When it comes to room scenting, ultrasonic aroma diffusers seem to be the most efficient addition to the diffusor family. These stylish little devices are electrically powered but don’t have a heating element which makes them safer. They are automatic so they’ll switch off as soon as the liquid in the bowl evaporates. And their benefits don’t end there. Let’s see what they have to offer!
What’s an ultrasonic aroma diffuser?
An ultrasonic diffuser is designed for safe, controlled spraying of essential oils in rooms. The devices are characterized by a modern design that fits into any type of interior. Additional functions include permanent air humidification, which is relevant for apartments with electric heating.
These devices don’t require constant monitoring, look like pyramids or cones with an opening lid and LED lighting. The latter kind can also serve as a beautiful nightlight.
How do ultrasonic aroma diffusers work?
When you turn it on, an ultrasonic aroma diffuser starts to create vibrations of water molecules at a specific frequency in the water tank. This causes the water to rise and bubble, producing steam. However, this is special steam, the size of the steam bubbles is much smaller than what you might have made in your kitchen in a pot. As the steam begins to rise upwards, the ultrasound unhooks the bubbles to form incredibly fine vapor If you’ve added essential oil, the same thing happens to the aroma oil that is sprayed into the air.
The oil splits in the water tank, delicately and precisely, flying out of the air outlet as a very fine vapor. These very small particles make the air much cleaner. The fragrance diffused stays in a room for a long time and you don’t have to worry about the concentration of oil in the air because it’s evenly distributed.
Why are ultrasonic aroma diffusers popular?
Aroma candles, aroma lamps, and reed essential oil diffusers can keep a concentrated fragrance in the air for a long time, which, to some extent, creates some of their charms. Be that as it may, a candle flame is far from the best way to distribute scent into your home and get the absolute benefit of a particular fragrance. Whether you use an aroma lamp with a candle or use a reed aroma diffuser, chemically a very similar process takes place. The fragrances are stored inside the candle wax or, if it’s a reed nebulizing diffuser, as a concentrated mixture of chemicals inside the oil solvent.
Check our guide to choose the best essential oil diffuser in 2022 and make your pick.
When the candle wax burns or the sticks release fragrance into the open air, the oil is released slowly into the air in tiny, microscopic molecules that are inhaled by humans. The oil that’s not directly burned (and therefore released into the air with a huge mixture of complex chemicals intact), passes through the air currents in your home and eventually fills the entire space. This is a great approach that has been used since the beginning of aroma candle making to scent living spaces but, by today’s scientific standards, certainly not the most effective or cleanest way to release the fragrance.
The problem is that much of the essential oil that is released by the candle will, over time, settle out of the air and into fabrics (textiles), surfaces, and generally, everything where you can smell it and where you must, subsequently, clean. The chemicals that make up the fragrance will begin to degrade over time, and odors that used to be so fresh and alive can lose their properties. In addition to this, once you reuse the different scented candles in your home, the scent will begin to lose its specificity. In other words, your home will begin to smell like perfume rather than the original natural scents. It’s because of this phenomenon that perfumes and perfume shops need to be completely clean.
Another problem is related to the candle wick – the burned wick consists mostly of carbon dioxide and water, along with other small gas molecules. Basically, these gases smell like classic campfire smoke and, once reused, can really suffocate the fragrance. In addition to this, small gas molecules like carbon dioxide are the most absorbent and quickly permeate fabrics, so it will be much more difficult to get rid of the pesky scent.
Ultrasonic aroma diffusers are a decisive answer to these problems. The special technology of these devices allows the distribution of aroma and scent without the risk that the oil-based mixtures will be absorbed by fabrics and remain forever on the surface. Ultrasonic diffusers work in more or less the same way, although of course models and features can vary. In short, ultrasonic fragrance diffusers produce scented aerosolized oil globules (molecules) that are much smaller and more concentrated than those emitted by a candle or reed diffuser. This smaller size means that the oil will stay in the air much longer before moving into fabrics and other surfaces and decompose faster and more completely!
Benefits of ultrasonic aroma diffusers
As was mentioned earlier, the way they work is based on the atomization of water into tiny particles using ultrasonic waves. This allows you to regulate the saturation of the fragrance and spray it in your home in very small doses. You don’t pour essential oils into a separate container (as you do with aroma lamps) but into a special container filled with water.
After you switch it on, the device works as a steam generator, running a mixture of oil through a fan in a special chamber. That’s where a fine mist forms, filling the air with a wonderful fragrance and also humidifying it.
There are multiple benefits to using this kind of device but the most notable are the following:
- Safety (the vapor these diffusers produce is cold and the devices themselves don’t heat up)
- Ease of use
- Automatic control of water level in the tank (when the level falls below the minimum mark, the device turns off)
- Choice of modes for aroma intensity
- Easy cleaning
- Manufacturer’s guarantee
Negatively charged ions atomized by ultrasonic aroma diffusers can saturate a living space with air similar to the atmosphere near mountain rivers. The saturation of the fragrance is controlled by the user, depending on the amount of oil added to the water.
3 methods to fragrance your home using an ultrasonic aroma diffuser
Natural essential oils. If you use natural oils in your electric aroma diffuser, you will only feel their aroma most intensely during the first use of the device. The optimal dosage for aromatherapy is 1 drop of aroma oil for 3-5 square meters (32 – 53 square feet) of space. But essential oils smell differently and have different degrees of volatility. For example, citrus oils are highly volatile, they evaporate quite quickly, faster than the water in the tank. There are low-volatility oils that take a longer time to evaporate, such as ylang-ylang, sandalwood, and patchouli. Their scent will be stronger and last longer. It’s a good idea to start with a minimum amount of oil and let your senses guide you.
Water-soluble concentrates, as they dissolve entirely in water, ensure a more even aroma. That is, its intensity will be the same all the time the device is running.
Water-soluble perfumed oils are a kind of interior perfume composition created specifically for ultrasonic aroma diffusers. Of course, their fragrance is more refined and multi-faceted, like the fragrance of perfumes or cologne. They smell quite strong, stronger, and longer-lasting than essential oils and water-soluble concentrates. They are perfect for creating a subtle and refined room fragrance.
Things to keep in mind when choosing an ultrasonic aroma diffuser
The absence of noise, low power consumption, and complete safety in use have made the devices popular among essential oil connoisseurs. If you want to choose the right one, it’s worth doing your research and studying the customer reviews, which usually list the disadvantages and advantages of particular devices.
It’s important to know that the water you use largely affects the quality of essential oil atomization. Don’t use distilled water, clean tap water or spring water is ideal. Don’t use alcoholic compounds, vegetable oils, perfumes or pure essential oils (not diluted in water) in the diffuser.
Cleaning the device is somewhat similar to cleaning a coffee machine. Use the citric acid solution to get rid of the scale. It heats the solution to about 40-50 degrees Celsius (104 – 122 degrees Fahrenheit), pours it into the diffuser tank, and lets it sit for 15 minutes without turning the device on. After draining, clean the aroma diffuser with a cotton swab.
If you decide to buy an ultrasonic aroma diffuser, keep in mind that the main replaceable element of the device is the membrane. If you notice faint ultrasonic vibrations or holes, the part should be replaced. If used properly according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, the diffuser will last for many years.
Conclusion
When planning to buy an ultrasonic aroma diffuser, it’s important to understand why you are buying it, when, where, and how you will use it, what features are important to you and what you can do without it. But of course, ultimately, the choice is always up to you.
