We love essential oils. You love essential oils. And we love finding all the ways to enjoy them throughout our homes. Chances are you have a favorite carrier oil, a go-to roll-on, and an ultrasonic diffuser in your most important rooms. If you’ve decided to branch out and give passive diffusion a try, it might strike you as, well, a tad underwhelming. But even though passive diffusion is more subtle than other forms, it has a lot going for it.
Passive Versus Active Diffusion
With active diffusion, usually by an ultrasonic or nebulizing diffuser, your essential oils are pumped into the air and dispersed throughout your space. It can fill larger rooms with the scent of your favorite sweet treat, like Pumpkin Pie, or a much-needed feel better blend like Sniffle Stopper or Germ Fighter. And when you use an intermittent setting, you’ll get a fresh boost of scent throughout the day (or night).
Passive diffusion acts much differently as there’s nothing pushing the oils into the air. They evaporate on their own and gently scent the air around your passive diffuser until the scent dissipates completely. Some examples of passive diffusion include our Passive Lotus Diffuser, the Crystal Carfresh Diffuser, aromatherapy necklaces, or reed diffusers.
Tips for Getting the Most of Your Passive Diffuser
The biggest thing to keep in mind when considering passive diffusion is that it isn’t going to be as strong or powerful as a regular diffuser. It isn’t going to scent an entire room, smell as strong, or last as long as an ultrasonic or nebulizing diffuser. Passive diffusers are great options if you want to enjoy essential oils while sitting at a desk but aren’t going to make much of a difference in a bedroom or living room setting.
It’s also important to keep your passive diffuser clean. If you have one of our beautiful passive lotus diffusers, an occasional dusting is sufficient to keep it looking and working great. Just be sure to dust before adding new essential oils. After using your passive lotus diffuser several times, you can do a deep clean by using a cotton cloth dipped in diluted white vinegar to gently wipe the plaster clean.
If you’re going for longevity when you’re passively diffusing your essential oils, there are some that are going to perform better than others: base notes. These heavier oils are the slowest to evaporate and will stick around the longest. Blends like Maple Leaf, Key Lime Pie, Lemon Cupcake, Luckier, Pumpkin Pie, and Chocolate Truffle are all rich, delightful blends that are full of wonderful base notes and are perfect for passive diffusion. But if citrus and florals are your favorites, don’t let that stop you! Just know that they might not last as long.
Other Forms of Passive Diffusion
Our Passive Lotus Diffuser isn’t the only way to enjoy subtle scents in your home. Reed Diffusers are another excellent option! Instead of using undiluted essential oils, the oils are diluted in an alcohol mixture. When reeds are placed in the bottle, the liquid travels up the reeds and releases the scent into the air. By choosing how many (or few) reeds you use, you’re able to have greater control of the strength of the aroma. Also, reed diffusers will last longer and provide more of a continuous aroma than something like the Lotus Diffuser. Plus, now you can get everything you need directly from Plant Therapy with our Reed Diffusers, available in Wood Spice or Tangerine Jasmine.
by Plant Therapy