Cold-Air Diffusion vs. Using an Ultrasonic Diffuser: What Are the Benefits?

A diffuser is an excellent way to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of essential oils in your home or workplace. Through the process of air diffusion, essential oils are transformed into a micro-fine mist, allowing particles to evaporate in the air without leaving behind any residue. Most types of diffusers enable you to dial up or down the amount of oil used, meaning you can control how much scent you want. As a result, diffusers are an efficient and safe way to scent one or more rooms at a time in a way that you can easily control.

When it comes to modern diffusers, you have several options. In older forms of diffusion, most people used heat or evaporation alone to disperse scent. These old-style diffusers rely on a candle or other heat source, meaning you risk losing the therapeutic benefits found in essential oils as heat can break down the volatile compounds found within. Diffusion by evaporation, on the other hand, simply takes too long to be effective. To get the most out of these oils, you must find a way to distribute these compounds quickly while they are intact.

Here is where the top two contenders for diffusion enter the picture. The most readily available types found on the scenting market today tend to be either ultrasonic or cold-air diffusers. While both share some similarities, there are also some important differences between the two.

Both ultrasonic and cold-air diffusers use  a heat-free means to disperse scent, preserving the delicate compounds found in essential oils and purifying the air around you. However, the method in which they do so differs. With an ultrasonic diffuser, tiny vibrations move through water. These vibrations carry upwards toward the essential oil which is floating on top, which is vaporized into steam. This steam is what distributes the scent throughout the space.

In cold-air diffusion, room temperature air blows essential oil into a nebulizer. It is this nebulizer which distributes an extremely fine vapor of atomized particles throughout the space in a rapid and efficient manner.

While both ultrasonic and cold-air diffusion are effective means of scenting, there are some pros and cons associated with each. For example, when you use an ultrasonic diffuser, it can double as a humidifier due to the steam-producing process. However, this method of diffusion is not as concentrated as with cold-air diffusers and therefore not as effective in scenting a larger room or outdoor space.

Cold-air diffusers are the best when it comes to producing highly concentrated scents which can last for hours in a large space or over several rooms. While they may not be as advantageous in small spaces, or in areas where you wish to humidify as well as scent, they provide you with greater control over the amount and duration of scenting you desire. Because of this, cold-air diffusers have become the favored means of diffusing oils in many homes and offices.

Whether you choose an ultrasonic or cold-air diffuser for your home, work, or another environment, you can enjoy the benefits that AromaTech’s superior quality diffusers can provide. For the greatest control over the amount of scent you desire and when, try either our AroMini or the AromaPro to fill your entire home or office with purified, therapeutic scent. Either cold-air diffuser will allow you to relax and enjoy the benefits of a beautifully-scented space.