topic Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy in Community Chat

Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

Moonchilde — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 21:34:09 GMT

I'm not one who believes in "just smell these uber-pure, so-expensive-they-have-to-be-superior" life-changing essential oils to treat whatever ails you." I like to use essential oil scents in a diffuser to make a room smell pleasant and to encourage sleep or relaxation, and that's all I believe they have the "power" to do.

In the past, I've had three different diffusers ranging from $20-$50. None of them performed as advertised and all of them died within a couple of months, so I gave up in disgust a couple of years ago. But I like having the scents surround me.

The other day I was in Marshall's and they had a diffuser for pretty cheap and tons of oils for cheap, so I picked up the diffuser and two bottles of oil. LOL right off the bat the colored light button is totally non-functional, but I don't care about that. The part that needs to work, does.

I just ordered more oils online and spent way more than I had in mind - strictly because it was the ingredient oils in their blends that attracted me - their specific combos. If this diffuser dies I'll get one at BBB so they have to give you a replacement ;-)

I've tried just about everything - reeds, candles, plug-ins, etc and I get little to no scent in the room unless I'm an inch from it. The nebulizing (water mist) diffusers are the only thing that really scents a room, for my nose.

What do you like to use/what are your favorites? Do you have companies you like to buy blends from (I don't like DoTerra's blends, Young Living doesn't have many scents)? Do they offer free or $2-ish samples?

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

mistriTsquirrel — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 21:45:53 GMT

As far as oils, I don't have a preferred source. I usually wind up buying NOW brand oils at a local health food store when they are on sale.

But as far as burners go, I use a ceramic one like the one below. Yes, I have to buy tea lights for it, but it is easy to clean and I never have to worry about it not working.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

Moonchilde — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 22:09:04 GMT

@mistriTsquirrel, so you put drops of oil into the top and the heated oil permeates a room? Or do you use the wax tartlets?

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

Silver Lining — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 22:15:55 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
I'm not one who believes in "just smell these uber-pure, so-expensive-they-have-to-be-superior" life-changing essential oils to treat whatever ails you." I like to use essential oil scents in a diffuser to make a room smell pleasant and to encourage sleep or relaxation, and that's all I believe they have the "power" to do.

In the past, I've had three different diffusers ranging from $20-$50. None of them performed as advertised and all of them died within a couple of months, so I gave up in disgust a couple of years ago. But I like having the scents surround me.

The other day I was in Marshall's and they had a diffuser for pretty cheap and tons of oils for cheap, so I picked up the diffuser and two bottles of oil. LOL right off the bat the colored light button is totally non-functional, but I don't care about that. The part that needs to work, does.

I just ordered more oils online and spent way more than I had in mind - strictly because it was the ingredient oils in their blends that attracted me - their specific combos. If this diffuser dies I'll get one at BBB so they have to give you a replacement ;-)

I've tried just about everything - reeds, candles, plug-ins, etc and I get little to no scent in the room unless I'm an inch from it. The nebulizing (water mist) diffusers are the only thing that really scents a room, for my nose.

What do you like to use/what are your favorites? Do you have companies you like to buy blends from (I don't like DoTerra's blends, Young Living doesn't have many scents)? Do they offer free or $2-ish samples?

I wish! For two dollars or so you would get maybe a whiff of a Young Living essential oil. The bottles are tiny and very expensive. One of my very good friends is a dealer. They are not called that but they are. She's a sweetheart, though. She gave me the YL teardrop style diffuser and two or three of the oils as a gift. I know it was well over two hundred dollars even at the dealer's cost because I've seen the price lists.

Omigosh, had to come back and edit. I had a typo that said lust instead of list.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

Katcat1 — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 22:12:22 GMT

@Moonchilde, It's too bad you had such a bad experience with the diffusers. I have a diffuser I purchased for under $20. You add water and your essential oils. I always add more oils to the water. My diffuser has been running perfectly. I buy my essential oils at iherb.com. They sell NOW brand and they do have the plug in the bottle to dispense drops. I put about 10 drops of oil in my water. I love spearmint alone and also mixed with lavender but I have many other oils. I think oils are good if you are lightly sick if you know what I mean. I think they are excellent for rubs if you suffer from arthritis using eucalyptus oil and I love to use orange and tea tree in the diffuser if I have a cold or other upper respiratory problem. I have been using oils for 16 years and I was introduce to them when I lived in San Francisco. This lady from France that I went to for massage used essential oils in massage oils and she was excellent. The oils she used would lift the stress out of me. I believe oils can help you but you need to know what you are doing and have a book to guide you.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

Ms tyrion2 — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 22:22:50 GMT

A friend has the nebulizer type and I've wanted one for ages. I've heard that you can't have these if you have cats--the oils are toxic?

I burn scented candles and my cats are fine. Does anyone know if this is true about the oils?

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

Moonchilde — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 22:38:22 GMT

@Silver Lining, I have a family member who push..uhh...sells DoTerra and my massage therapist in LA also used/sold it. And I've read about the Young Living/DoTerra connection and split. If anyone wanted to gift me (nice friend you have there 🙂) I sure wouldn't say no, but I won't pay those prices myself - especially since I'm not buying into the "it'll cure anything" promos.

LOL your typo!

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

mistriTsquirrel — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 22:39:58 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@mistriTsquirrel, so you put drops of oil into the top and the heated oil permeates a room? Or do you use the wax tartlets?

@Moonchilde Yes, I put the oil into the top. Pure essential oils would evaporate too quickly and be too strong, so I use a base of almond oil and add essential oils to it.

I also have some ceramic tart warmers that are similar, but they are wider and the wells on top seem more shallow. Not sure if I could or should use those for essential oils, so I don't.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

Moonchilde — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 22:46:11 GMT

@Katcat1, what brand is your diffuser?

What I've experienced is that they're pretty much all made in China and all slap-dash put together with cheap components that just don't last. People complain that a $75 one isn't any better or more reliable than a $20 one. I'd love to find one that the seller really stands behind if it keeps kwapping out.

I spoke to a Scentsy rep once who told me that theirs are guaranteed to be replaced with another if they go bad - but their diffusers are mostly $100+. Still, might be worth it.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

Moonchilde — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 22:57:54 GMT

@Ms tyrion2 wrote:
A friend has the nebulizer type and I've wanted one for ages. I've heard that you can't have these if you have cats--the oils are toxic?

I burn scented candles and my cats are fine. Does anyone know if this is true about the oils?

@Ms tyrion2, I suppose it's possible that some scents/oils might be toxic to kitties, but I had a kitty the first time I did this, and I have one now, and neither experienced any issues from me having it going - no sneezing, no problems breathing - and current kitty has asthmatic allergies, so if she didn't react, I'd say pretty safe.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

SilleeMee — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 22:57:54 GMT

I use a nebulizing type diffuser with oils mostly from pipingrock dot com. The nebulizer is one of the best kinds of diffusers to use because it takes very little oil to get fragrance in the air. I recommend this book for anyone from beginners on up. Lots of recipes, treatments and safety tips can be found in this book.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

Ms tyrion2 — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:13:10 GMT

@Moonchilde wrote:
@Ms tyrion2 wrote:
A friend has the nebulizer type and I've wanted one for ages. I've heard that you can't have these if you have cats--the oils are toxic?

I burn scented candles and my cats are fine. Does anyone know if this is true about the oils?

@Ms tyrion2, I suppose it's possible that some scents/oils might be toxic to kitties, but I had a kitty the first time I did this, and I have one now, and neither experienced any issues from me having it going - no sneezing, no problems breathing - and current kitty has asthmatic allergies, so if she didn't react, I'd say pretty safe.

Thanks @Moonchilde.

Good to know your kitties are ok with it. Perhaps there are just certain oils you can't use. I need to do some more research

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

Moonchilde — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:17:14 GMT

Thanks for the recommendations, @SilleeMee. What a coincidence that one of that website's diffusers is the one I got at Marshall's!

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

goldensrbest — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:18:30 GMT

@MoonchildeNow this is interesting to me ,i will be watching this thread,i also like scents like to get just a nice smell as i walk by.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

KathyM23 — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:38:41 GMT

Animals are sensitive to smells. They experience scents many times more than people. Just watch your dog with his nose to the ground. I stopped using scented candles, etc. when I read an article regarding animals and their discomfort with strong scents in the home.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

Katcat1 — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:40:01 GMT

@Moonchilde, It's called Essentials SLR and purchased it at simplelivingredefined.com. It was $25.99 and on sale for $19.99 and free shipping. I have had this 2 months or more (don't remember). I also purchased the larger one that was round but returned it because it was too cumbersome and difficult to replace the top once you filled the inside with water. The one I have is silent when running too. Check it out.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

jaxs mom — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:52:13 GMT

I don't burn any of them, because they aren't safe for cats and I have seven.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

jaxs mom — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 23:55:23 GMT

@Ms tyrion2 wrote:
A friend has the nebulizer type and I've wanted one for ages. I've heard that you can't have these if you have cats--the oils are toxic?

I burn scented candles and my cats are fine. Does anyone know if this is true about the oils?

The issue with cats is that their livers can not filter and remove essential oils so they build up and will cause death. And you can't tell by any outward reaction, by the time they show symptoms they're near death.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

KathyM23 — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 00:05:09 GMT

@jaxs mom

Good information. Kind of sounds to me like if the oils build up in a cat's liver, they may not be safe for other animals. (Perhaps including people) I think I will pass as I don't like strong smells myself. Perfumes, etc. give me a headache.

Re: Diffusers, Scents and Aromatherapy

jaxs mom — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 00:07:10 GMT

Well human livers are different than cat ones. I wouldn't use one around an infant, but they're safe for healthy people.