What Does A Diffuser Do?

What does a diffuser do?

A diffuser is a simple yet complex ultrasonic unit that seems to have taken the wellness community by storm. A quick google search of the term “diffuser” nets just over 259,000,000 results which to us means a few things; there are a lot of different diffusers on the market, and there are a lot of people curious to learn more about them.

A quick explanation of a diffuser is as follows: Typically an ultrasonic unit powered by electricity and plugged into a wall socket, a diffuser uses clean water and 100% pure essential oils to create a fine, cool mist that is then dispersed into the air for us to breathe and experience through aroma. There are all sorts of misconceptions about diffusers and whether or not they produce heat or steam, and we’re here to tell you that they do neither! The mist they produce is cool, and the unit itself does not produce or generate any heat or fire hazards. So that’s the short answer. In this article we’re going to lean in to what a diffuser actually does, and how you can benefit from having one (or two… or three…) in your home.

What does a diffuser do? The technical stuff

As mentioned above, a diffuser is a unit usually made of a sturdy and durable material like BPA-free plastic that houses a small ultrasonic disc. You add clean water and 100% pure essential oils to the water tank, plug in your unit, and once you press “start” you begin to experience the fine, cool mist as it’s dispensed from your diffuser.

Diffusers create what are called ‘negative ions’. The dictionary defines negative ions as “an atom or a group of atoms that has an electrical charge”. We want to make that even simpler by painting this visual picture for you: imagine yourself standing by the ocean as the waves roll in and crash against the shore. Or picture yourself standing in the forest during a thunderstorm and the rain is crashing over the trees all around you. Can you envision those deep, clear and open breaths that often accompany an encounter with water in nature? That’s what negative ions help our bodies do. We breathe deeply and feel clearer and more open when we are in the presence of water when it’s in collision, which is the same experience that is mimicked in a diffuser.

If someone asks how negative ions benefit you? You can say that they contribute to your overall well-being, or you could even just say, “they make me feel awesome”.

What does a diffuser do? The simple stuff about smelling good

So now that we’ve talked a little bit about the more technical aspects of a diffuser, let’s get down to business about how exactly a diffuser makes us feel awesome. The first thing we’re going to discuss is how you can use a diffuser to scent your home according to your preference.

We know that scent is personal. It’s unique to each one of us the aromas we deem as a ‘heck yes’ when we smell them in our home, and one of the best things about diffusing is the ability to tailor and personalize the entire scent experience. If you’re a person who is drawn to citrusy, sweet and bright scents like orange and grapefruit, we would recommend choosing a diffuser blend like Citrus Dream. If the smell of a fresh bouquet of flowers is more your thing, check out our Goddess blend. Love the smell of the great outdoors? Feel invigorated by the tree scents of the forest? Try diffusing Rain Forest.

Being happy (or relaxed, or sleepy) in your home because you’ve created an inviting oasis of scent is just one of the many benefits of using a diffuser.

What does a diffuser do? The simple stuff about feeling good

One of the other benefits that you’re able to personalize outside of how your home smells is how your home feels. Knowing that we’re all spending more time at home than we ever have before has made it extra important that we feel comfortable and balanced in the space we have. Essential oils have so many known benefits; they can help us feel uplifted and boosted (like for example when we’re taking zoom calls from the couch for eight hours a day), or they can help us start to unwind and feel relaxed (like when those zoom calls finally end and we kick our feet up with a cup of tea and a good book).

We love using essential oil blends for three main reasons: to feel alert and invigorated in the daytime, to feel relaxed and calmed at the end of the work day and to help get a good night’s rest at the end of it all. For a daytime burst of inspiration we love the tart and zingy notes of citrus in Elevate. When we want to calm our minds and bodies after work, we choose the soothing notes of flowers and spice in Unwind. You’ve had the longest day and you’re looking forward to a silent night? We reach for the earthy and balancing notes of Peaceful Slumber.

What does a diffuser do when the water tank is empty?

The last thing we want to mention about what a diffuser does is related to its more technical functions. So we know that a diffuser is heat-free, produces cool mist and creates negative ions. But what happens when the water tank is empty?

Another one of the safety features and benefits of all of the diffusers we offer at Saje is a functionality called auto shut-off. What this means is that when the water tank is empty, the diffuser will automatically turn itself off. There is a very intuitive sensor in each diffuser that is programmed to detect the level of water remaining in the tank of each unit, and when that level of water dips below detection, your unit will kick into “auto shut-off mode” and safely go dormant until the next time you refill its tank with water and 100% pure essential oils. Some of our units are on a timer, which means they will turn off automatically once the designated time set by the unit has been reached (regardless of the amount of water left in the tank) and others are auto-sensored by the amount of water in the tank itself. Regardless of which functionality your diffuser offers, this feature is mostly for peace of mind.

This functionality was designed to provide that extra layer of protection so that you feel safe and secure as intended when introducing a new electric diffuser to your home. (PRO TIP: it’s totally normal for a small amount of water, even up to a few centimeters, to be left in the tank of your unit once the machine has turned off; this just lets you know the auto shut-off feature is working! Ensure you empty out any remaining water each time use your diffuser and refill it with clean, cool water).

Finally, what does a diffuser do to help me feel better naturally?

Quite simply, having a diffuser (or multiple diffusers!) in our homes is good for us. Whether it’s a classic pattern, design or material that we love looking at each day, or the burst of fresh air and personalized scent that we look forward to each morning, diffusers are a simple way to support feeling well overall and prioritizing your personal well-being. There are many different units available that offer many aesthetic differences. Some of the key differentiators when it comes to diffusers are:

1. Run time: this is the indicator of how long you can expect your diffuser to run when you’ve filled the water tank. Many of our units offer both a continuous (continual mist is produced) and intermittent (diffuser runs in 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off intervals) run time of anywhere between 3-6 hours (our shortest) and 11-22 hours (our longest).
 
2. Materials: the inner tanks of all of our diffusers are made with a safe, non-leaching BPA-free plastic, but their lids come in all shapes and sizes! Some of the materials we use include glass, ceramic, polyresin and cement.
 
3. Size matters: when choosing a diffuser, people often make their decision based on the size of the room they are diffusing in. An easy rule of thumb is that the smaller the water tank, the shorter the run time. Choose the size of your unit based on how long you’re hoping to run it for, and in which size of room.

Our top selling diffusers at Saje:

Aroma Om white ceramic: continuous or intermittent settings, 3-6 hour run time, optional LED light feature

Aroma Om grey cement: continuous or intermittent settings, 3-6 hour run time, optional LED light feature

Aroma Geni: continuous or intermittent settings, 4-8 hour run time, optional LED light feature

Go ahead and give one a try! We’re certain you’ll be feeling better in no time.