil of your choice. The cotton ball can be held under your nose, placed in a cup, or laid out in a room to diffuse the oil. Bring it to your nose and mouth and move it gently so that the aroma wafts toward you.
    • You can also use a piece of cotton cloth, a towel, or a gauze pad. [3]
  4. For more rapid diffusion of your essential oils, you can place a few drops of it into warm water. Make sure the water isn’t warmer than your body temperature so it doesn’t change the composition of the oil.
    • To use this method, place the warm water and the bowl of oils in a central location in the room you’re in. You can also sniff from this bowl as well if you want a more concentrated sniff of the oils. [4]
  5. If you want a more direct placement of the essential oils, you can rub it into your skin. Place a drop of the essential oil on your wrists, chest, or temples. This will allow the essential oil to diffuse in the air around you.
    • If you want, you can also rub some into your palms and bring them to your face to sniff in the aroma of the oils. [5]
  6. A method that increases the rate of diffusion is fanning. Place a few drops of the essential oil into water and placing the bowl near a fan. You can also place it about six to 12 inches from any source of blowing air.
    • During cool weather, place the bowl about a foot away from a heat register. Make sure it isn't too close. It’s not likely that the heat can present a safety hazard, but you do not want to overheat the essential oils. [6]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Using Cold Diffusers

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  1. These diffusers, which can be bought at many different department stores, are highly porous. They allow the essential oils to diffuse first into the stone and then into the air. These can be placed or hung wherever they can be most useful, such as high traffic areas or in a doorway. People walking by will cause waves of air to move by the diffusers. You can also place these diffusers in front of a fan.
    • Once the oil evaporates, you will have to refill it.
    • You can also buy necklaces specifically designed to do this as well, which are worn around the neck.
  2. Electric fan diffusers are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. These typically come with pads that are used to soak up the oils. The oils can evaporate quickly on these, but the pads are changeable.
    • Avoid any diffuser that heats the oils unless there are settings on the diffuser that you can set to approximate body temperature.
  3. Nebulizers and atomizers are like humidifiers. They break up the oil into smaller droplets so they diffuse more easily. These usually contain two basic components, a base that contains the motor for the nebulizer and a glass or plastic bowl where the essential oil is placed.
    • Glass is preferable to plastic bowls because essential oils won’t stick to glass as much as they will to plastic. Be careful with the glass bowl, because they can be expensive to replace.
    • There are a number of companies and businesses, both online and in stores, that sell these types of diffusers. See which type seems best to you, and check to see if there are any reviews or customer comments to find the best ones.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Using Recipes for Essential Oils

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  1. There are a number of different recipes, or essential oil combinations, that can be made for different concerns. You can use these in any diffusing method of choice. If you suffer from anxiety, make an anxiety-reducing essential oil recipe. Mix two drops of bergamot oil, two drops of clary sage oil, and one drop of Frankincense.
    • You can also mix three drops of Lavender oil and two drops of clary sage oil.
  2. If you need to relax, there are a few essential oil recipes you can make to help. For a calming effect, mix one drop of lavender oil and two drops of chamomile oil. If you are having a problem getting to sleep and need to relax, mix two drops of chamomile oil, one drop of clary sage, and one drop Bergamot oil. You can also make a mix of two drops chamomile oil and two drops of lavender oil. [7]
  3. To help reduce depression, make a mixture of three drops orange oil and two drops grapefruit oil. If you sensitive to citrus, try a mixture of three drops bergamot oil and two drops clary sage.
    • A third mixture you can make is three drops of bergamot oil and two drops ginger oil. [8]
  4. To help with stress reduction, mix an essential oil mixture with three drops of grapefruit oil, one drop of ylang ylang oil, and one drop jasmine oil. If you are sensitive to citrus, mix two drops chamomile oil and two drops lavender oil. You can also try mixing three drops of bergamot, one drop of geranium oil, and one drop of frankincense. [9]
  5. To help your concentration and memory, mix two drops of orange oil and two drops of peppermint oil. If you are sensitive to citrus, mix three drops of bergamot oil and two drops peppermint oil.
  6. If you are having issues with immunity and your respiratory system, mix one drop of rosemary oil, one drop of clove oil, one drop of eucalyptus oil, and one drop of cinnamon oil. You can also try mixing one drop of lemon oil, one drop of eucalyptus oil, two drops of peppermint oil, and one drop of rosemary oil.
    • If you are citrus sensitive, mix one drop of bergamot oil, one drop of patchouli oil, and one drop of ylang ylang oil.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Which essential oils can be placed directly on the skin?
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Natural Health Doctor
    Dr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Natural Health Doctor
    Expert Answer
    You shouldn't use the concentrated oils directly on the skin-- always dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil. For example, you might add 1-2 drops of the essential oil to a tablespoon of carrier oil (eg. castor, jojoba or olive oil).  Also, you should be aware that since these essential oils come from plants, you can have a sensitivity to both the plants or its oil.  Always use a small amount to test an area of skin for sensitivity.
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  • Question
    How do I make an essential oil from goldenrod?
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Natural Health Doctor
    Dr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Natural Health Doctor
    Expert Answer
    Get as many goldenrod flowers as you can and pack them into a cleaned jar with a screw-top cap.  Add (slowly) extra virgin olive oil through the flowers until there is a small layer of olive oil covering the flowers.  Screw the cap on and invert the jar back and forth about 3-5 times-- you are trying to make sure there are no air bubbles in the middle of the flowers.  Seal it tightly and place in a cool, dark place for about 6 weeks.  Strain through a cheesecloth and store the oil in a brown/blue bottle in a cool place.
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  • Question
    What can be used if the essential oil does not have a dropper?
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Natural Health Doctor
    Dr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
    Zora Degrandpre, ND
    Natural Health Doctor
    Expert Answer
    You can use a Q-tip or a cotton ball to get some of the essential oil-- then drop the Q-tip into the carrier oil or drop the cotton ball into the carrier oil.  This can get a bit impractical for more than a drop or two.  You can also get a separate medicine dropper to use for the essential oil--and then use the original cap to re-seal the bottle.
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      Tips

      • Just as you can have an allergic response to any plant, and just as you can be sensitive to any plant, people can develop allergic or sensitive responses to plant products such as essential oils. These reactions are relatively rare, but since essential oils are very strong (concentrated), they can induce these reactions. You can minimize this risk by minimizing direct contact with these concentrated oils.
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      • Essential oils are very strong. If you find this is the case, dilute the essential oil with one to two teaspoons of almond oil.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diffusion
      2. ↑ https://www.aromaweb.com/articles/essential-oil-diffusers-guide.php
      3. ↑ https://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/methods-of-application/
      4. ↑ https://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/methods-of-application/
      5. ↑ https://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/methods-of-application/
      6. ↑ https://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/methods-of-application/
      7. ↑ https://www.aromaweb.com/recipes/sleep-diffuser-recipes-blends-with-essential-oils.php
      8. ↑ https://www.aromaweb.com/recipes/winter-blues-sad-recipes-blends-essential-oils.php
      9. ↑ https://www.aromaweb.com/recipes/aromatherapy-stress-recipes-blends-using-essential-oils.php

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To diffuse essential oils easily, just open the bottle or pour a few drops of oil onto a cotton pad. You can also pour a little oil into a bowl of warm water and place it in front of a fan to diffuse it more rapidly. Another option is to buy an electric fan diffuser or a nebulizer for extra-efficient cold diffusion. If you want a more natural approach, buy a terracotta or sandstone diffuser and hang it up in an area where air currents will help distribute the diffused oils, such as over a doorway. Keep reading for more tips from our Naturopathic Medicine co-author, including how to mix your own beneficial essential oil combinations!

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