Can you use fragrance oils in a fine mist diffuser?

Mist diffusers are usually used with essential oils, but fragrance oils can be used as well. Find tips and info in this article.

Did you know that you can use fragrance oils as well as essential oils in a room diffuser? While fragrance oils and essential oils are composed of different ingredients and have different benefits, they have similar physical properties. If you have a favorite fragrance oil, you can use it in the same way you would use an essential oil in a diffuser.

One of the most popular types of diffusers is a fine mist diffuser. Also known as a humidifying diffuser or ultrasonic diffuser, these machines distribute a scent by causing water to evaporate into mist. If you’re wondering how to use fragrance oils in a humidifying mist diffuser, this post has all the information you need!

How do fine mist diffusers work?

If you’re interested in using fragrance oils in a humidifying diffuser, it helps to understand how these machines work. A mist diffuser is an electric device with a water reservoir and a spout that allows mist to come out of the top. Diffusers have a disc inside that vibrates when the machine is turned on. As the disc vibrates, it breaks the oil into tiny particles while also causing the water to evaporate into mist. The mist carries the tiny particles of oil into the air, distributing the scent.

How to Use a Fine Mist Diffuser

There are tons of different types and designs of mist diffusers, but they all work in a similar way. All you need to do to use a fine mist diffuser is:

Fill the reservoir with water. Diffusers usually have a “max fill” line that tells you the maximum amount of water you can add. You can fill all the way up to this line.
Add a few drops of fragrance oil (or essential oil) to the water. Because fragrance oils and essential oils are highly concentrated, you really only need a few drops
Plug in the diffuser and place it in a secure location out of reach of children and pets. It’s best to place a diffuser in a central location where airflow will help disperse the scent better. Keep in mind that not all of the mist fully evaporates, and it may settle on surfaces in the immediate vicinity. With this in mind, you shouldn’t place the diffuser on or near anything you want to avoid getting potentially damp.
Let the diffuser run for as long as you like. If your diffuser doesn’t have an auto-off feature, be sure to check the water level so that it doesn’t run out. Running a diffuser with no water in it may cause damage to the machine.

How to Add Fragrance Oils to a Fine Mist Diffuser

Adding fragrance oils to a diffuser is the same as using essential oils. Simply add a few drops of your favorite fragrance oil to the reservoir of water. Because of how concentrated our fragrances are, you only need a few drops. We recommend starting with this amount and running your diffuser for a little while. If you decide you want a stronger scent, you can add a few more drops later.

The easiest way to add fragrance oils to a diffuser is to use a plastic dropper or pipette. Droppers are great for transferring a small amount of fragrance oil neatly and accurately. Simply draw up a little fragrance oil in a pipette and add the desired number of drops to your diffuser.

When using fragrances in a diffuser, be sure to always fill your machine with water first. Using undiluted fragrances in a mist diffuser would cause damage to the machine, create an overpowering scent, and would not create any mist because of how viscous oils are.

What kind of water should I use in a fine mist diffuser?

Most people use distilled or filtered water in their diffusers. You can use tap water, but this isn’t recommended if you have water with a lot of mineral deposits or if you live in an area where the water has a strong scent or taste (e.g. rusty water, hard water, or water with a strong chlorine scent). Any taste or odor in the water may affect how your scent smells in the diffuser. It can also cause discoloration and mineral buildup in your machine, affecting how it performs.

Benefits of Using Fragrance Oil in a Diffuser

Most people use essential oils in a diffuser because of the pleasant smell and aromatherapeutic benefits. Because essential oils are pure plant extracts, many people choose essential oils that are thought to have therapeutic or medicinal benefits.

Fragrance oils are made of a blend of natural and synthetic ingredients. Many high-quality fragrance oils are actually formulated with essential oil ingredients to give them a more complex aroma. There are hundreds of different fragrance oil options to choose from, giving you endless variety for your diffuser.

Using fragrances in a diffuser is a quick and easy way to make your home smell fresh and inviting. It’s easy to swap scents out as often as you like. With fragrances in a diffuser, you can make your home smell like anything from fresh baked cookies, to Christmas trees, a tropical beach, or clean laundry.

How to Make Fragrance Oils Mix with Water in a Diffuser

If you’re familiar with using essential oils in a diffuser, then you know that oils don’t mix in with the water when you add them. When you add fragrance oils or essential oils to a diffuser, the oil will form small beads or spread out on the surface, never really mixing in. This is normal, and it won’t affect how your diffuser works.

Because of how fine mist diffusers operate, the oil doesn’t need to be fully incorporated with the water. As the machine runs, the oil will be broken into microscopic particles that rise up with the water as it turns to mist.

We’ve tested several methods for getting fragrance oils to dissolve in diffuser water, but the best method is ultimately to add the oil directly to the water. Blending your fragrance oils with Room Spray Base, Reed Diffuser Base, EO/FO Modifier/Solubilizer, and other similar ingredients doesn’t work effectively. Reed Diffuser Base is far too oily to be used in a humidifying diffuser, while Room Spray Base has a high alcohol content that causes it to evaporate without creating mist. In our testing, these bases created a cloudy mixture when diluted with water.

If you’re looking for projects that do allow you to make a fully blended air freshener with fragrance oils, try these fun and easy projects: