Can you use essential oils in a humidifier? And if you can…should you? Read on to find out!
Contents
Can essential oils be used in a humidifier?
The short answer is that in some cases essential oils can be used in a humidifier but in many typical cases, no. It depends on the type and the design.
It’s very likely you’ll read or hear people saying that you should never use essential oils in a humidifier. Really it depends on the particular one you’re using – average humidifiers do not work well with essential oils, but some can.
How do you know if a specific humidifier is okay to be used with essential oils? And is it worth trying anyway? Read on and I’ll explain it all below.
The types of humidifiers you should never use essential oil with
There are two types of humidifiers that you should never use essential oils with. This is due to how they work and how the essential oils could damage them or cause a build-up, eventually rendering the humidifier unusable or just unclean and “gunked up.”
1. Evaporative humidifiers
As the name suggests, evaporative humidifiers work by relying on the natural process of water evaporation. Models like the one shown here feature a wicking filter that absorbs the water which is then blown on by a fan.
This accelerates the water evaporation process and spreads moisture across the room. Others are even more basic and don’t use a fan at all – just old-fashioned water evaporation and nothing more!
Evaporative model filters and why essential oils won’t work
As the water is absorbed by the filter, any substances in it can end up in the filter. That’s why it needs to be changed occasionally so that it’s kept clean and the process is smooth.
If you add essential oils to the water (even just a few drops) they can become trapped in the wicker filter. The essential oils could then be corrosive to the filter and over time will cause it to break down and/or become less effective at creating evaporation.
Although you might get away with it at first, using essential oils in this type of humidifier will eventually cause it to fail. Not only that but using essential oils in an evaporative humidifier just doesn’t work very well.
2. Ultrasonic humidifiers (without essential oil support)
Ultrasonic humidifiers work by using high-frequency oscillation in order to break the water droplets down to ultra-fine particles. This process creates a fine mist which is then spread out into the room with the use of a fan.
These types of humidifiers don’t use a filter to absorb the water, but they still use a tank of water with working parts. And once again, using essential oils could cause damage to the tank and mechanism, causing it to eventually fail.
Essential oils put into a humidifier or diffuser that’s not designed for them usually end up “clumped up” and floating in the water until the water tank is used up. They can then get into the water passageways and even contact the transducer itself, potentially causing problems.
Most manufacturers recommend against the use of essential oils with these types of humidifiers to risk it! It’s also kind of pointless as it’s a waste of your scented oils, anyhow.
Humidifiers that can be used with essential oils
Shown here is the Everlasting Comfort cool mist model that offers an essential oil use feature. This is a small tray where you may add a few drops of your favorite scented oil which will mix with the water mist being produced.
The best way to use essential oils with your humidifier is through the use of an essential oil tray.
Some humidifiers come with an integrated essential oil tray already. It’s also possible to buy essential oil trays that are you can attach to or place on a standard model to get similar results.
Essential oil trays work by having a tray (with a few drops of your chosen essential oil) placed beneath the humidifier or inside it. The fan will blow the scent of the essential oils up and into the mist of water before it’s dispersed into the air.
The water vapor mist will then properly contain the essential oils. With this type, there’s no worrying about oils collecting in the water tank or humidifier passageways.
