Scent diffusers: heavenly or toxic dangerboxes?

[ladybee28]

Walked past one of those essential oil diffuser things in a store this morning and, having never seen one before, nearly swooned with the idea of having a subtle, pretty way to make my house smell lovely (windows and doors are always open and it's clean, I just do like to have different scents in the evenings during my yoga practice or to help me wind down and relax).

I've used scented candles in the past but the nice ones are really expensive.

So I nearly bought the diffuser thing, until my friend said she thought they were bad for your lungs and she'd heard horror stories of them exploding in people's faces....

Is this true? Anyone know about these things? My friend is wonderful in so many ways, but she's also a bit OTT in her storytelling sometimes for dramatic effect, so I like to double check

does it plug in? Stinky waste of electricity.

otherwise, just stinky.

Apparently essential oils kills cats. If you don't have cats, this will not be an issue.

Reed diffusers cant explode and i imagine are a very natural way to have a subtle fragrance. They are very subtle though. I put essential oil on a tissue on top of the radiator sometimes which is lovely when radiator is on.

I personally don't like the plug ins as I feel they're so strong and rarely smell pleasant. I buy reed diffusers, my cat is still alive and it's just a nice subtle scent when you walk into the room it's in

does it plug in? Stinky waste of electricity

I don't know – didn't see a cable, but maybe it was tucked away behind...

It was a steam one, so I guess the strength of the smell would depend on how well you diluted the oils, no?

Oh I keep thinking about getting one of these too. I like the candles, but they definitely are awful for polluting the air you breathe.
I have read something about mould spores if you don’t keep the diffuser clean/use old water but I haven’t heard of them blowing up ...is she thinking of the vapes?

I went to see DDs teacher and she had one steaming away like a cauldron in the corner and it smelt so lovely!
I’m thinking relaxing oils for my youngest’s bedtimes, focus ones for my oldest’s gcses, insect repellent, decongestant when there’s colds etc as well as all the lovely smells.

They do say to be careful which oils you use around pets - and make sure they can exit the room if it bothers them.

And no, no cats. I do have a labrador – but the smells she lets off from time to time are lethal enough; I imagine some lavender oil would be OK!

I have reed diffusers in her bathrooms - I have boys so I need to try to keep the smell fresh for when friends call over. I love them. Not overpowering but keep a fresh smell. I don't have them in other rooms though.

sorry, in my bathrooms.