What’s more, modern research is increasingly backing up anecdotal evidence that diffusing essential oils really works. As well as creating a fragrant space for you to relax or rev up in, essential oils can have a provably positive impact on your mental health.
If you’ve been considering investing in a diffuser, or you already have one and are curious about how it works its magic, read on to find out more about how research is confirming what our ancestors already knew!
A valuable inheritance from yesteryear
The use of aromatherapy using berries, florals, leaves and roots of specific plants dates back to at least 4500 BC and has appeared throughout the history of very diverse cultures and places. It was practised to cure illness, elevate mood and even instigate spiritual experiences.
Written records tell us that the Babylonians and Sumerians who inhabited Mesopotamia were using plants medicinally 5000+ years ago. We know that the Ancient Egyptians were fond of perfumed oils, resins and scented barks at least as far back as 3000 BC. We’ve also got evidence that aromatherapy was practised by the Ancient Greeks 2000+ years ago, with their preference being for aromatic massages and baths as well as scented products.
While essential oils were applied topically in the olden days and an aromatherapy massage is still a great option, modern technology makes it so much easier to reap the benefits of oils via diffusion. Diffusers work to disperse the oils as a fine mist across large areas, making them easy to absorb whilst still transforming the smell of the room they’re in.
The benefits of an ultrasonic essential oil diffuser are numerous, and they include:
- Not spreading any harmful chemicals through the air
- As long as you choose the right child and pet-safe oils, diffusers are safe to use around little ones and furry friends.
- They can scent up to 40 square metres of your space
- They’re quiet and will almost certainly lead to you getting better sleep.
- They complement any interior and act as functional decor.
- They’re safe to use at night since they shut down on their own.
How effective is an essential oil diffuser?
Aromatherapy can be defined as the practice of using essential oils therapeutically. When we inhale the scent, molecules from the oils, they travel from our olfactory nerves directly to our brains. More specifically, they travel to the amygdala, where our emotions are processed.
It’s estimated that we can detect somewhere between 10 000 and 100 billion different odours. And the reason it’s important to carefully check your own personal response to essential oils is that each one of us has a different combination of odour-detecting cells in our noses. This means that people vary greatly in how they respond to certain smells. What works for Amy from Accounting or John next door may do nothing for you!
When you diffuse essential oils, the air around you will smell better. Plus, your brain will be able to access the fine mist the oils get turned into in the diffusion process far more efficiently. When you compare diffusion to dabbing oils on a piece of cotton wool and holding it up to your nose, diffusion comes out on top. The tiny molecules the diffuser creates makes it much easier for our bodies to absorb essential oils, which, in turn, makes it easier for them to do their good work.
Essential oil diffuser benefits
A wonderful and chemical-free alternative to scented candles, diffuser benefits are many and include helping us to feel calmer, de-stressed and relaxed or refreshed, stimulated, uplifted and energised, depending which ones you choose. They can even help us with certain physical ailments.
Essential oils provide relief for a number of ailments. If you're struggling to sleep, you could add lavender, vetiver, frankincense or cedarwood essential oil to your diffuser and reap some of the benefits this oil offers. If you’re fighting off germs, diffusing clove, peppermint, eucalyptus or mandarin essential oil may help keep you healthy.
Your ultrasonic diffuser is portable, so it’s easy to move it around wherever you need it. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to use. Ultrasonic diffusers don’t use heat. Instead, they rely on ultrasonic vibrations, so there’s no chance of a nasty accident involving a clumsy child or a wayward pet. The oils are diluted with water and then dispersed in the form of a fine mist. This means you won’t have a diffuser with a clogged spout or build-up that needs cleaning, there’s no overwhelming smell, and you can control the strength of the aroma at all times too.
The different types of essential oil diffusers
There are four different kinds of diffusers:
- Evaporative
- Heat
- Nebulising
- Ultrasonic
The most popular essential oil diffuser is, by far, the ultrasonic diffuser. These diffusers contain a ceramic disc which vibrates, creating ultrasonic waves that break down the oils into microscopic particles without changing their chemical composition. These then blend with water and get dispersed into the air as a fine mist, ready for your body to absorb through the nose. These particles are then absorbed into the bloodstream or into your brain, specifically the amygdala, where memories and emotions are processed.
The ultrasonic diffuser is thought to be the best essential oil diffuser because it’s easy to use, incredibly effective and super safe. Because there are no pads or wicks to worry about and no heating element, the scent can travel much farther than it would with other types of diffusers.
Along with being the most effective way to disperse smells, water-based diffusers like ultrasonics also function as makeshift humidifiers, working wonders for those who live or work in dry environments.
How does diffusing essential oils work on the body?
Let’s talk about the olfactory system. It includes all the physical organs and cells that either relate to or contribute to the sense of smell. When you inhale through your nose, airborne molecules come into contact with the olfactory system and, almost at once, your brain.
When your essential oil diffuser is emitting these molecules, you inhale them and they also interact directly with your respiratory system, which includes your airways, blood vessels and lungs.
Now we’ve established the pathways and systems by which essential oil molecules enter your body. Next up we have to examine their interplay with the limbic system, your emotional brain. Its structure is a collection of areas of the diencephalon, midbrain and cerebrum, and it's where your emotions get processed and their effects begin to take place.
As you inhale, odour molecules affect the brain via a range of receptor sites located in your limbic system, some of which are directly connected to other parts of the brain that control blood pressure, breathing, heart rate, memory and stress levels.
This relationship between the nose, the brain and the rest of the body is why smell can so instantly trigger emotional responses and physical reactions. It thus stands to reason that essential oils can have some deeply profound effects on us physiologically as well as psychologically!
4 must-have essential oils and their benefits
While there are 100+ essential oils out there, you don’t need to have them all to start using them to benefit your lifestyle! Start off small with these four oils to immediately start enjoying the benefits of essential oil diffusers.
1. Frankincense essential oil
Frankincense essential oil is created from the aromatic, hardened gum resin obtained by tapping the Boswellia tree. It’s a natural astringent and has anti-inflammatory properties that may help you deal with pain and inflammation.
Frankincense oil benefits include that it can help you breathe more easily and it can boost your immune system, helping to keep you from getting sick. It can also help you balance your hormones and it protects the skin, possibly preventing many of the signs of ageing.
Fun frankincense oil fact:
Frankincense has played an important role in many processes throughout history. The Ancient Egyptians used it in embalming and recommended it for wound healing, and the Hebrews and Christians used it in religious ceremonies.
2. Lavender essential oil
Produced through the process of steam distillation, the harvest of blooms to create lavender essential oil sees the cut flowers and stems compacted into a still to reduce polar compound loss.
Lavender essential oil diffuser benefits include its ability to relieve nausea and headaches and, because it’s a decongestant, it can promote easier breathing.
Fun lavender oil fact:
The Ancient Egyptians also used lavender oil during mummification as a way to perfume the recently deceased. The Ancient Greeks were among the first in history to spot lavender’s medicinal properties. They used the oil to treat indigestion and headaches as well as other ailments.
3. Peppermint essential oil
Taken from the flowers and leaves of the plant that also bears its name, peppermint essential oil diffuser benefits include alleviating feelings of stress and tension, boosting your energy levels, clearing your respiratory tract, soothing feelings of irritability and stimulating your circulation. It can also help relieve fatigue, fever, flatulence, muscle spasms and muscle tension.
Respected clinical trials tell us that inhaling certain essential oils such as peppermint oil may also treat colds and coughs.
Fun peppermint oil fact:
Mentha piperita is the scientific name for peppermint. Minthe, or Mentha, was a nymph in Ancient Greek astrology who was transformed by Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, into a sweet-smelling plant.
4. Rosemary essential oil
When it’s used in aromatherapy, rosemary essential oil can lower your levels of stress, relieve fatigue, and soothe nervous tension. It also boosts mental activity, encourages clarity, and promotes insight while it supports smooth respiratory function.
Many people also swear by it for improving alertness, eliminating negative moods, and enhancing the retention of information by increasing concentration levels.
Recent research indicates that inhaling rosemary oil assists in the prevention of acetylcholine breakdown. This is the chemical in our brains that plays a vital role in concentration, the formation of new memories, the safeguarding of established ones, and clear thinking in general.
Fun rosemary oil fact:
We’ve now proven how it works scientifically, but the Ancient Greeks and Romans used rosemary to strengthen their memories.
How to safely use your diffuser
As with anything, there are some risks associated with using a device as safe as an ultrasonic diffuser. However, these risks are more related to what you’re putting in them than the devices themselves.
If your household includes children, make sure that you choose essential oils with this in mind. The list of oils that are not recommended for use around kids includes eucalyptus, fennel, peppermint, rosemary, and verbena.
If you live with pets like dogs, cats, birds, fish, or even reptiles, avoid using essential oils like cinnamon, citrus, pine, tea tree oil, and wintergreen. These are incredibly toxic and will affect your animals negatively whether they’re applied to their skins, licked up in the case of an accidental spill, or used in your ultrasonic diffuser.
Interestingly, while it may seem counterintuitive, diffusing essential oils is actually a great way to deal with seasonal allergies. If this is something you struggle with, then you should try lavender, lemon, frankincense, sandalwood, and tea tree to help you decongest and breathe easier. However, just be careful if you’re asthmatic, as you could trigger an attack.
Volant: Where science meets style
If you’re looking for a diffuser that does a whole lot more than just smell nice, Volant has what you need. Our award-winning, handmade diffuser sends ultrasonic waves out at 2.2 million vibrations per second, so it can scent up to 40 square metres of your home. Not only that, our diffusers are extremely stylish, and their Scandinavian-inspired design ensures they enhance the decor of whichever room you place them in. Plus, they add to the ambience and add a feel-good factor everyone loves.
If you’re ready to use the best essential oil diffuser that has proven scientific benefits, look no further. A simple, stylish and effective option is within reach with Volant!