Why We Choose to Diffuse

Written By Christina Rothstein

I just had someone stop by the house and they remarked, WOW it smells so good in here!  Yes, we love diffusing our oils…we diffuse when we first wake up, something bright and fresh like peppermint or RC, we diffuse when we’re working and need to focus and get our creative juices flowing (Clarity, Rosemary, Citrus Fresh).... We diffuse when we need to wind down from the day and do a mental reset (lavender, Stress Away, purification)... and most certainly at night for restful sleep (Sacred Mountain, Peace & Calming).  We love diffusing for several reasons and I wanted to share a little bit more about that with you…

Emotional Well-Being 

Did you know when you inhale an essential oil, it stimulates your limbic system?  This is part of the brain that helps us process emotions, memories and more!  No wonder why our oils can have such a large impact on our stress level and emotional well being!  Diffusing an oil means that you are dispersing it into the environment along with water as a cold vapor… it is diluted and lasts for hours. You can literally set a mood with the oils.. It’s a really awesome way to clue into your intentionality. 

Customize Your Environment Based on Your Needs 

What I truly love about diffusing is getting to customize the combo EVERY SINGLE TIME I set it up.  I can check in with my mood, if I feel a little sniffly… if we need a pick-me-up or a majorly chill vibe… I get to intentionally combine oils to create a comforting environment, no matter what we need! 

Here are some examples of what I might diffuse and when: 

Morning Diffuser Combinations

Relax in the Evening

Ditch the Toxic Household Fragrances 

It’s time to say NO to fragrances. Much like other products of another era that we didn’t realize were harmful, there is increasing awareness of the dangers of synthetic household fragrances and scented products. At least one-quarter of the known ingredients in air fresheners are classified as toxic or hazardous. Many others have never even been studied as they were passed through in the 1974 Toxic Control Substances Act, or are kept hidden under a “fragrance” label. 

One example of these chemicals is 1,4-Dichlorobenzene. It has been linked to lung damage, increased asthma rates and it causes cancer. It is labeled an EPA-registered pesticide, and yet we are exposed to it daily through everyday products such as air fresheners and household cleaners.  In fact, this one chemical is found in the blood of 96% of Americans. It can be found in the majority of air fresheners, toilet deodorizers, and mothballs. 

Not only can diffusing oils help you ditch the need for fragrances, they also have some major cleaning and deodorizing power in all kinds of DIY recipes…. The same bottle of citrus fresh can be used for diffusing, and also as a toilet bowl cleaner or a carpet spray mixed with a bit of baking soda.  SO easy, and SO nice to know exactly what is in our products. 

Add Moisture to the Air 

Multiple research studies conducted by the CDC and research universities have demonstrated that the influenza virus is transmitted as an aerosol much more readily in air that is devoid of moisture. Because the winter months tend to exhibit the driest air, both outdoors and indoors, the transmission rate of the flu virus skyrockets as it can survive passage through the air in droplets.

For example, one study showed that at 43% relative humidity, only 14 percent of the virus particles that were released were able to transmit the influenza virus. This is in contrast to the 70 percent transmission rate in air that is at 23% relative humidity. Also, the protective effect at higher humidity levels appeared to be rapid, with the majority of viral inactivation taking place within 15 minutes of when viral particles were first "coughed" into a high-humidity environment.

This research underscores the importance of running a humidifier in your house during the winter months, as well as running your diffusers in various rooms, especially close to your bed at night while you are sleeping. For me, diffusers are MUCH easier to keep clean and the oils help purify the air at the same time!  

A few research studies are referenced below:

Noti, John D., et al. "High humidity leads to loss of infectious influenza virus from simulated coughs." PLoS One 8.2 (2013): e57485.

Lowen, Anice C., and John Steel. "Roles of humidity and temperature in shaping influenza seasonality." Journal of virology 88.14 (2014): 7692-7695.

Jaakkola, Kari, et al. "Decline in temperature and humidity increases the occurrence of influenza in cold climate." Environmental Health 13.1 (2014): 22

Get A High-Quality Diffuser & Essential Oils For Your Home


Young Living has a fantastic variety of diffusers at all different price points. If you need help picking out a diffuser or want to go grab one yourself, shop my Curated Bundles, grab a Starter Kit or just shop for any diffuser you want!


Christina Rothstein
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