Essential oils are beneficial for so many things from topical applications for a variety of physical support to aromatically for emotional management and support. But why would you want to diffuse in the car?
Well, everyone is different. Some may want a blend that will help them with focus or alertness while others may be looking for a blend that would be helpful for anger management or road rage. Either way, aromatic use of essential oils has an immediate benefit when the correct oils are combined. The effects of essential oils used aromatically are almost immediate as opposed to being topically applied.
Regardless of which blend you choose to go with, diffusing essential oils is much safer for you, your passengers and the environment. Synthetic fragrances are not healthy for you or the environment. They can cause headaches and any number of other ailments. Essential oils help with cleansing the air you’re breathing in the car as well. All essential oils are anti-bacterial. But many of them are also useful in helping to prevent the spread of viruses. And there are oils that work well to help combat the undesirable effects of seasonal irritants.
There are a few different methods of diffusing essential oils in the car.
- Pictured above is a Clip-On Diffuser. This does not plugin. It simply clips onto the a/c vent in your car. It works by adding a few drops of your favorite blend to the felt pad inside (see the yellow behind the paw prints) and turning on the fan or a/c. You will most likely need to add more essential oils to it each day. The felt pad can be reused and does not need to be changed each day with new blends. It can be washed when necessary (hand wash and allow to air-dry completely).
- USB Car Diffuser. This is a small diffuser that plugs into the USB port of any standard car charger. It is an ultrasonic type of diffuser. Some will allow you to control the amount of the mist that is discharged while others only have one setting. It also requires water to work (just like a diffuser you plug in an outlet in your home). When the water gets low it will shut off. There are many different styles to choose from.
- Terra Cotta Pots or Pendants. These are just clay pots that you can add a few drops of your essential oils to the inside of them and as it is absorbed into the terra cotta it is diffused into the air. Some may choose to use a terra cotta pendant (necklace) and hang in the car instead of wearing it as a necklace. They hang from the rearview mirror.
- Homemade Clip-On Diffuser. These are simple and inexpensive to make. Just hot glue a puffball to a miniature clothespin. Clip onto your a/c vent and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil blend. These don’t hold up as well as the commercial diffusers. But they are great for getting started. You may have to reglue the puffball to the clothespin periodically. But they work in a pinch.
I would caution, though, that if you have pets that travel in the car with you to be sure none of the oils you are using will be harmful to your pet. There are a few essential oils that can be very toxic to your pets…..for instance, tea tree essential oil (melaleuca) can be toxic to many dogs and other small animals, wintergreen and birch are two more that are toxic to dogs (these are just a few). And cats, there is a whole list of oils to avoid with cats as they are so much more sensitive than other animals. I’ll post more on that in another note as that is a topic all of itself. In addition to pets, one must also be aware of precautions with other conditions such as during pregnancy and with the elderly or very young. You can know for sure which oils are safe for your custom blend by having a complete consultation with a qualified/certified Aromatherapist. I am available for private consultations. And while I am not a doctor (I do not diagnose, treat, cure or prescribe), I can assist you in selecting the oils that are a good fit and safe for your use.
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