How Long Should You Diffuse Essential Oils?

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Last Updated on October 15, 2024

Essential oils are becoming mainstream nowadays. Diffusers and a variety of essential oils are being sold in the market globally. Sales are drastically increasing due to the increasing number of people using these. Some you can see people wearing the diffuser pendants as a necklace while others buy essential oils and diffusers to put inside their living room, bathroom, or bedroom. Some use essential oils as a stand-alone product while others use them in combination with other oils, or signature scents.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are compounds from plants. They are often used in aromatherapy, an alternative treatment method that utilizes plant extract to help alleviate health problems. The oils are derived from plants: mainly from their roots, stem, and flowers. These can be obtained through the distillation and even mechanical processes.

Is It Safe For Essential Oils To Be Diffused?

Diffusing essential oils is generally safe if the guidelines are followed properly. Here are some safety measures to follow when diffusing essential oils:

• Not all naturals are safe, safety precautions are still needed.
• Just like any other herbal medications, essential oils contain many bioactive ingredients, which can harm your health.
• The safest route for imbibing essential oils is through inhalation. 
• Be considerate of others around you. Some may not like the smell of it, while other factors to be considered are pregnancy, having children and pets at home.
• Do not swallow essential oils.
• Some essential oils are over-reactive to sunlight, thus there is a need to avoid direct sunlight when used topically.
• Before using any essential oil, be sure to consult and talk about it with your doctor.
• Avoid using the diffuser for more than 60 minutes at a time. Use it intermittently throughout the day.

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What Are The Types Of Diffusers?

There are four main types of diffusers that are sold in the market. Each type uses a different method to disperse the aroma of essential oils.  Let’s look into some details of these diffusers:

• Nebulizing Diffuser

This type of diffuser is considered to be the best type for many users. It is of big benefit as it has no plastic, does not require water and heat, and works only with air and oil that are pressurized. Several units of this type come along with a timer that you can set up for your preferred time. This is also believed to be the best to deliver the purest essential oil possible.

• Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffusers

An ultrasonic diffuser is just perfect for use during dry and chilly weather because of its humidifying features. When using this diffuser, you need to dilute the essential oils with water. In order to distribute the molecules into the air, it creates vibration by using electronic frequencies to break up these molecules. This process creates only a minimal amount of noise so this type is best for working, relaxing, and sleeping. 

In using this type, do not use any citrus essential oil as these oils can destroy the ultrasonic section of the diffuser. You may also look at the manual that comes with it when you buy one in-store or online for some precautionary measures to deal with.

• Evaporative Diffusers

These diffusers utilize a small fan that expels air over the oil, releasing it through the evaporation process. Though these diffusers generally are the least expensive type, they are still built with some drawbacks. 

• Heat Essential Oil Diffusers

Heat diffusers are similar to evaporative diffusers in such a way that they utilize a small fan. However, they use heat instead of air in the diffusion process. Heat diffusers have many types, to include, lamp rings, candle heat diffusers, and electric heat diffusers.

I Fell Asleep While The Diffuser’s On. Is It Safe Overnight?

In Taiwan, a study was conducted involving 100 spa workers who were made to sit inside a room with a diffuser on. The study revealed a decrease in the health benefits of essential oils after 1 hour and the development of various vascular and respiratory distresses.

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The suggested use of the diffuser is intermittent utilization of about 30 to 60 minutes.

Are Essential Oils Safe To Be Inhaled?

Generally speaking, it is safe to inhale essential oils. You can take a deep sniff for not more than 10 seconds. However, the utilization of a diffuser is still the best way to use essential oils.

How Long Should You Diffuse Essential Oils?

The reason why essential oils are diffused is to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of these oils without over stimulating your nose or the area where you diffuse it. 

As to how long should you diffuse essential oils, it is highly suggested by trained aromatherapists to diffuse it for 30 minutes, turn it off for 30 minutes, then 30 minutes on, so on and so forth. Why? This is because our body has the capacity to get used to a certain aroma or what we call adaptation. When our body gets accustomed, the benefits of the essentials oils are decreased and if it takes longer, are diminished. 

To Sum It All Up

While diffusing is great and gives you an easy way to harmonize essential oils into your day to day life program, bear in mind that you should always diffuse in a space or area that is well-ventilated. Also, make sure that what your diffusing won’t harm children, pregnant women, pets, or anyone else who is around you.

To help you with this, you can buy a diffuser with a timer. This awesome aspect can give you an idea of how long you should use your diffuser. In addition, you should always be dependent on 100% pure essential oils. Aside from the fact that this can prevent your diffuser from being clogged, it also ensures that your diffuser emits only the purest aroma possible.

Just a little add-on information, the more compact the room is, the lesser the essential oil you need to use, and the less time you need to run your diffuser. On the other hand, bigger rooms, of course, need an extended cycle. 

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