Diffusing essential oils into your space is a wonderful way to enjoy the many benefits essential oils have to offer for your mind, body, and general health. What are essential oils, exactly? How many drops of essential oil should you put in your diffuser for maximum health benefits? What are the health benefits of key essential oils?
We tackle your burning essential oil questions and highlight the ample benefits of a few, key essential oils that may be of interest.
What are Essential Oils?
First and foremost: what are essential oils?
Essential oils are hardly a “new” invention. In fact, essential oil use in cosmetic products, body oils, perfumes, and more can be traced back to the ancient Egyptians as early as 4500 B.C. So, what is so compelling about essential oils that allowed them to persist for more than 6,500 years?
Essential oils are highly concentrated plant “essences” created through a process of mechanical pressing or distillation. The result is a highly concentrated plant oil with extremely valuable therapeutic properties.
You can enjoy the wide ranging benefits of essential oils in three ways: topically, aromatically, and through ingestion. Since we are concerned with how many drops of essential oil to put in your diffuser in this particular blog, we will focus on the aromatherapy benefits of essential oils.
Essential oil diffusion offers the benefits of aromatherapy by wafting essential oil particles through a designated space. The scents dance around the room stimulating the olfactory system, which includes the nose and the brain. The essential oil particles stimulate a section of the brain called the limbic system, which controls stress emotions and hormones, and regulates the body’s blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. Essential oils can have quite an impact on the mind, body, and spirit when diffused through your space.
How Many Drops of Essential Oil to Put in Your Diffuser?
A very common question for the new diffuser owner is: “How many drops of essential oil should you put in a diffuser?”
A natural inclination when utilizing essential oils in your diffuser is to saturate the water tank for maximum aromatherapy benefits. Moderation is key when working with essential oils.
The unit of measurement for essential oils is a drop. While a “drop” sounds like such a small amount of essential oil to have a therapeutic effect, essential oils are highly concentrated. A single drop of essential oil goes a long way.
When determining how many drops of essential oil to put in your diffuser, you need to consider the size of the diffuser. A 100mL diffuser requires fewer drops of essential oil than a 500mL diffuser for the same scent threshold. In addition, the location of your diffuser should be taken into consideration; if your diffuser is located in a room with poor ventilation, it is best to use essential oils in the lower drop range.
Here is a list of how many drops of essential oil to put in your diffuser, ordered by diffuser size:
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You need 3-5 drops of essential oil for a 100mL diffuser
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You need 6-10 drops of essential oil for a 200mL diffuser
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You need 10-12 drops of essential oil for a 300mL diffuser
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You need 12-15 drops of essential oil for a 400mL diffuser
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You need 15-20 drops of essential oil for a 500mL diffuser
This list is a general guide, not a mandate. If you prefer a more subtle scent in your living room, you may want to place 8 drops in your 300mL diffuser rather than the lower recommended dose of 10 drops. If you prefer a stronger scent profile in your home, we do recommend that you stay within the drop range to avoid scent overwhelm.
Health Benefits of Essential Oils
Now that you are equipped with the knowledge of how many drops of essential oil you should put in a diffuser, you may ponder: “What essential oils should I diffuse in my home?”
The answer is simple: whatever essential oils appeal to your olfactory system! Whether you prefer floral scents or tart, fruity blends, the essential oils you choose to diffuse in your home should evoke positive sentiments.
If you prefer to diffuse essential oils for their many therapeutic benefits, it may be helpful to learn the major benefits of key essential oils. The following essential oils are key players in our proprietary essential oil blends available for purchase with your Canopy Diffuser or as a stand alone product.
Jasmine
Jasmine essential oil, which can be found in our Suede Smoke blend, is derived from the jasmine flower and is well-known for its mood-boosting qualities. This powerful essential oil is most commonly used in Asian countries for anxiety, depression, high stress, low libido, and insomnia.
Lavender
Lavender is widely accepted as a calming, sleep-inducing essential oil, making it a key ingredient in our Lalo Soothe essential oil blend for infants and small children. While lavender most notably promotes restful sleep and stress reduction, this essential oil also has antiseptic properties and can be used on bruises, sunburns, scrapes, and more for quick healing.
Bergamot
A star oil in our Canopy x Open Spaces Dawn essential oil blend is bergamot, a relative of the citrus family. Bergamot essential oil has stress reduction properties and is often used during the winter months to improve feelings of depression, sadness, and gloom.
Cedarwood
Cedarwood essential oil is extracted from the cedar tree and features an evergreen, woodsy aroma that can evoke a wide range of emotions. Featured in our Midday Canopy x Open Spaces essential oil blend, cedarwood essential oil has anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, astringent, and antifungal properties to name a few.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit essential oil is a powerhouse essential oil featured in our Flower Market blend by Canopy x The Sill. Extracted from the grapefruit rind, grapefruit essential oil is associated with anti-inflammatory properties and stress relief while providing a natural appetite and sugar-craving suppressant.
Lemon
Juicy, playful, and incredibly refreshing, lemon essential oil holds its own in our Grapefruit Spritz blend by Canopy X The Skinny Confidential. Bursting with brightness, lemon essential oil can dramatically improve a dull, dreary day while providing useful antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
Canopy Diffuser
Canopy Diffuser is a waterless, mistless diffuser that allows you to enjoy the unadulterated benefits of essential oils. Traditional diffusers can spew harmful contaminants from the water tank into your home space; Canopy Diffuser’s anti-mold technology keeps you and your family safe from potential allergens and bacteria lingering in the water tank.
Whether you prefer short term diffusion with the Canopy Diffuser Aroma Puck, or long term diffusion with the Diffusion Well, enjoying the benefits of aromatherapy in your space could not be easier. Simply add 2-5 drops of your favorite essential oil to the Aroma Puck, select your fan speed (low, medium, or high), and enjoy a short burst of scent through your space. Or, if you desire a long lasting scent in your space, place your favorite essential oil bottle into the Diffusion Well and enjoy gradual, persistent aromatherapy.