Inhaling essential oils is the most effective way to experience their therapeutic benefits. With this mind, if you're looking for a way to add the healing benefits of essential oils to your life, we highly recommend investing in an ultrasonic diffuser.

Everything You Need to Know About Aromatherapy Diffusers

What is an Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Diffuser?

An ultrasonic diffuser is an electronic diffuser which disperses essential oils into the air. Diffusers work by breaking the essential oil particles down into micro-molecules & then diffusing them into the air as negative ions. Negatively charged ions will attach themselves to harmful positively charged particles in the air and help to purify your home.

This article does an excellent job of explaining the benefit negatively charged ions have with regards to our health.

How Does an Ultrasonic Diffuser Work?

How your diffuser works will ultimately depend upon which diffuser you choose. Typically, ultrasonic diffusers are filled with water and essential oils are then added to the water where they remain on the water's surface. It's important to note, the amount of essential oils you add to your diffuser will depend upon the size of your diffuser. Please read the instructions that come with your diffuser carefully.

Ultrasonic diffusers work by using ultrasonic vibrations. Ultrasonic vibrations are sound waves which vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency, which is a frequency the human ear cannot typically detect. These ultrasonic sound waves agitate the water causing the separation of the water particles. When the water particles are separated, they become negatively charged particles which are light enough to be dispersed into the air which creates the visible "mist" that you see when you use a diffuser.

Essential oils are released into the air with these negative ions. Once released into the air, the essential oils work to purify the air thanks to their antibacterial properties and improve your health and state of mind as you inhale their healing aroma. Meanwhile, the negative ions bond with positively charged free radicals and work to clean your space while adding a small amount of moisture along with the fresh scent of the essential oil you've chosen.

When using essential oils in your ultrasonic diffuser, the oil's particles are dispersed into the air along with the water leaving your home smelling fresh. This is also how you will benefit from the essential oil’s therapeutic properties.

Why Use an Ultrasonic Diffuser

Ultrasonics are a great way to bring the healing benefits of essential oils into your life without doing what is called denaturing the essential oils.

Denaturing means that you are applying some outside element to the oil and thereby changing its chemical composition. Candles and candle diffusers are examples of ways to denature essential oils. Candle diffusers apply heat to your essential oils which “cooks” the oil. When an essential oils is cooked, the aroma changes and the intended therapeutic benefit of the oil is lost.

That’s not to say that burning candles seated with essential oils is bad. You’ll still fill your home with a lovely sent, so if you’re after scent alone, you don’t have to worry about denaturing your essential oils.

Maintaining your Aromatherapy Diffuser

To ensure your diffuser lasts for a long, long time it is best to clean it regularly.

At The Essential Life we recommend cleaning your diffuser between each use. Regular cleaning will not only prevent buildup in the diffusers vibration mechanism, it will also ensure each time you diffuse essential oils in your home, you're diffusing the pure aroma of the oils your added without diluting them with residual odour from previously diffused oils.

To clean your diffuser mix equal parts water and rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle. Spritz the inside of your diffuser with the mixture and wipe it clean with a soft cloth. Use a q-tip to gently clean around the diffuser's vibration mechanism.