10 benefits of diffusing essential oils

If you visit my home, you’ll notice several ultrasonic diffusers throughout the house. We have one in the lounge area, one in my office and one in each bedroom. What you won’t see are candles, plug-in room deodorisers or cans of aerosol air fresheners. It’s not because we don’t like our home to smell nice. But commercial air fresheners are laden with harmful chemicals including phthalates, which are known endocrine (hormone) disruptors. Yet, less than ten percent of air freshener ingredients are typically disclosed to the public. Even those marketed as green or organic can emit potentially hazardous chemicals. Candles are beautiful and smell wonderful, but most are made with synthetic fragrances that can lead to respiratory issues, allergies and asthma. Plus, if you have kids or indoor pets, open flames can be a hazard. 

So why use a diffuser? Here are 10 top benefits of diffusing. Note, this assumes you are using a high quality essential oil like doTERRA that doesn’t contain any synthetics, fillers, contaminants or adulterations.   

1. Natural air purifier

Ultrasonic diffusers create negative ions, which are prolific in nature and can offer some great health benefits. One key benefit is that they can purify the air naturally. So whether someone’s cooked something whiffy (the hubby has a tendency to cook fish in the house), you’re trying to rid the room of a musty smell or there’s a bit of dust or smoke lingering, diffusing can help rid the air of offensive orders, rather than masking the smell with harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances. I love using Lemongrass, Purify and fir oils like Douglas Fir or Siberian Fir to help freshen things up. 

2. Morning pick me up

“Win the morning, win the day.” I love this quote and I try to instill it with a solid morning routine. One of the things I like to do is diffuse energising oils like Wild Orange and Peppermint (or Spearmint), which are really uplifting for the mood. Plus, if you like to start your day with exercise, Peppermint and Spearmint can assist in improving athletic performance. Not a fan of Wild Orange? That’s okay, as most citrus oils are great at elevating the mood. Other citrus favourites include Green Mandarin, Lemon, Lime, Litsea and Tangerine. Other energy boosting oils include Cinnamon, Ginger, Juniper Berry and Thyme, just to name a few. 

3. Emotional support/stress relief 

Need a bit of emotional support? Believe it or not, diffusing can assist! This is because when high-quality essential oils are inhaled, airborne molecules pass through the nose and affect the brain through a variety of receptor sites, one of which is the limbic system, commonly referred to as the emotional brain. The limbic system is directly connected to the part of the brain that controls blood pressure, breathing, heart rate, hormone balance, memory and stress levels. Oils like Balance, Bergamot, Lavender, Peace and Ylang Ylang are just a few of many that can offer emotional support and relieve stressful feelings.

4. Respiratory support

The hubby has terrible allergies and, thanks to our indoor cats, he often has trouble breathing clearly. As mentioned previously, air fresheners and candles exacerbated the issue (as do other synthetic fragrances including perfumes and colognes). Oftentimes, hubby experiences near-immediate relief when we get the diffuser going with oils like Easy Air (also known as Breathe), Clearify, Eucalyptus or Peppermint, which work quickly to open his air passages and assist with clear breathing. Many people also benefit from combining Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint together for seasonal respiratory support.

5. Calming for animals

One of our cats has a terrible fear of thunder. She can hear it coming a mile away and typically hides in a dark room before we even hear the first crack. We’ve noticed a remarkable difference since we started diffusing. In fact, just a few drops of Balance and Frankincense really does the trick! She no longer hides when a storm hits and now happily sits with us in the lounge room purring away. We also diffuse to help settle the cats in preparation for vet visits or if we’re expecting a large group of guests, which can sometimes be overwhelming for them. Note: less is more when it comes to pets. Start with a few drops and always allow your pet the option to leave the room if they don’t like what’s diffusing. 

6. Immune support

Diffusing is a great way to service a fairly large area. For instance, some diffusers can effectively cover 30 square meters (roughly 323 square feet). This is very beneficial if you’re diffusing antimicrobial, antifungal or antiviral essential oils that can offer immune support. Many oils like Clove, Eucalyptus, On Guard, Oregano, Tea Tree (Melaleuca) and Thyme have powerful properties that can help to ward off bacteria, mold and other nasties including influenza! Some studies have even shown oils are actually just as - and in some cases, more - effective than conventional methods and antibiotics in treating staph-infected wounds and MRSA. 

7. Restful sleep

There are numerous studies on the positive effects essential oils can have on the quality of sleep. I like to start by identifying the root cause of what might be impacting sleep. For instance, is it that hubby is snoring or that I have too much on my mind and I can’t relax? Sound, restful sleep starts with clear breathing; for this we use  Easy Air (Breathe). This blend opens up airways and really does the trick in our house to alleviate snoring! (If this doesn’t work, try a drop of Thyme on the bottom of the big toe. I know it sounds like an old wives’ tale, but it really works!) Serenity (Lavender Peace), Lavender, Roman Chamomile and Vetiver are great for soothing, relaxing and calming the “monkey mind” of thoughts and unfinished daily tasks that can negatively affect the quality of sleep. Plus, the gentle bubbling of the diffuser offers a soothing, almost white noise in the background that also helps bring on the zzzz’s!

8. Focus and concentration

I mentioned I have a diffuser in my office. This is because essential oils can help support focus and concentration. Are you on deadline, have a big project due, need to smash through a mountain of work? Reach for oils like Rosemary, Marjoram, Frankincense or citrus oils. I love mixing Grapefruit, Lime, Black Pepper, Peppermint and Rosemary in the diffuser for a supercharged focus blend. Rosemary and Lemon together are also a great combination. This works for studying kiddos as well! Try it out during homework time and see if you notice a difference.  

9. Appetite control 

I used to work near a bakery. While I don’t consume copious amounts of bread, I’d be lying if I said the smell of fresh baked goods in the morning didn’t make me crave those carbs! That’s because smells pass through the olfactory bulb and into the limbic system, which is the part of the brain mentioned previously that’s responsible for things like memories, emotions, hunger and more!  In his book Scentsational Weight Loss: At Last A New Way to Control Your Appetite, Dr. Alan Hirsch explains how diffusing Peppermint essential oil can help to curb our appetite and make us feel full earlier, by affecting the brain’s ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, which is our brain’s satiety center. Additionally, oils like Smart & Sassy (Slim & Sassy), Cinnamon, Ginger and Grapefruit can regulate important body functions like heart rate and digestion, and can reduce appetite and body weight!

10. Mosquito repellent 

Depending on where you live, this may not be an issue. But if you live in - or like to holiday in - subtropical and tropical climates, this is a major concern. If you know me at all, you’ll know I don’t like using chemically-laden, aerosol commercial products and wouldn’t recommend using them around children or animals, as many contain poisonous ingredients that are detrimental not only to pesky bugs, but us too! Instead, try using Clove, Lemongrass, Citronella or TerraArmour (TerraShield) essential oils! I suffer from mosquito bites quite regularly (and have ended up with hives as a result!), but have found that using essential oils has really helped to alleviate the issue.

So it really isn’t about whether you should diffuse essential oils, but rather, which essential oils you should diffuse! 

I recorded this quick video to share two of my favourite diffusers.