There are lots of blogs and other posts about essential oil diffusers and their pluses and 
minuses. This blog is a little different in that it’s for the person who is just starting to experiment with diffusing essential oils, and who just wants to know about simple, inexpensive essential oil diffusers for beginners such as the ubiquitous candle diffuser.
Simple Inexpensive Essential Oil Diffusers
The candle diffuser is the most common simple diffuser. Sometimes, beginners are hesitant to use them because they use fire. Here, you’ll learn how to use them properly and safely. We’ll also compare them to other options.
The choice of simple, inexpensive diffusers essentially boils down to one that falls into one of three categories:
- Terra-cotta jar, disk, or pendant
- Dish and Candle
- Electric plugin with a scent pad
Pros, Cons, and How to Use Them
Terra-Cotta Diffusers
Terra-cotta jar essential oil diffusers are porous, allowing the essential oils to transpire through the walls of the container to infuse the space with scent. Popular terra-cotta pendants can be hung in a space or worn around the neck. Impermeable glazed backs help prevent the essential oils from coming in direct contact with skin or clothes. Disks work like pendants only they are set down on a surface in the space to be scented. They too should have glazed backs to prevent spoiling furniture surfaces. Both pendants and disks absorb essential oils dripped onto their surfaces. The scent then evaporates back out into the air.
Terra-cotta diffusers release a nice authentic scent. However, once the essential oils are put in the container or onto the disk or the pendant, they evaporate continuously, and there’s no way to stop the diffusion unless the diffuser is placed in a plastic bag or something else that will smother the smell.
If a lot of essential oil is put into the container or on the pendent, it could yield a very strong scent that could become annoying or even irritating.
Unfortunately, there’s no “off switch” associated with the diffuser. So, it’s important to use very little oil. Even just a couple of drops on a pendant are sufficient.
Many companies and websites say that terra-cotta diffusers are reusable. I find that recharging them with the same scent works well. However, switching the blend used only works if the first blend has completely evaporated. Otherwise, the first blend will contaminate the second as it continues to evaporate.
Dish and Candle Diffusers
Of the simple essential oil diffusers, the dish and candle diffusers are my favorites. An example of this type of diffuser is depicted in the photo above.
The dish is filled with water and the essential oil drops are added to the water. The candle creates heat that promotes evaporation.
The water in the dish suspends or buoys the essential oils (essential oils don’t dissolve in water). The water heats up but doesn’t boil, and the essential oils evaporate as the temperature rises. The scent created is clear and authentic. And, of course, candles also create a pleasant atmosphere.
With these diffusers, it’s important to use water because without water, the candle overheats the essential oils and they cook and burn onto the surface of the dish. Overheating and burning essentials ruin their therapeutic properties. The scent can be unpleasant as well.
In theory, you can use the dish repeatedly. However, if residues have accumulated or essential oils have burnt onto the surface, both will contaminate the new blend. You can clean the dish. However, sticky residues are difficult to dissolve and remove. Within time, the dish, but not the whole diffuser, will need to be replaced.
Candles should not be used overnight and left unattended because of the risk of fire. Many people want to diffuse essential oils to induce and improve sleep or help clear sinuses and the respiratory tract during the night so this restriction is a considerable drawback of candles in these circumstances.
Electric Essential Oil Diffusers
Electric essential oil diffusers are good for overnight diffusion or when it’s not possible to monitor a candle. They are safer than water-filled and candle diffusers. Most electric diffusers use inexpensive, replaceable pads so it’s easy and convenient to diffuse different blends by simply changing the pad. I prefer the quality of the diffused scent that emanates from water and candle diffusers.
For the electronic diffuser, use 4-5 drops directly on the pad. For subtle aromatherapy blends (vibrational or energetic purposes), use less of the oils (i.e., 2-3 drops), and for respiratory blends use as many as 6-7 drops. The specific number of drops also depends on the size of the room and preferences.
