Odors, viruses and microbes sometimes stagnate in the air of your living rooms, especially in autumn and winter when it is difficult to leave the windows open too long to ventilate the entire house. These odors can influence our mood while mold, microbes and other germs can greatly harm our health. Certain essential oils have antibacterial, disinfectant or air purifying properties.
We therefore offer you in this file some synergies of cleansing and purifying essential oils for your home. Some will also boost your immune system, soothe children before bed and even eliminate bad odors. You will also find general advice on diffusing essential oils and how to best choose your essential oil diffuser according to your needs.
Purify the air by diffusing a synergy of purifying and immunostimulating essential oils
Immune stimulant thanks to ravintsara essential oil, it is also a very anti-infectious and atmospheric disinfectant synergy.
Ingredients :
- Ravintsara essential oil 20 drops
- Palmarosa essential oil 15 drops
- Scots pine essential oil 15 drops
Preparation: Prepare the synergy in a codigouttes bottle.
Precautions: Do not use in pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 12 years of age or in cases of hormone-dependent cancer or mastosis. Please note, this mixture is dermocaustic: do not apply to the skin. Respect the recommended dosages.
How to use it ?
Diffuse 6 drops of the mixture in a nebulizing or ultrasonic diffuser in the living rooms for 30 minutes, maximum 3 times a day.
Anti-mite spray, purifying, sanitizing with essential oils, for cushions, carpets and textiles
Anti-mite, anti-flea, purifying, sanitizer, for all types of textiles thanks to tea tree essential oil (tea tree), this spray also removes tobacco odors (java lemongrass) and fights against certain fungi (palmarosa) .
Ingredients :
- Tea tree essential oil 30 drops
- Java lemongrass essential oil 30 drops
- Palmarosa essential oil 20 drops
- White alcohol 20ml
- Mineral water (or filtered) 75ml
Preparation: Prepare the mixture in a 100ml spray bottle.
Precautions: Respect the recommended dosages. Do not use in pregnant or breastfeeding women and in children under 8 years old. This mixture is dermocaustic: do not apply to the skin.
How to use it ?
Spray 30cm from fabrics (cushions or carpets) to be disinfected or deodorized. Warning: this mixture can stain light colors and fragile fabrics -> always do a test on an inconspicuous area!!
Purify the air with essential oils: purifying and anti-bad odor diffusion (tobacco, cooking, etc.)
Atmospheric disinfectant, this synergy of essential oils to diffuse will also combat many bad odors (tobacco, trash, etc.)
Ingredients :
- Lemon essential oil 30 drops
- Ylang-ylang essential oil 5 drops
- Lemon eucalyptus essential oil 20 drops
Preparation: Prepare the synergy in a codigouttes bottle.
Precautions: Do not use in pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 8 years of age. Please note, this mixture is dermocaustic and phototoxic: do not apply to the skin. Respect the recommended dosages.
How to use it ?
Diffuse 6 to 8 drops of the mixture in a nebulizing or ultrasonic diffuser in the living rooms for 30 minutes.
Essential oils for children's rooms: purifying and soothing synergy to diffuse
Soothing thanks to Ho wood, it will stimulate the immune defenses of your little ones (ravintsara) and even help in the event of a small cold or declared respiratory problem (radiated eucalyptus).
Ingredients:
- Ravintsara essential oil 20 drops
- Ho Wood essential oil 25 drops
- Radiated eucalyptus essential oil 10 drops
Preparation: Prepare the synergy in a codigouttes bottle.
Precautions: Respect the recommended dosages and method of use. Ho wood essential oil can be potentially allergenic. Do not use in people with epilepsy or asthma. Do not use in children under 3 years old.
How to use it ?
Place 3 drops of your preparation in a children's diffuser (discontinuous diffusion and suitable for a small space) and let diffuse BEFORE bedtime (do not leave the diffuser running all night).Contraindications:
These synergies should not be used in pregnant women (during the entire pregnancy), breastfeeding women and children under 8 years of age (except for specific indications).
These properties and methods of use do not constitute medical advice. For therapeutic use consult a doctor.
The different types of essential oil diffusers
There are 3 main types of essential oil diffusers: nebulization diffusers, ultrasonic diffusers and gentle heat diffusers.
- Diffusion of PURE essential oils by nebulization: this type of diffusion is based on the physical principle of the venturi effect. Without going into too much detail, thanks to the shape of the glassware of the diffuser, the pure essential oils are accelerated and dispersed in the form of very fine particles which are then diffused into the ambient air. This is the optimal diffusion system because the essential oils are diffused pure and are neither diluted nor heated. These diffusers are quite expensive, but they are very powerful, cover a large diffusion area (up to 100m2) and are very aesthetic. These are the most suitable diffusers to fully benefit from the benefits of your essential oils.
- Ultrasonic diffuser (water + essential oils): By far the best-selling. An ultrasonic “pellet” is attached to the bottom of the diffuser. Water and essential oils are poured into it. Then, the vibrations emitted by the ultrasound will form a “cold mist” which will carry the essential oils with it. Less expensive than nebulizing diffusers, they are also very aesthetic thanks to the mist they generate. They are very effective on a smaller surface area (50m2 max) than nebulization diffusers. For therapeutic use, nebulization remains best, but these also go the distance.
- Diffusion by gentle heat: the simplest technique: gentle heat (below 40°C) will heat the essential oils and help them diffuse. Very robust, inexpensive and perfectly silent, they are however much less effective than the two methods of diffusion above and do not cover large spaces. For therapeutic diffusion, prefer the two types of diffusers above.
NOTE: Variations of ultrasonic diffusion exist. We can cite misting diffusers: these are also diffusers which operate on the principle of ultrasound, they however diffuse a more abundant mist and are very appreciated for their design side. This mist exits the diffuser through a large orifice and spreads throughout the room for a most relaxing atmosphere.
These diffusers also exist in “nomadic” mode, sometimes running on solar energy, sometimes connected to a computer via a USB port or even rechargeable with a battery.
Alongside these 3 main methods of diffusion, there are also ventilation diffusers, which are much less common. Essential oils are placed on a blotting pad through which a breath of air passes. They are portable and combine simple technology and an affordable price. On the other hand, they are not very effective, not very powerful and require blotting, i.e. disposable material to function.
Pebbles or flowers in plaster or stone on which you place essential oils are also appreciated for their low price and their very practical side. Perfect for a small gift and to diffuse a pleasant scent in the house, they are however insufficient for therapeutic use or for a large space.
Finally, don't forget that perfume burners where the essential oil is deposited and heated by the heat of a candle are, of course, appreciated for a winter atmosphere and a good smell in the house but are in no case recommended with essential oils. Compounds from an essential oil heated to high temperatures are therapeutically useless and can even be toxic when inhaled.
The best essential oils to diffuse to purify and sanitize the air
Here are 5 essential oils, safe and easy to use in diffusion to purify, cleanse and disinfect the ambient air. They can be distributed alone or in synergy at the dosages indicated:
Scots pine essential oil (Pinus sylvestris):
Properties: very disinfectant and air purifying, it is also a good general tonic, a decongestant and soothing of the respiratory sphere.
Uses: synergistically to diffuse its concentration will be 20-60%. Can also be broadcast alone.
Precautions: Scots pine essential oil is dermocaustic: dilute in a vegetable oil before applying to the skin. Do not use in pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 12 years of age or in cases of hormone-dependent cancers or mastosis.
Lemon essential oil (Citrus limon):
Properties: very atmospheric antiseptic, it is also a powerful deodorizer and allows other more expensive essential oils to be diluted when combined synergistically.
Uses: in synergy to diffuse its concentration will be 20-80%. Can also be broadcast alone.
Precautions: it is dermocaustic and phototoxic: no exposure to the sun after local use and do not apply pure to the skin (maximum concentration of 3% diluted in a neutral oil). The concomitant use of anticoagulants and lemon essential oil is not recommended. Do not use in pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 8 years old.
Tea tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia):
Properties: powerful broad-spectrum antibacterial for oral use or diffusion. It is useful for any winter epidemic period. Good disinfectant (anti-flea, anti-mite, etc.) for fabrics, carpets and cushions.
Uses: in synergy to diffuse its concentration will be 20-60%. Can also be broadcast alone.
Precautions: do not use in pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 8 years old.
Grapefruit essential oil (Citrus paradisii):
Properties: good atmospheric antiseptic, its diffusion can also help in cases of bulimia or cravings as an appetite suppressant. As with lemon, this essence allows other more expensive essential oils to be diluted in synergy.
Uses: in synergy to diffuse its concentration will be 20-80%. Can also be broadcast alone.
Precautions: do not use in pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under 8 years old. Grapefruit essential oil is dermocaustic and photosensitizing: dilute in HV before skin use, do not expose yourself to the sun for 6 hours following use.
Ravintsara essential oil (Cinnamonum camphora CT cineole):
Properties: very good antiviral, it disinfects and purifies the ambient air and protects during periods of winter epidemics. Suitable, when diffused, to prevent winter ailments for the whole family (children, pregnant women, elderly people) as long as the dosages and types of diffusers are appropriate. Also helps anxious people fall asleep.
Uses: synergistically to diffuse its concentration will be 20-60%. Can also be broadcast alone.
Precautions: do not use in pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with asthma and children under 8 years of age for oral use.
General Tips on Diffusing Essential Oils
- Always use 100% pure and natural essential oils when diffusing.
- Always find out about the conditions of use of an essential oil.
- Some essential oils are not suitable for diffusion. It is therefore not enough for the essential oil to have the property you are looking for (tonifying, soothing, etc.), it must also be “diffusable”.
- Always be careful of people with asthma and allergies when diffusing essential oils.
- The majority of essential oils are not recommended for diffusion to pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 3 years old.
- Pets, especially cats, may be sensitive to the diffusion of essential oils. Think about it!
- Always keep in mind that beyond the smells and scents of essential oils, they also have powerful properties and can be toxic if misused.
- Never burn an essential oil on a perfume burner or in a container on a candle. The properties of the oil would then be completely denatured and the heat can produce potentially toxic compounds upon inhalation.
- For usual use at home, broadcasting for 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening is sufficient.
- Whether to purify the air or to help you fall asleep, always diffuse essential oils in the bedroom before bedtime and do not leave the diffusion all night (especially in a children's bedroom).
- When it comes to diffusing in a children's bedroom: use a suitable diffuser. The power is often reduced and the broadcast is discontinuous. The capacity of the diffuser is also reduced and is suitable for diffusion in small spaces (10-20m2).
Bibliography
- Baudoux D and Breda ML Chemotyped essential oils. Scientific aromatherapy. Ed. JOM 2015
- Baudoux D Practical guide to family and scientific aromatherapy. My 12 favorite essential oils in 100 very effective formulas for 300 diseases. Ed JOM 2014
- Baudoux D Practical guide to aromatherapy Diffusion. My 32 favorite essential oils in 62 formulas to diffuse and breathe. Ed JOM 2013
- Festy D My illustrated primer on essential oils. Ed. Leduc.s 2015
- Faucon M. Treatise on scientific and medical aromatherapy: essential oils. Foundations and help with prescribing. Ed. Blood of the Earth 2017
- Lefief A The complete guide to essential oils: treating yourself with aromatherapy. Ed. ESI 2017
NOTE: This article was written by a pharmacist. The data summarized there come from the scientific literature and the references cited above. For medical advice, in the event of specific or prolonged symptoms, please consult your doctor. Only he will be able to make a precise diagnosis and, if necessary, provide you with the most appropriate treatment.
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