Here at Essentially Yours, we love sharing all our knowledge of essential oils, so that our community can learn as much as possible! Whether you already have a huge collection or you are looking for your first oil, our website has information to help you out. In this blog, we are going to talk about using a diffuser. Specifically, we are going to explain in detail how many drops of essential oil you should use in your diffuser.
So, you’re telling me I can’t put it all in?
It might seem surprising that you have to limit how many drops you use. After all, aren’t essential oils natural?! Although they are natural, essential oils are extremely potent, because they are essentially super-concentrated plant matter. Adding too many drops to your diffuser can lead to headaches and dizziness in the short term and there is also evidence to suggest that overuse can cause throat, lung and blood pressure problems in the long term.
Don’t worry, though. Getting the quantity right is easy! How many drops you need depends on two things: the size of your diffuser and the type of oil that you use. Most experts recommend up to 5 drops per 100ml of water, just remember that many diffusers hold much more water than that.
When it comes to oil, each flavour is different. You would only want to use 1 drop of Wintergreen Oil, for example, but you might want to use more drops of Lavender Oil. The quality of the oil also plays a part here. If you are using 100% pure essential oil, you will need fewer drops than a lower quality or diluted oil. Some flavours of essential oil can also come in multiple varieties. For example, Ylang Ylang Oil has 5 different varieties - each with a different potency. Research the company and each individual oil carefully to work out how much you should use.
But what if I want to use more than 1 scent?
Our favourite part of learning about essential oils is experimenting to find our favourite blends. We recommend you start slowly, adding just a few drops of your favourite oils at a time. When blending oils, remember to include a base, heart and top note for the best outcome. A top note is usually the first scent you notice but is also the quickest to fade. Top notes are fruity and herby, like Bergamot and Eucalyptus. A heart (middle) note will be noticed next and blends into the base note - the earthy, final scent that hangs around longest. Middle notes are often fruity, like Rose and Chamomile, whilst popular base notes include Sandalwood and Frankincense.
Add the most drops of your middle note and the least of your base note. So, for 200ml you might add 3 drops of your top note, 5 drops of your middle note and 2 drops of your base note. This is only a guideline, though, so have fun experimenting!
Do you like to create your own blends? If so, which are you most proud of? As always, the Essentially Yours team loves hearing how you are using your essential oils, so feel free to share your tips and tricks with us today!
