Ultimate Guide for How Much Oil to Put in a Diffuser
How much oil to put in diffuser comes down to the size of the room, the size of the diffuser, and your goal for diffusing.
As a Certified Aromatherapist, I have a lot of people ask me about how much oil to use in their diffusers. So in this article, I’ll give you everything you need to know to feel confident in choosing how many drops of an essential oil to use next time you’d like to use your diffuser.
If you have questions after reading the article, feel free to comment below and I’ll be happy to help.
This article may contain affiliate links, please see my full disclaimer here.
How to Add the Correct Amount of Essential Oil Drops to a Diffuser
Here is a guide on how to know how much oil to put in a diffuser.
1. Room Size
When using an essential oil diffuser, going by the size of your room is key.
If you have a small room, you’ll need fewer drops of oil.
For larger rooms, you might need more to spread the aroma evenly.
Too much essential oil can make a small space overwhelming, while too little won’t have any effect in a big area. So you must start by being aware of your room size.
2. Size of the Diffuser
The size of your diffuser matters a lot.
A 100 ml diffuser needs a different amount of oil compared to larger models.
Typically, 3-5 drops of essential oil are enough for smaller diffusers. If you have a larger unit, you may need to add more.
Always check the manufacturer’s instructions to see what they recommend for your specific model.
3. Determine Your Goal for Diffusing
Why you’re using an essential oil diffuser shapes how much oil you should use.
Are you looking for stress relief, or do you need help sleeping?
Lavender oil is great for sleep, while citrus oils can energize you.
(Since I’m often add, I’ll include here that I get most of my essential oils directly from Plant Therapy).
If you’re after therapeutic benefits, like using tea tree for its purifying properties, this will also influence the type of oil and quantity you choose.
4. Use Recommended Ratios
A good rule of thumb is to start with 3-5 drops of essential oil per 100 ml of water.
This is a general guideline to ensure you’re not using too much essential oil. It’s a great way to begin, especially if it’s your first time using a diffuser.
From there, you can adjust based on personal preference and the specific essential oils you’re using.
Let’s say you want to create a calming atmosphere in your small bedroom for a good night’s sleep. Adding 5 drops of lavender oil to your 100 ml diffuser can offer the perfect amount of scent.
For larger living areas where you might be entertaining, a mixture of water and about 10 drops of a new oil blend that includes Ylang Ylang essential oil could provide a significant amount of fragrance without being too strong.
In both cases, you’re aiming for the perfect balance.
The quality of the oil, water tank capacity, and your main goal—whether it’s relaxation, energy, or something else—play into how much oil you add.
Remember, the best essential oils work well when you use them correctly, considering both the size of the room and the ml increments your diffuser can hold.Ultimate Guide for How Much Oil to Put in a Diffuser
This approach ensures that you enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy without any allergic reactions or discomfort from too many aroma oils.
Following these best practices in essential oil use not only maximizes the therapeutic benefits but also ensures the long-run efficiency of your diffuser.
Can You Put Too Much Oil in a Diffuser?
Yes, you can have such a thing as too much essential oil diffusion.
Using too much essential oil can result in an overpowering scent, which might overwhelm the room and cause discomfort for some individuals.
Too much essential oil is particularly noticeable in small spaces, where the concentration of essential oil particles can become excessively high.
An overpowering scent can lead to physical discomfort or even allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Symptoms such as headaches, nausea, or dizziness indicate that the oil concentration in the air might be excessive.
Recognizing the right amount of oil to use is key in aromatherapy to prevent such issues.
What Happens if You Put Too Many Drops of Oil in a Diffuser?
Using too many drops of essential oil in your diffuser can lead to overpowering smells that negatively affect both air quality and personal comfort.
This is especially true in smaller spaces where the aroma diffuser can quickly fill the room with a stronger fragrance than intended.
Such intense smells can become uncomfortable or even cause headaches in sensitive individuals.
Adding too much oil not only affects your immediate environment but also results in the potential waste of essential oils.
Pure essential oils are valuable and using them excessively without gaining additional benefits of essential oils is simply inefficient. This is why adhering to general guidelines for the number of drops of essential oil to use is a good idea.
Also, overloading your diffuser with too much oil can have negative effects on the device itself.
Oil diffusers, particularly ultrasonic diffuser models, are designed to operate with a specific usual amount of water and oil ratio.
Exceeding this ratio might lead to issues with diffuser performance or even reduce its longevity, as the water reservoir could become clogged with different essential oils.
What Happens if You Don’t Use Enough Drops of Oil in a Diffuser?
Using too few drops means you might end up with a subtle or no aroma at all.
Achieving the right amount of drops is key for the diffuser oil to effectively permeate the space and provide the desired atmospheric effect, whether for relaxation or focus.
Finding the right balance in the use of essential oils is important.
As a Certified Aromatherapist, I encourage you to experiment within the recommended guidelines to discover what works best for your diffuser models and open area.
Starting with a small amount of essential oil and adjusting based on your personal comfort and the different types of diffusers you’re using allows for a customized experience.
Experimentation is a great thing, as it leads to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the different types of essential oils and how they can enhance your living or workspace.
How Long to Run the Diffuser?
When considering how long to run your diffuser, the recommended duration varies based on the type of diffuser you’re using and your goals.
For electric diffuser models aiming for relaxation, a 30-minute session might be enough. However, for those seeking all-day benefits, like a consistent fragrance oil scent or essential oil blends to enhance focus, running the diffuser for longer periods, with breaks, is a popular choice.
One of the most important things to remember is the safety precautions associated with diffuser use.
Many diffusers come with automatic shut-off features to prevent overheating and give worry-free use.
What Kind of Water Goes in a Diffuser?
The kind of water used in your diffuser can impact both the device’s longevity and the purity of the diffusion.
While some might opt for tap water, using distilled water or filtered water is generally recommended.
Distilled water helps prevent mineral buildup inside the diffuser, ensuring that the essential oil particles disperse more effectively into the air, leading to a more potent aroma without damaging the unit.
While tap water might be a convenient choice for many, it’s good to consider the hardness of your water as it can affect the diffuser.
For those concerned about purity and wanting to avoid any mineral deposits, filtered water can serve as a good compromise, making sure that your essential oil bottles’ are well utilized for maximum results.
Do Carrier Oils Go in a Diffuser?
Carrier oils like coconut oil are good for massage oil or custom blends for skin use. But, when it comes to diffusers, especially those designed for essential oil blends, using essential oils alone without carrier oils is advisable.
This is because carrier oils can interfere with the diffuser’s mechanism, leading to clogs and reducing efficiency.
Carrier oils are best saved for creating massage oils or applying essential oils topically after dilution.
For example, a cotton ball dabbed with a small ml bottle of essential oil and carrier oil blend can be a fantastic way to apply a custom blend directly to the skin, giving the top note and overall scent profile without needing a diffuser.
But, if you’re looking to enjoy essential oils in their diffuser, sticking to pure essential oils is the way to go to give you a clean, efficient dispersion of scent.
Continue with: doTERRA or Young Living: Why as an Aromatherapist I Do NOT Use Either
