Safety Of Using Citrus Essential Oils On the Smiley Daisy Diffuser
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The other day, I received a question about the safety of using citrus-based essential oils in a diffuser. There are warnings about possible diffuser material corrosion when strong essential oils are diffused. This causes fears for many aromatherapy lovers since citrus-based essential oils are recognized to deliver valuable health benefits.
Getting To Know More About Citrus Based Essential Oils
Citrus based oils are noted for their light and summery aromas. Some of the most famous citrus essential oils are sweet orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, bergamot, mandarin, and neroli. The difference with how citrus-based oils are extracted makes them more potent in the world of aromatherapy. Most essential oils are extracted using steam distillation. Citrus oils, in the meantime, are pressed from the peel of the fruit.
Most citrus based essential oils are regarded as top notes. This means they are used to uplift deep aromatics like rose and vetiver. In other words, citrus oil blends give off a distinct aroma that is unlike any other.
Citrus Oils Safety – The Problematic Nature of Citrus Essential Oils
To understand more about safety of using citrus oils in your diffuser, it is helpful to know why it can pose potential problems. In addition, it does not mean you should avoid citrus oils for good. Here are some facts about citrus oils and tips on how you could still use these products without the worries.
- Since citrus oils are made using the peel of the fruit, there are chances that the oils may contain pesticides or herbicides. To avoid this problem, it is important to source your essential oils from trusted sellers or manufacturers. Trusted manufacturers will ensure that they use organic fruits to avoid this kind of problem.
- Citrus oils pressed directly from peels that may contain citral. Citral is a naturally occurring oil in many citrus plants. When citral comes in contact with the skin, it may cause an irritation or a burning sensation. To reduce this effect, make sure to choose citrus oils that are diluted with monoterpene alcohols.
- To avoid problems of corrosion with your essential oil diffuser, it is vital to observe operation and maintenance instructions. Dilute just the right amount of citrus blends when diffusing these strong essential oils. Clean and dry your diffuser each time you use citrus oils or blends.
In the end, knowing how to take care of your diffuser unit will matter most. While some brands of essential oil diffusers may discourage using citrus based oils, we cannot deny their healing potency. In my case, I still use a variety of citrus oils and blends. I make sure that I rinse and clean out my unit every time I use it, and so far, I never experienced a problem with it.