Nebulizing Diffusers Versus Ultrasonic Diffusers: Which is Better?

If you want to make a serious investment in your health, consider purchasing an essential oil diffuser. It can make a huge difference in how you feel throughout the day, plus it’ll make your living space smell amazing without the use of harsh chemicals.

When it comes to essential oil diffusers, there is a wide variety to choose from – and I’m not exaggerating when I say that. There are nebulizing diffusers and ultrasonic diffusers, and then hundreds of different companies that manufacture each. How do you know which one to choose, and how do you tell which is better?

Nebulizing Diffusers versus Ultrasonic Diffusers

While the term diffuser generally refers to a device that evaporates essential oils and circulates the scent throughout the environment, it’s the type of diffusing capabilities a machine is designed with that really separates the two apart.

Nebulizing Diffusers

Nebulizing diffusers work through atomizing molecules. A small air pump blows air across a small tube creating a powerful vacuum that pulls the essential oil from the bottom of the tube to the top in a fine spray. A nebulizer does not require water to diffuse the essential oil molecules in the air (unlike an ultrasonic diffuser).

Most nebulizing diffusers also come with air flow controls so that you can determine how much essential oil you want released into the air.

Pros and Cons of Nebulizing Diffusers

The main benefit of nebulizing diffusers is that you don’t need to use water to dilute the oils and turn them into a vapor. This also means that nebulizing diffusers can be used in a much larger space, as the concentration of oils is more dense. These diffusers also disperse essential oils much more quickly than any other diffuser – so they don’t need to be left on for long.

Nebulizing diffusers are also much more aesthetically pleasing, as they do not require a large tank. They’re tiny, and some are even beautifully designed with hand-blown glass tubing (like those from Organic Aromas).

The only real con of using a nebulizing diffuser is that they go through essential oils quicker (20 drops compared to one cup of water and a few drops of oil in an ultrasonic diffuser can give you a good comparison point). They also tend to be a bit noisier and more expensive. But the pros far outweigh the cons, especially when it comes to health.

Ultrasonic Diffusers

Ultrasonic diffusers work differently than nebulizing diffusers in that they use water as a transference mechanism. With ultrasonic diffusers, the essential oils sit on top of the water and ultrasonic vibrations agitate the water to cause separation of the oil molecules (thus releasing the negatively-charged particles into the air with a fine mist). The negative charged particles will attach themselves to harmful positively charged particles in the air to help purify your home.

Pros and Cons of Ultrasonic Diffusers

Ultrasonic diffusers are a great way to diffuse essential oils in your home without spending too much money. Ultrasonic diffusers also double as a humidifier by humidifying the room. While adding water is criticized for diluting the potency of the oils, it is perfect for those who do not prefer overwhelming smells, and for the oils to last longer. These diffusers are also easy to clean and require very little power.

Ultrasonic diffusers do have the potential for mold growth, however, which is a downside if you’re someone who has mold sensitivity. Most ultrasonic diffusers are made of plastic and look cheap, which also might be a downside for those who care about the aesthetic look of their room. The fact that they’re made of plastic also means that the plastic will break down over time, and emit a very weak scent.

Which is Better?

Many people agree that nebulizing diffusers are the best choice (out of all diffusers), as they don’t alter the chemical composition of the oils used. It breaks down the molecules in the oil without separating the mixture. The result? Particles small enough for the lungs and body to absorb them quickly.

Nebulizing diffusers get the job done, and are most effective at filling the air with microscopic aromatherapeutic oils. In my opinion, they are by far the best type of diffuser, and offer the most aromatic benefit for the home and body. While they might be more expensive, they work the best.

Nebulizing Diffusers by Organic Aromas

I recently had the chance to try out a nebulizing diffuser from Organic Aromas. Each of their diffusers are hand made, and uses specialty glass and high quality wood. The diffuser I received was the Radiance Nebulizing Diffuser with a light wood base.

This diffuser comes with a built-in “touch sensor” light that allows you to turn the LED light on or off with a simple brush of your fingertip whenever you like. It also comes with a “volume” switch that allows you to precisely control how much oil you diffuse.

When I first received the diffuser I was blown away by the beauty, and also simplicity of setting it up. The package also came with one of their organic signature essential oil blends, which I then tried out immediately.

It was quite simple. After putting the hand-blown glass piece into the wooden base, simply drop in 20-25 drops of your essential oil of choice, and then place the glass cap on top. Plug in the machine, and switch the “volume dial” too low or high. The unit has a usage cycle of 2 minutes on, and 1 minute off, and it will shut off after 120 minutes. If you want it to run longer than 120 minutes, you can turn the on/off switch to off, and then on again, and the diffuser will start another 2-hour usage cycle.

This diffuser saturated the air quickly. I was so used to using an ultrasonic diffuser and expected the smell to not be so intense, but I was very wrong. This diffuser seriously saturates the air, which is extremely beneficial when trying to overcome health conditions, or if you’re simply trying to kill bad bacteria in the air.

According to the manual, under ideal conditions, the Radiance Nebulizing Diffuser can “service” a room of up to 80 square meters (800+ square feet). That’s seriously impressive!

Once finished using the diffuser, I tried cleaning it based on the manual instructions and it went pretty smooth. It is recommended to clean the glass diffuser reservoir once a week if you use it for two hours or more a day. This will ensure your diffuser continues working the way it’s supposed to work.

All you need to do is remove the glass cap, and then use the provided dropper to add plain rubbing alcohol to the micro-tubules inside the blown glass container. Once you’ve done that, turn on the machine for 5-10 minutes, and then dispense the alcohol into a sink. Let it air dry, and you’re done!

It is also recommended to clean the glass diffuser reservoir at least once a month in hot water. They provide instructions in the manual, but basically all you have to do is put the glass diffuser reservoir and glass cap in hot water for one hour. Super straight forward!

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this product to anyone looking to invest in a nebulizing diffuser. The company takes great care in crafting their product, and the outcome is evident in the way the diffuser looks and functions.

Organic Aroma’s is offering a 15% discount to anyone who purchases one of their products. Just use the code SHAREME at checkout to receive this special offer.

Disclaimer: All views and opinions are my own. This particular product review was not sponsored or paid for in any way by the manufacturer. However, the manufacturer did give me the product for testing and review purposes.