Does a Diffuser Add Moisture to the Air?

As the air is getting colder and we are rapidly approaching winter, many people are looking for ways to add more moisture to the air in their homes or offices. Air moisture levels often need to be supplemented during the winter thanks to colder and drier air that can be really harsh on the human body. Many people turn to a diffuser in order to do this, but is this really the best way? 

As it turns out, there are a couple of different things you can do to add moisture to the air in your space and keep your family nice and moisturized no matter how far the temperature drops outside! 

What is a Diffuser?

oil diffuser

A diffuser is a device that is able to spread something over a wide area. These days, when most people mention a diffuser, they are actually talking about an essential oil diffuser that is designed to use water and a small amount of essential oils to dilute them and then spread them throughout living spaces. Some different types of diffusers include nebulizing diffusers, ultrasonic diffusers, evaporative diffusers, and heat diffusers. 

Everlasting Comfort’s Essential Oil Diffuser has a beautiful flower vase design featuring dark or light wood to seamlessly blend into your home. It comes with a 400mL water tank to provide you with over 13 hours of diffusion before refilling. It also comes with cool features like a variety of LED lights, multiple timer options, and mist output variability. So if you’re looking for the best diffuser around, search no more!

How to Use a Diffuser

Even though all diffusers are different and may have varying instructions, here are some general tips to properly use a diffuser in your home:

  • Place your diffuser in a safe, flat location near an electrical outlet and away from things that would be affected by small amounts of water, like electronics. 
  • Fill your diffuser with the correct amount of distilled water based on the device’s specifications. 
  • Choose your essential oils and add in a couple of drops or consult the device manual for specific amounts. 
  • Turn your device on and let it start to work its magic! 
  • Make sure to clean your diffuser after each use to avoid buildup such as mold and mildew that can easily grow from the moisture. 

The Best Essential Oils for Diffusers

Everyone has their own essential oil preferences, but if you’re a beginner, you might not know where to start. Thankfully, we are here to help you with a quick guide to some of the best essential oils that you can use in your diffuser. It may take you some time to figure out what you like and what works for you, but that’s just part of the fun! 

Here are some great oils to start out with:

  • Peppermint: Peppermint is very stimulating and can help you focus on tasks -- making it great for that 3 PM slump during the workday. 
  • Lemon: Lemon is another fresh and stimulating oil that can help you feel energized while also promoting cleanliness in the air!
  • Tea tree: Tea tree oil is very refreshing and can effectively purify and freshen the air in your home. It can also help soothe respiratory issues and muscle aches. 
  • Lavender: Lavender is a relaxing and soothing essential oil that can promote a good night’s sleep. It can also come in handy if you have a stuffy nose due to allergies or a cold. 
  • Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus is a refreshing scent that can help you focus as well as ease respiratory symptoms by clearing your chest and throat. 

Does a Diffuser Add Moisture to the Air?

The basic answer to this question is yes, a diffuser does add moisture to the air. However, the output is quite small and might not make a big difference -- especially if you are in a large space. For example, Everlasting Comfort’s essential oil diffuser comes with three output settings: low with 30mL per hour or high with 50mL per hour. 

So, even though a diffuser is a great way to benefit from essential oils in your home or office, it might not be the best way to introduce a substantial amount of moisture into the air in large spaces. 

How to Add More Moisture to the Air?

Since a diffuser doesn’t add that much moisture to the air, what does? As it turns out, a humidifier might be what you’re looking for. A humidifier functions similarly to a diffuser however it has a much larger capacity and output when compared with a more compact diffuser. 

This is a really effective way to add more moisture to the air which could be beneficial for a variety of reasons:

  • Humidifiers can help provide some much-needed moisture for dry and harsh winter air. People commonly experience dry skin, chapped lips, and even nosebleeds from all the dryness in the air. It can be really painful and frustrating to deal with these issues for months on end during the long winter. 
  • Humidifiers can help reduce chances of infection with influenza. This is because increased humidity levels in the air make it harder for virus particles to survive and spread from person to person. And while you should definitely take additional precautions during flu season like taking vitamins, washing your hands, and getting enough sleep, using a humidifier during these times is a lesser-known but still effective preventive measure that can save you from struggling with a cough, fever, and stuffy nose thanks to the flu. 
  • Humidifiers can help to make a cough more productive. Even if you do end up catching the flu -- that doesn’t mean that your humidifier is useless! There’s nothing worse than having to cough over and over again because you can’t dislodge the nastiness in your throat. By adding more moisture to the air, you can add more moisture to your throat and help break up the mucus in your throat that’s making you cough. 
  • Humidifiers can even reduce snoring for those that deal with these issues on a regular basis. Adding a humidifier to your bedroom can easily help you stop snoring by lubricating your airways while you’re sawing logs. We promise that your partner will thank you as a result of this simple addition! 

What to Look for in a Humidifier

young couple relaxing on the couch

There are so many different types of humidifiers out there, so what should you look for? 

While the exact features of your humidifier will depend on your own needs and room size, here are some key things to look out for when shopping for a humidifier

  • Cool mist humidifiers are definitely superior to warm mist humidifiers. They are usually more expensive than their warm alternative, but it’s definitely worth the price increase! Not only are cool mist humidifiers safer to use in the home since there’s no risk of burning or scalding (especially for young children or pets), they are more effective at soothing nasal passages and treating respiratory issues and symptoms of the common cold like a sore throat and cough. 
  • Humidifiers with a large water storage tank are superior to their smaller counterparts. They are able to keep going all day or night long with no need to refill! That way, you can rest assured that your home will have enough moisture in the air since it’s constantly going. Our Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier comes with a six-liter water storage tank that’s able to provide cool mist for over fifty hours before it needs to be refilled. 
  • Look for a humidifier that doesn’t have a filter. While this might not seem like a big deal at first, you could actually end up spending more money over time on a humidifier that has a filter and requires that it be replaced every two to three months. Instead, spending a little bit more money upfront on a filterless humidifier is definitely the better option. 
  • If you want to be able to adjust the level of output on your humidifier, make sure to look for one that has an adjustable intensity dial. That way, you can crank it up when the air is super dry or dial it back if you just need a small boost of moisture. 
  • Finally, look for a humidifier that comes with an essential oil tray. Our high-capacity ultrasonic humidifier is compatible with aromatherapy, so you can reap all the benefits of amazing essential oils and more moisture in the air at the same time with the same device! 

Summary

As you can see, a diffuser can add small amounts of moisture to the air -- but if you’re really looking to boost the level of humidity in your home then you should go with an actual humidifier. There are even humidifiers out there that come with essential oil trays so that they are essentially a two-in-one device!

Once you start using one of these devices in your home, you’ll wonder what you ever did without it!

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-are-essential-oils

https://food.ndtv.com/beauty/8-incredible-lavender-oil-benefits-for-your-body-mind-and-soul-1661430

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322228

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