These days, it seems like everyone is talking about the benefits of essential oils. People say they can do everything from clearing out sinus congestion to alleviating insomnia. And with all this hype, you may be considering adding an essential oil diffuser to your home.
An oil diffuser can be a wonderful way to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy at home. But many new users wonder, “How many drops of essential oil do you put in a diffuser?” Read on to learn more about these diffusers and how to use one the right way.
What Is Essential Oil?
Before we dive into how many drops of essential oil to use in your diffuser, let’s talk about what essential oil is. Many people think of essential oil as just nicely scented oil, but it’s much more than that. And if you’re going to use it safely, you’ll need to know what makes an oil “essential.”
Essential oils derive their name from the fact that they are the distilled essence of a plant. You can distill essential oils from a plant or get them by cold pressing; if a process uses chemical means to get these oils, they are not considered to be essential. These aromatic chemicals can be combined with an odorless carrier oil to prepare them for sale.
What Is an Oil Diffuser?
In simplest terms, an oil diffuser is any device used to break essential oils down into smaller particles and diffuse them into the surrounding air. A diffuser could be something as simple as reeds in a glass jar or as complex as a device that uses ultrasonic vibrations. We’ll go over the different types of oil diffusers in a moment, but all of their basic function remains the same.
Many people use oil diffusers for aromatherapy, a technique that uses different odors to influence your mood. You can find diffusers that use heat, some that produce a cool mist, and others that double as humidifiers. They are popular in spas and wellness centers, as well as in private homes.
Different Diffuser Styles
Although there are many different types of essential oil diffusers, only two leave a question of how much oil to use: nebulizer and diffuser. Ceramic, reed diffusers, and candle diffusers allow the oil to evaporate at its own rate into the surrounding air, and electric diffusers use just a few drops of oil on a pad.
Nebulizer diffusers use the physics of airflow to break essential oil into a fine mist. That mist is then distributed into the air around the diffuser through a glass cap, while the particles that are still too large fall back down into the well to be broken down further.
Ultrasonic diffusers hold a mixture of water and essential oil. The diffuser uses ultrasonic waves to vibrate the mixture and break particles into a fine mist, which is then dispersed into the room around.
Different Diffuser Sizes
Ultrasonic and nebulizer essential oil diffusers also come in a variety of different sizes. What size your diffuser is will determine how many drops of oil you need to use in it. Most diffusers will be measured in milliliters, so check your packaging or the body of your diffuser to figure out what size your diffuser is.
In general, oil diffusers range in size from 100 mL to 500 mL. 100 mL is a little less than half a cup, and 500 mL is a little more than two cups. If you can’t find a measurement on your diffuser, take a look at the tank size and try to guesstimate how big you think it might be or measure how much water will fit in it.
Benefits of Using an Oil Diffuser
Essential oil therapy can have a variety of benefits, depending on the oils you’re using. It is important to talk to your doctor before you begin using any new therapy, especially if you have allergies, asthma, or any other pulmonary conditions.
Many people use oil diffusers as a natural way to make their homes smell nicer. But diffusers also allow people to take advantage of the benefits of aromatherapy in their own homes. And if you struggle with low humidity in your home, ultrasonic essential oil diffusers can also double as humidifiers.
How Many Drops of Essential Oil Do You Put in a Diffuser?
How many drops of essential oil you use in your diffuser will depend on your diffuser size. If your diffuser is 100 mL, it’s a good idea to start with between three and five drops of oil. Keep in mind that if you’re using multiple oils at once, you should only use a total of three to five drops, not three to five drops of each.
If your diffuser is 200 mL, you can use between six and ten drops of oil, and if you have a 300 mL diffuser, nine to twelve drops will be fine. If your diffuser is 400 mL, aim for between twelve and fifteen drops of oil. And if you have the largest standard size diffuser, 500 mL, you can use as much as fifteen to twenty drops of essential oil.
Signs You’re Overdoing It
Keeping track of exactly how many drops of oil you put in your diffuser can be tricky, especially if you’re mixing oils. So how can you tell if you’re going overboard with the essential oil? There are a few symptoms you may want to look out for.
If you’re using too much essential oil in your diffuser, you may start to notice that you’re getting headaches or migraines more often. You might find yourself getting dizzy or experiencing vertigo more often. And you may even get nauseous or start vomiting if you’re really going overboard with it.
What to Do If You Add Too Much Oil
So you’re adding essential oil to your diffuser and you accidentally add too much oil. You don’t want to just use too much oil, but at the same time, essential oil is too expensive to throw away. Luckily, you can preserve both your help and your oil.
Empty about half of your reservoir into an airtight jar or another container. Dilute the other half of the mixture with more water, and set your diffuser to run like normal. Seal the extra container and use that mixture another day, being sure to dilute it before you start your diffuser.
Diffusers for People with Sensitivities
Many people who have allergies or scent sensitivities believe they cannot use oil diffusers. But if you manage it properly, you can gain the benefits of aromatherapy even if you have sensitivities. However, you should never use essential oils around babies, especially those under three months old.
If you have allergies or sensitivities, you should limit your essential oil use to just a drop or two. You may also want to get a larger diffuser so you can get a further dilution of the oil in the water. And always monitor your symptoms carefully and stop using your diffuser immediately if you begin feeling worse.
How to Use a Diffuser
The first thing you need to do when you’re setting up your essential oil diffuser is to determine a location. You want to choose a large, open area where you can place your diffuser out of sunlight and away from fans. If you’re using a wood surface, you may want to put down a towel to absorb any water you spill while filling your diffuser.
Once your diffuser is in place, fill it up with clean tap water. Most diffusers have a fill line on their reservoir or a measuring cup that will show you how much water to use. Add the appropriate amount of oil to your reservoir, place the top back on your diffuser, and switch it on!
How Long Will a Bottle Last?
Essential oils are not cheap, and as we’ll discuss in a moment, it’s important to buy quality oils. But these oils usually come in small bottles – usually 30 mL or less, and often in 5 or 10 mL bottles. So how long will a bottle of oil last you if you’re using it regularly?
A 10 mL bottle of essential oil will hold about 200 drops of oil. If you’re using a typical 100 mL oil diffuser, this should get you between forty and sixty-five uses. Even if you’re using the oil every day, one bottle should last you about two months.
Essential Oil Safety Tips
While essential oils can have a number of health benefits, they can also be dangerous if used improperly. First and foremost, essential oils must always be diluted before you use them. You can mix them with a carrier oil, add them to lotions or soaps, or diffuse them in water, but you must never use them undiluted.
Placing undiluted essential oils on your skin can cause serious chemical burns, especially if you have sensitive skin. And you should never, under any circumstances, swallow essential oils, even if they are diluted. If you have high blood pressure, are pregnant, have allergies or asthma, or have diabetes, always talk to your doctor before you begin using essential oils.
Using Different Oils
There are a variety of benefits essential oils can have, depending on which oil you’re using. Although scientists are still studying these oils, they have already discovered some proven health benefits.
Lavender oil can be useful as a calming agent, as well as relieving headaches, cramping, and insomnia. Peppermint oil has long been used to improve concentration, as well as to clear out sinus congestion and relieve nausea.
Orange oil can also help to lower anxiety and stress levels, as well as to promote healthy lymphatic flow. And lemon oil can boost your immune system and improve your circulation.
Quality Matters
When you’re buying essential oils, it can be tempting to go for the cheapest bottle you can find on the shelf. But too often, these oils are harvested using chemical means, not cold pressing or distilling. These oils are not true essential oils and may even have other unknown substances mixed into them.
Look for organic essential oils from reputable companies. This will help you guarantee that the oils in the bottles are pure and harvested using proper techniques. From there, the oils you choose will depend on which scents you like and which benefits you’re wanting to get.
Cleaning Your Diffuser
It is very important to clean your diffuser between each use. For one thing, residual water in the reservoir can encourage mold and mildew growth, and you don’t want to spray those particles into your home. And if you don’t clean your diffuser between each use, you may wind up mixing oils or accidentally getting too much oil in your reservoir at once.
After each use, take your reservoir out of your diffuser and wash it out with soap and warm water. Rinse it thoroughly and make sure it gets completely dry. Every five to ten uses, it’s a good idea to run a clean cycle of pure water to clean out the dispersal mechanisms of your diffuser, too.
Get an Oil Diffuser
Oil diffusers can be a wonderful tool to make your home smell amazing naturally, enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy, and add a little moisture to your home. But many people who have used these diffusers have wondered, “How many drops of essential oil do you put in a diffuser?” Follow the “three drops per 100 mL” rule of thumb and you’ll be enjoying the benefits of your diffuser in no time.
If you’d like to find the best goods to make your home as comfortable as possible, check out the rest of our site at Everlasting Comfort. We have oil diffusers and humidifiers, as well as memory foam pillows and even travel accessories. Shop our collections and start living the life of luxury you deserve today.
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