There are endless ways to turn your home into the perfect sanctuary from the outside world. You can feng shui your bedroom in aid of putting Corona-induced chaos to the back of your mind, use fabrics and soft furnishings to add opulence or dress your space with stylish furniture to keep you comfy and calm. But have you ever considered home fragrance as an extension of your beautiful decor?
If the answer is yes, you’ve probably been reaching for your scented candle or reed diffuser – and you’re not alone. Until now, we’ve been burning candles like they’re going out of fashion and spending money on reed diffusers that barely banish the smell of our morning brew. Little did we know, there’s actually one much easier way to make your home smell delicious. And it eradicates any risk of spillage or your curtains going up in flames…
Essential oil diffusers are a hot property right now, dispersing natural oils into the air (like lavender/jasmine/rosewood/whatever else you fancy) to make your room smell like a spa and leave you feeling calmer.
What are the benefits of aromatherapy?
It’s that latter ability that really got us hooked – investing in an essential oil diffuser allows you to take advantage of the benefits of aromatherapy which can effectively reduce feelings of anxiety. (Read: those heart palpitations you seem to experience every time you turn on the news right now).
According to research, some essential oils interact with the brain and nervous system to positively impact on your health and mood. When they’re concentrated into a diffuser and breathed in, they can easily stimulate the olfactory system in the brain.
“Clinical studies have shown that aromatherapy by inhalation can have real benefits for people with, for example, anxiety, [problems with] mental focus, depressive symptoms, and menstrual pain,” Robert Tisserand, an essential oil educator and aromatherapy expert from California, told us. Although to be honest, even if they don’t have an impact on your emotions, they’ll make your space smell *great*.
How do essential oil diffusers work?
Essential oil diffusers work by using ultrasonic pulses to blend scented essential oils with water, before radiating the steam into your bedroom. They fill the air (in even the largest of rooms) with subtly scented purified air which helps you feel calm, focused or more awake – depending on which essential oil you choose. More on that later.
Lots of them also come with additional features, like LED lights for creating a calming ambience. In fact, the Beurer LA 40 essential oil diffuser has an LED light which offers six different colour options, so you can mix things up depending on your interior style.
One of the best things about investing in an essential oil diffuser is that you can switch up the oils you’re using depending on your needs at that time. Lavender is good to help you relax before bed, while rosemary is good when you’re working from home because it can help you stay focused. Cedarwood, lemon, bergamot, orange and valerian are also good for stress and anxiety, while peppermint is good for a pick-me-up.
When you’re choosing your essential oil, just be sure that it specifically says on the bottle or website that it’s considered safe for internal consumption. This means the essential oil is safe to diffuse indoors and of high quality.
What is the best essential oil diffuser?
There are tonnes of essential oil diffusers on the market, from budget options to more serious investments. So, in a bid to streamline your shopping experience, we’ve whittled it down to the best.
The VicTscing Essential Oil Diffuser, available at Amazon, is great if you want something easy-to-use and which easily fills large rooms. You can set it on a timer for one, three or six hours and it has seven different subtle colour settings. The Neom Organics Wellbeing Pod is another great choice. It costs £90 from John Lewis, looks sleek thanks to its white casing and rose gold trim, and it has an instant effect using just five-ten drops of oil. Neom also offer lovely essential oil gift sets to keep your stash full.
If it’s a portable essential oil diffuser you’re after, This Works’ offering (available from Oliver Bonas) is great – because it’s powered by a USB cable. It’s really lightweight and compact so you can carry it in your handbag, and This Works’ range of essential oils is excellent. One to consider for your return to the office, although be wary that it can take a little longer to notice the aromas in a large and open office due to its size.