Humidifiers Vs Aroma Diffusers: What's The Difference?

Humidifiers and aroma diffusers are often confused with one another, and while they share similarities, they are not the same. Both devices emit a fine mist into the air, but they have different functions. Humidifiers are designed to add moisture to a room, dispersing water vapour into the air to raise the humidity level. Aroma diffusers, on the other hand, are designed to disperse essential oils into the air, creating a pleasant scent and offering therapeutic benefits. While some aroma diffusers can add a small amount of moisture to the air, they don't hold enough water to significantly impact the humidity level of a room.

Humidifiers and diffusers have different purposes

Although both devices emit liquids into the air, humidifiers and diffusers have different purposes.

Humidifiers

Humidifiers are designed to increase moisture in the air. They are useful in dry rooms, particularly those with air-conditioning or during winter when the heating dries out the air. Humidifiers can help reduce itchy eyes, dry skin, dry mucous membranes, and scratchy throats. They can also help protect wooden floors and furniture from warping and cracking.

There are several types of humidifiers:

• Steam/warm mist humidifiers boil water to create a warm mist that disperses into the room. This type of humidifier can be a good option for those with allergies as it kills bacteria, but it may not be suitable for homes with small children due to the risk of burns.
• Evaporative humidifiers use a wicking filter to draw water out of the tank and emit a fine mist using fans.
• Ultrasonic humidifiers use ultrasonic vibrations to turn water into vapour, which is then dispersed into the air as a cool mist.
• Impeller humidifiers have a spinning disk that breaks water into small droplets. These are then sent to a diffuser, which releases a cool mist.

Diffusers

Diffusers, on the other hand, are used to disseminate aroma throughout a room. They are suitable for people who want to enjoy the benefits of essential oils, such as improved mood, reduced stress, and a relaxing atmosphere. Diffusers typically hold less water than humidifiers and are often smaller in size.

There are several types of diffusers:

• Ultrasonic diffusers use ultrasonic vibrations to break essential oils into fine particles, which are then carried with water molecules into the air.
• Nebulizing diffusers are considered one of the most effective styles on the market. They use a tube to suck up essential oil and disperse it into the room.
• Heat diffusers rely on warmth to evaporate oil and disperse it into the air.
• Reed diffusers are the simplest type of oil diffuser. Essential oil is poured into a tall vessel and reeds are placed inside, pulling the oil up to the top of the reeds where it evaporates.
• Evaporative diffusers use airflow to disperse oil particles. A few drops of oil are placed on a filter pad, which is then placed over a fan.

Humidifiers are designed to add moisture to a room

Humidifiers can be particularly effective for treating dryness of the skin, nose, throat, and lips. They can also ease some symptoms caused by the flu or common cold. There are several types of humidifiers, including ultrasonic, evaporative, and steam or warm mist. Ultrasonic humidifiers have a metal diaphragm that vibrates at sonic speed, creating microscopic water droplets. Evaporative humidifiers use a moistened wick and a fan to release moisture into the air. Steam-based humidifiers boil the water in the tank, then release the warm, fine vapour into the room.

Humidifiers can also be classified as console or portable/personal. Console units are meant to add moisture to the entire house, while personal (or portable) humidifiers are the smallest and are best for travel. Central humidifiers are built directly into your home's air conditioning or heating unit and are the most expensive type.

While humidifiers are designed to add moisture to a room, they should be used with care. Overusing humidifiers or not cleaning them properly can worsen respiratory problems and cause other health conditions. It is important to keep the humidity between 30 and 50% and to clean the unit regularly to prevent bacterial growth.

Diffusers are designed to disperse the scent of essential oils

While humidifiers and diffusers share similarities, they are not the same. Humidifiers are designed to add moisture to a room, whereas diffusers are designed to disperse essential oils into the air.

Diffusers are designed to disperse essential oils into the air in the form of a fine mist. Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts from fragrant plants such as lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus. They are usually obtained through mechanical pressing or distillation.

There are several types of diffusers, including electricity-free reed diffusers, heated diffusers, and ultrasonic diffusers. Reed diffusers soak up essential oils and disperse them around the room, while heated diffusers warm the oil until it evaporates. Ultrasonic diffusers, on the other hand, are electronic devices that use water to diffuse essential oils into the air. They are small enough to fit on a bedside table or desktop and are typically easy to set up.

The process of using an ultrasonic diffuser usually involves filling the water basin up to the fill line, adding a few drops of essential oil, closing the lid, and turning on the device. It is important to use filtered or bottled water to avoid damaging the diffuser over time. The amount of essential oil added can vary depending on the desired intensity, but it is important to remember that only a couple of drops are usually needed due to their high concentration.

Diffusing essential oils is believed to offer various wellness benefits depending on the scent chosen. For example, research suggests that limonene, found in high concentrations in lemon essential oil, may help relieve labor pains and control nausea and vomiting. On the other hand, linalool, found in lavender and clary sage, has been associated with calming effects.

It is important to note that diffusers are not entirely risk-free. People with allergies, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and those with young children should exercise caution when using essential oil diffusers. Additionally, some essential oils can be toxic to pets, so it is crucial to consult a veterinarian before using a diffuser around animals.

Diffusers don't hold enough water to impact the humidity level of a room

While both humidifiers and diffusers emit water vapour into the air, they are designed for different purposes. Humidifiers are designed to add moisture to a room, whereas diffusers are designed to disperse essential oils into the air.

Diffusers are typically smaller than humidifiers and have smaller water tanks. They usually hold around 100-500ml of water and run for up to 4 hours, whereas humidifiers typically hold around 1 gallon of water.

The main purpose of a humidifier is to control the moisture level in a room. They are larger machines with bigger water tanks, and they are designed to increase the humidity in the entire room. On the other hand, diffusers create a small stream of mist using ultrasonic technology to break essential oils into fine particles that can be carried into the air.

While essential oil diffusers do put moisture into the air, most of them will only add a small amount of humidity to the room. The limited tank size of a diffuser prevents it from adding enough moisture to make a significant difference to the overall humidity level. Therefore, if increasing moisture is your primary goal, a humidifier is a better choice than a diffuser.

Some devices can function as both a humidifier and a diffuser

These devices are ideal if you want to benefit from both increased humidity and aromatherapy. However, they require extra care and cleaning. When shopping for a combo device, ensure that it can truly function as both a humidifier and a diffuser. Many diffusers use water, but not enough to qualify as a true humidifier.

Additionally, the water tank of a combo device will need to be thoroughly cleaned to prevent mildew and mould growth, as well as to remove any residual oil.

Frequently asked questions