Smart Mom’s Guide To Diffusing Essential Oils For Your Family

What is the easiest way to begin using essential oils with your family?  Diffusing them!  Diffusing can be accomplished in a number of ways, but all of them allow you and your family to experience the amazing power of aromatherapy with minimal effort.  Our olfactory receptors are tuned to pick up nuances of scent, allowing certain systems in our bodies to kick into action and also letting us attach certain memories with scents.  The smell of your Grandma’s house at Thanksgiving, the pungent tang of your high school locker room, the sweet floral comfort of your mom’s homemade laundry detergent…they all hold special places in our hearts and minds.  Scents can elicit memories and emotions that we may not even be aware exist in our bodies.  

While you can diffuse oils into the air simply by putting a drop of oil on a cottonball, a clothespin, a piece of leather, or in a reed diffuser, among other methods, the best way to accomplish diffusing is with an Ultrasonic Cool-Air Diffuser.  And, before you ask, no – that is not the same thing as a cool-air humidifier and you cannot use a humidifier in the same way as a diffuser.  Essential oils are so powerful that they can break down the plastic components of a humidifier and cause toxins to leech out into the steam that it emits.  The good news is that a diffuser is safer and healthier for your home than a humidifier that requires constant cleaning and maintenance to avoid putting mold and other nasties into your air.  Ew.  Now you want a diffuser, right?

DIFFUSERS OR NEBULIZING DIFFUSERS

An Ultrasonic Cool-Air Diffuser uses ultrasonic vibrations to convert an oil-and-water mixture into an ultrafine water vapor that allows the essential oils to remain suspended in the air for hours.  In addition, it also oxygenates the air molecules thereby purifying and cleansing the air in your home.  You receive the oils then by breathing as you normally would.  It is so simple and the benefits are enormous.  From influencing mood to increasing focus and concentration to supporting your family’s immune system, diffusing may be my favorite way to introduce the benefits of essential oils.  

Another option is a Cool-Air Nebulizing Diffuser that directly convert the essential oils into the air without the need for water vapor or mist.  I think it creates a more powerful scent in the air that sometimes isn’t suitable for families with small children.  It also tends to be more costly and requires you to attach a full bottle of essential oils directly to the machine, though it can cover a larger area at timed intervals.  It is also limiting in that you cannot quickly combine a variety of oils for a synergistic blend but are stuck with whatever is in the bottle.

WHAT TO BUY

One of my favorite diffusers for families is the Greenair Spa Vapor or Spa Mist Ultrasonic Diffuser.  It is affordable, easy-to-use, and has an ultra-cool Zen light feature that makes it a fantastic nightlight in your kiddos’ rooms.  You simply put a cup of water up to the fill line, add a few drops of essential oils, and turn it on, adjusting the aim to wherever you choose in the room.  The quiet hum and subtly-morphing rainbow lights combined with the aromatherapy of essential oils will lull your littles and bigs into dreamland.  

Another favorite of mine is the dōTERRA Petal Diffuser.  It has three different time settings that you can use to customize your diffusing and functions just like the Spa Vapor.  The ultra-fine mist shoots straight up into the air allowing the vapor to fill up to a 330 sq. ft. room.

If you are looking for a diffuser that will blend into your décor and maybe even start some conversations, look no farther than the dōTERRA Lotus Diffuser.  It is silent and can diffuse for up to three hours.  Its sleek design makes it perfect for a formal area or even an office space.

Not all diffusers are made the same, so do be careful with what you purchase.  A lot of supermarkets and mass retailers have diffusers with essential oil combination kits popping up on their shelves but that does not mean it is made for the pure therapeutic grade, high quality essential oils like dōTERRA and a few other brands.  While it may look like a real deal, I can guarantee you that the quality of the essential oil will be inferior and you will end up using a lot more of it than you would with a higher quality essential oil.  Smart moms opt for CPTG Essential Oils like dōTERRA because they know it has been tested multiple times for quality and what they are getting is the best there is on the market today.  You also want to avoid anything that recommends directly heating the oils or that has a heating element that comes in contact with the oils, as heat reduces the efficacy of the essential oils and is not safe around children.

DIFFUSERS OR NEBULIZING DIFFUSERS

The ultimate question!  The answer depends on what you want to accomplish in your diffusing.  Below are some of my favorite diffuser recipes for a variety of needs.  No matter what your need may be, there is an essential oil for it and it almost always can be diffused in addition to applied topically.  In The Smart Mom’s Guide to Essential Oils, there are many diffuser recipes for both families and mamas, and they are made with single oils that you combine together.  Here I am going to share with you not only some of those recipes, but also an even easier way to accomplish these needs with some amazing blends from dōTERRA Essential Oils.  (Be sure to consult the instructions that come with your diffuser to ensure that you are using the right amount of essential oils for your machine.)

As always, I recommend discussing essential oils with a trusted healthcare provider before introducing them to your family home.  Also know that children of different ages can be sensitive to different oils and it is always better to start small and with one oil at a time.  For detailed information and more awesome recipes, please be sure to check out my latest book, The Smart Mom’s Guide to Essential Oils, and I am constantly updating my website with the latest information on essential oils, health, and wellness.