Pros and Cons of Diffusers and Essential Oils

Diffusers and essential oils have become more popular in the last few years especially as people begin to realize the chemicals and other ingredients that are in everything they consume each day. As many people start that transition from harmful chemicals to more natural and environmentally friendly options, essential oils are starting to get the attention they deserve. Essential oils are great for a variety of different uses and applications. You’ve seen them added to candles, beauty products, cleaning products, perfume, and much more, but do you know what their purposes are?

Diffusing essential oils in your home can help the air smell better without putting harmful chemicals and toxins into the air with a room freshening spray, while also providing calming, healing, and protective health benefits as well. Ditch the Febreze, candles full of chemicals, and forget your cold symptoms lasting weeks and dive into the world of essential oils.

Top Essential Oils for the Home

Essential oils have many health benefits and uses but can be challenging to just jump right into because each has different effects and purposes. We’ve gathered a list of some of the top essential oils and their purposes as it relates to diffusing in your home.

Peppermint essential oil: uplifting, invigorating, aids digestion, combine with Eucalyptus and use in a diffuser when you have a cold or flu to help clear out airways

Lavender essential oil: calming, relaxing, enhances sleep, may help relieve headaches and migraine symptoms

Eucalyptus essential oil: clarifying, combine with Peppermint and use in a diffuser when you have a cold or flu to help clear out airways

Lemon essential oil: uplifting, cleansing, freshening, helps improve your mood and relieve stress and depression symptoms

Frankincense essential oil: meditative, grounding, calming, relaxing, tranquility

Citronella essential oil: just like in those candles (with no harmful chemicals), it acts as an insect repellent - great for the spring and summer months ahead!

Rosemary essential oil: helps promote relaxation, boost alertness and brain function, improving memory

Thyme essential oil: helps reduce fatigue, nervousness, and stress

Keep in mind that none of these oils should be swallowed or ingested. Diffusing them into the air, adding them to a spray for a more natural room spray or linen freshening spray, adding them to your bath, diluting them before massaging them into your skin, are all great ways to get the benefits from these oils. Speak with your doctor or Aromatherapist before you begin using essential oils if you have any underlying allergies or health conditions. The safest option is to diffuse essential oils into the air within your home because there is no direct contact.

Pros of diffusing essential oils:

• It helps freshen the air in your home without adding toxic chemicals to the air. TIP: Put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on your air filters before you install them and you’ll have the benefits of the essential oils wafting throughout your home.
• You can easily change the scent to whatever you want it to be - each time you set up the diffuser, you can add a few drops of the specific essential oil that you want at that moment.
• It can help keep mosquitoes, fruit flies and more insects from entering your home.
• It can lead to less money being spent on electric bills, doctor visits, fewer candles, and room freshening spray.
• Medical News Today reports it’s been shown to reduce: nausea, pain, and body aches, anxiety, agitation, stress, depression, fatigue and insomnia, muscular aches, headaches. It also helps you breathe easier, clear sinuses, protect against illness, help enhance sleep and mood, reduce inflammation and congestion.
• It requires little effort and little change to your routine once the diffuser and oils are purchased - easy to set up and run at any moment.

Cons of diffusing essential oils:

• Essential oils can be expensive when you’re first getting started. While they do last a long time, getting started with essential oils and diffusers can get pricey.
• It can be confusing to know how or where to get started. What combinations should you be diffusing while you sleep vs. what should be going during the day? How do you know how many drops of essential oil to add to the diffuser? How do you know what a good brand of essential oils is?
• People may be allergic to different types of oils without knowing it. Speak with your doctor if you have any concerns before trying any essential oils.
• Not all essential oils are the same so it requires a bit more research to ensure the oils you are buying are pure and not synthetic fragrances.

Making that switch from the cleaning products you grew up on, to more natural options with fewer chemicals, can be challenging and expensive if you don’t know where to go. Continue researching your options to find the best solution for you and your family. You spend the majority of your time at home, so make it a clean, healthy, and safe place for everyone.

What are some of your favorite essential oils and how do you use them throughout your home? Let us know what works best for you and your family by contacting FilterTime time and learn how to get your monthly air filter subscription today to keep your home clean and safe.