Aukey Oil Diffuser BE-A3 100ml Expired

Diffusers are very simple in design. I would just worry about which aesthetic you like. Keep in mind, you want to run these dry if you don't use them often (mold, bacteria, etc), so consider that if thinking of a 500mL or 1000mL container. And, two drops oil per 100mL is a good start. 100mL runs for several hours, so it's all really about the size you want and how long you want it to run without refilling. Refilling is easy, and is nice if you like switching between scents.

Some questions are usually:

1) Can I use this as a humidifier? Yup! But the volume of distilled (have to use that) per hour is so low, you are unlikely to notice anything.

2) Even though the volume is low, can I put it close to my head on my nightstand as a humidifier? Yup! But the noise these emit is like a laptop fan on high, its quite annoying and most people would want to turn these off.

3) Can I just run it and before I go to sleep turn it off? Yup! But you aren't supposed to let them just sit there with water in them, and have to wipe it dry after letting it run out, because otherwise it grows mold and bacteria and because its not steam but just "vibrating" the water droplets out the top, all the mold spores and bacteria is now landing on your face in a nice fine mist that is readily absorbed into your mucous membranes! Yay!

So how should these be used?

With some distilled water and your favorite scent, let it run dry, and then wipe it down with a microfiber until its next use. Voila.

I prefer the 600mL that popped up yesterday for $10 since I like the aesthetic of that one better than these, and the capacity will last a full 8 hours (which may actually be a disadvantage to some).


I can't imagine they're any different. Both are actually ultrasonic (frequently called "cool mist" because it doesn't have a heating element to create steam). I suppose it's possible the water pan of the essential oil version could be made of something that resists EO a little better, but I would be surprised.



Or a neti pot. There's some argument about whether or not it's a good idea to forcibly spray saline. The neti pot isn't always more effective, but it's generally considered as effective and depending on what kind of congestion you have, the higher flow can clear you out more completely and quickly. It feels gentler (though kind of weird) to me, too, and there's a odd amount of satisfaction that comes from seeing a giant glob of snot fall out of your nostril



It really depends on the unit and your particular use-case, but the math suggests that it actually could be effective: https://slickdeals.net/forums/showpost.php?p=110505983&postcount=32

It all depends on a variety of factors (the size of the room, the movement of air, HVAC activity, starting RH, rate of water dispersal, etc.), but I would argue that one of the 500mL units would be perfectly fine for humidifying something like an office during the day or a bedroom at night. Large room? Less so. Whole house? Nope.


First, the primary concern would be with eukaryotes (amoebas) and not prokaryotes (bacteria). Second, there is no compelling reason to be concerned about either if you keep your pot clean, are using treated municipal water, the right salt, and the right concentration.

This fear of brain-eating amoebas that will kill you if you use "improper" neti pot technique stems from articles like this that underscore the fact that extremely rare and weird things happen: https://www.theatlantic.com/healt...me/524358/

Yes, there can be bacteria and amoebas in properly treated, municipal water. But even in that article, they point out that the right salt concentration would have killed the amoebas that caused encephalitis. The fact is that there has to be the perfect storm of conditions for there to be any real risk with using a neti pot and that risk can be mitigated without having to buy distilled water or do it yourself (which is a bit time-intensive, requiring boiling and collecting the condensate). Furthermore, there is no benefit to using specialized saline packets as long as you use the right salt and are capable of using measuring devices.

I, for one, use hot tap water (I think the tankless is set to 118F, which is perfect for me) and 1/2tsp of salt per 1c (max my pot holds) of water. Put the salt in the pot and swish the hot water around for a few seconds until the salt dissolves (which the right salt does readily).

My pot is ceramic (which I'd recommend over plastic any day): https://smile.amazon.com/Ancient-...B000OLEC6I

My pickling salt is free of anti-caking agents and iodine, which is why I also use it to make "boogie wipes" for my kids: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mrs-Wa...g/25601268

Obviously, do whatever you want. It is technically "better" to use distilled water and saline packets in that whatever minuscule chance of contamination you have from using tap water and pickling salt is further reduced. If you have the time and/or want to spend the money, it certainly doesn't hurt.

For anyone who is truly concerned about brain-eating amoebas from your neti pot, I highly recommend you avoid swimming or boating in oceans, lakes, or streams. Or eating sushi. Or using an air conditioner. May as well remain in your sterile bubble, just to play it safe, since that will further reduce your chances of encountering foreign organisms that may harm you in some way.


I mean, yes, humidifiers "coat everything" in that you're vaporizing water and those droplets will land on...well, everything. But unless you have especially hard water, it shouldn't be a big deal. In the same way, I wouldn't worry about the oil itself causing any issues unless the diffuser is spitting out large droplets instead of properly vaporizing, or if you have it on a porous/delicate surface (eg. unfinished wood).

More important would be which essential oils you're using. Some can be more irritating than others and if you're sensitive to smells or have animals or babies around, you should be careful about which ones you use. IIRC: you should never use any EOs on or around babies under 3 months, or during the first trimester if pregnant. Otherwise, lavender and chamomile are pretty safe. Maybe sweet orange. Tea tree can be used in kids 6 months and older and peppermint can be used topically in small amounts by kids 2+, but eucalyptus and rosemary contain large amounts of the "menthol" compounds that we know from things like cough drops and really should avoided in kids under 10. Clove and cinnamon can irritate mucous membranes in some adults and really shouldn't be used around kids under 10. Don't take my word for it, though, and do your own research. I don't know either these people or their sites, but between the two you should be able to get a good list of what is best used based on your particular circumstances.

http://www.thehippyhomemaker.com/...-children/
https://draxe.com/essential-oil-safety/