Hi, my name is Brooke, and I am a recovering candle addict. I loved the feeling of HYGGE they’d lend to my home. I always sort of knew that they were toxic, but I would allow myself the indulgence.
Imagine my excitement when I discovered that I can get the EXACT same cozy, warm atmosphere with a diffuser!
Some choose to use only one way while others choose to use all three.

Diffusers are not one size fits all. It is important to pay attention to how they work and how may square feet they cover.
- Ultrasonic Diffuser:These also create a fine mist like the nebulizer, but they work in a different way, using electronic frequencies to create ultrasonic vibrations that break up the molecules for distribution. These use a mixture of water and essential oil, which means that you’ll be diluting the potency of the essential oil upon use. Plus, because essential oil is corrosive to plastic it needs to be cleaned regularly to keep it running smoothly.However, there is a humidifying aspect to using this type of essential oil diffuser, so it’s great when the weather turns chilly and dry. Adding moisture to the room is important during cold and flu season.
- Nebulizing Diffusers: It works by using pressurized air and oil. A stream of air blows across a small tube, creating a vacuum that pulls the oil to the surface of the tube where it is blown away in a fine mist.
- Heat DiffusersThese work in the same way as evaporative diffusers that use a fan to release the essential oils, but they use heat instead. They are relatively inexpensive and quiet, but they can change the chemical composition of your oils when they are heated. Some use higher levels of heat that can make the scent more intense, but this defeats the purpose when you are trying to get essential healing benefits. Lower levels of heat can keep things subtle without changing the compounds too much and still make your home smell good.
- Evaporative Diffusers:These work just as you might suspect from their name. As the essential oil evaporates, it is released into the air as it turns from liquid to gas. These models usually use a small fan that blows air past the oil, causing it to evaporate at a faster rate than normal.One drawback is that as the essential oil evaporates, the lighter components will disperse faster than heavier components, making it difficult to get the complete benefits of the oils. Evaporative essential oil diffusers are typically the least expensive and are good for those who just want a burst of freshness on occasion.
Why Diffuse over burning candles?
Here is a complete round-up of the diffusers in my home-
#1- Young Living Aria Diffuser
- Ultrasonic
- Remote Control
- Audio Cable with built in speaker
- 12 light settings
- COVERAGE AREA: Average-sized bedroom (about 430 square feet)
- OPERATION TIME: 12-hour maximum run time setting
- Capacity: 260 ml
- Find it HERE (or get it in your starter kit with 12 essential oils for best deal HERE)
This is my favorite diffuser!!! I love how it looks and how much you can smell the oils when you use it. By far the best quality. Worth the price if it is in your budget.
#2- Young Living Desert Mist Diffuser
- Ultrasonic
- The diffuser’s 11 different light settings can be turned off or on independent of diffuser function.
- Capacity: 180 ml
- Coverage: 300 Sq Ft
- The diffuser includes a romantic candle-like flicker mode.
- The diffuser includes a light cycle mode, so colors transition gently from one to another.
- Three run modes are perfect for a customizable experience:
- High mode runs approximately 5 hours continuously.
- Low mode runs approximately 8 hours continuously.
- Intermittent mode (1 minute on/1 minute off) runs approximately 10 hours.
- Find it HERE (or get it in your starter kit with 12 essential oils for best deal HERE)
I really like this diffuser for many reasons. I like the “flicker” setting to resemble a candle. I like that it is easy for kids to operate and they can’t break it. Also travels well.
I took the cover off my desert mist diffuser and put it in a metal pumpkin!!! This is the extent of my halloween decor! ha! I did drill a hole in the back of the pumpkin so the cord comes out the back. You can find a similar metal pumpkin HERE (I found mine at Home Goods).
#3- Young Living Feather the Owl Diffuser
- Ultrasonic
- Capacity: 165 ml water
- Coverage: 323 Sq ft
- Exclusive Easy-Touch Talons™ offer touch-sensitive power and light operation simple enough for kids to use
- Diffuses your favorite essential oils and works perfectly with Young Living’s KidScents essential oil blends
- Three run modes to customize your aromatic experience: High mode runs continuously for approximately 5-6 hours, Low mode runs continuously for approximately 8 hours, Intermittent mode runs for approximately 10 hours—1 minute on, 1 minute off
- Built-in speaker with five different sound variations: Rain, birds, ocean waves, fan, and lullaby (this is pretty quiet- not as loud as the Hatch Sound Machine)
- Ten different LED light options to fit any mood
- Night-light and white noise function independently of diffuser mode
- Find it HERE (you can get it at wholesale by grabbing a starter kit HERE)
I just love the look of this little diffuser. This is great for a kids room for many reasons. It has the soft night light glow. Soft sound machine. It can intermittently diffuse. And they can’t break it!
PS- this moon shelf is holding the oils in Finns room (obsessed with it!)
#4- Serene House Supernova Diffuser
- Ultrasonic
- Coverage: up to 300 square Feet
- Run time: 7 hours continuous
- 7 LED light options rotating to static
- Find it HERE
I really like the look of this diffuser. A lot. I will say it doesn’t put off as much steam as I would like and smell. But I still like it.
#5- White with Faux Wood Base (2 Pack) Diffuser
- Ultrasonic
- Capactiy: 120 ml Water
- 8 hours intermittent run time
- 8 color Options, intermittent or continuous modes
- Coverage: Approx 200 sq ft
- Find it HERE
I was surprised with how much steam this put out!!! I love to see a big puff of steam (PS- you see more steam when it is by a window). This is a great diffuser for a bathroom, for travel or to double up in a large room.
#6- InnoGear Diffuser/ Humidifier Combo
- Ultrasonic
- Is also a Humidifier
- Capacity: 500 ml
- Run Time: up to 17 hours run time.
- 7 color Led lights
- Find it HERE
I am a big fan of this super affordable diffuser. I like that it it is a humidifier too. And it holds a lot of water!!! We used to have it in Finns room, but the owl diffuser was just so much cuter. So I gave this one to Kevin to take to work!
#7- Starlight Electric Aromatherapy Diffuser
- Run time: 2 hours
- Coverage: Max 100 Sq Ft
- Best for a Bathroom or small office/desk area
- Find it HERE
Mini cute diffuser that is ceramic. It does not put a lot of smell out, low steam. But still cute.
#8-Ultrasonic Oil Diffuser
- White ultrasonic oil diffuser creates a calming atmosphere in your space
- Soft light creates a peaceful environment
- two settings: continuous mist and intermittent mist
- 300ml- continuous mist setting- 9 hours/intermittent mist settings- 18 hours
- Find it HERE
I have the black version of this diffuser in our main floor bathroom. I like this one because the steam comes out the front side, not the top. I have it sitting on the back of our toilet under a cabinet and the steam would hit the cabinet if I didn’t have one like this. This one is also really good to travel with.
Diffusing FAQ:
Q: How long should I diffuse at one time?
A: While I’ve seen differing recommendations and times, I have never found any research to back those. Most of us run a diffuser until it shuts off. Some of us have had them going for years almost non-stop.
- Turn off and unplug your diffuser.
- Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and swab to clean all areas of the diffuser.
- Add essential oil of choice to the atomizer and diffuse away!
A: Whether or not you continue is completely up to you. We certainly can’t tell you what is happening since your health is the result of many factors all coming together and we don’t have all the pieces. It is highly likely that the smells triggered emotional responses and/or began to detox your body. The most common detox symptom is a headache. It is a great time to drink lots of water and start looking for some great ways to add extra punch to your antioxidant efforts. Ningxia is perfect for this! Also consider if you have stopped using perfume, toxic cleaning products and maybe eating something you shouldn’t. I would start slow and less amounts.
A: You can totally decide how to move forward with this. You can discontinue use of that oil and use others more pleasant to you. Many, many times this is the result of an emotional response. The body throws a hissy fit because the oil is triggering a release of emotions and you are not ready for change. This causes the oil to stink. Some choose to use the oil on their feet until it becomes more pleasant to help their bodies work through the needed changes. It may become a favorite! Up to you! It might also help to rename the oil! For instance if you don’t like the smell of Digize rename it to “tummy relief”!
If you want to get the best deal on essential oils and a diffuser head to THIS blog post to read more!
Shop the diffuser post-
#1- HERE // #2- HERE // #3- HERE // #4- HERE // #5- (diffuser for car) HERE #6- HERE // #7- HERE #8- (Travel diffuser case) HERE // #9- HERE
I dont think I have ever posted a comment but I am so enjoying these post on these essential oils an on living a healthier lifestyle. Its taken me awhile to come around but I think I’m on board an plan to order the kit soon! I would love to hear what kind of vitamins u give your toddler as I have an almost 4 year old. And I have a 7month old baby. Please keep these posts coming:)
I have followed your blog a long time and love your home and your style too! Thanks for what u do, u keep me inspired!
Thank you!!! I am not the best at always giving vitamins. I like a probiotic and multigreens for them. I do get them from youngliving.com
I’d love to have one in my classroom but don’t have cord space . Have you found a good chargeable one ? All of the YL ones I’ve purchased need to stay plugged in .
Oh I haven’t yet! I will keep my eye out!
I have two cats and have read such conflicting information on the toxicity of EO to cats. I loved diffusing but have stopped because I also love my cats and do not want to harm them. In your extensive dive into essential oils, what have you discovered about the use of them around cats?
I have heard that too. But my mom and many others have a cat and diffuse around them. This blog post I refer to- https://www.youngliving.com/blog/animals-and-oils-what-you-need-to-know/ (it is young living- where I get my oils) but it might be a good guide for you. Also I listened to this podcast- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/182-cinnamon-essential-oil-cats-science/id1064835727?i=1000444583589