How does an oil diffuser work?

There are basically four primary types of diffusers available: nebulizing, thermal, evaporative, and ultrasonic. These have a single function—to release essential oils as vapour into the air—but they operate differently and employ several techniques to do it.

Ultrasonic diffusers, as their name suggests, use ultrasonic vibrations to break down the essential oil’s components, which they then mix into water, which is then dispersed as an extremely fine mist, diffused into the air.

Heat diffusers use heat to diffuse essential oils into the air on the other hand. It’s important to note though that heat isn’t the best tool to use in diffusion, as it can compromise some compounds that is inside the essential oil.

Nebulizers do not use heat or water, but they break down the oils into atoms, which is then diffused as a very fine mist. It’s important to note that one should be very careful in using nebulizing diffusers, as they release the finest, most concentrated mist of essential oils.

Evaporative diffusers use an entirely different method, which is by the use of wind. Once the oil is placed in an absorbent material, it then diffuses the material placed in it with a fan, which is then diffused into the air.

There are many different diffuser models available, but to get the most out of your essential oils, always dilute them first.