Essential oils are incredibly beneficial for your mental and physical well-being. They can help manage stress, aid headaches, and restore positive energy to a previously tense living space.
While many choose to enjoy these strong-smelling oils by burning them with a diffuser, that is not your only option.
You do not need to burn your oils with a diffuser! In fact, you don’t even need to burn them at all to enjoy them!
Whether you are looking for creative ways to take advantage of your essential oil collection, or are in a hurry and need a quick effective way of seeking the benefits of a particular oil, there is an essential oil alternative for everyone.
Contents
1. Using the Stovetop
If you want to fill your house with your essential oil scent quickly with little to no prep, try using your stovetop as a makeshift diffuser.
Fill a pot halfway with water and add your essential oil drops. Turn the heat on and let the steam spread your favourite scent throughout your living space.
Make sure not to let the pot boil, as too much heat may decrease the effectiveness of your oils. You just want the water to be just hot enough to steam.
Another way to use your stovetop is to boil your water first and then add your essential oil drops after you have taken the water off the heat. Just make sure to reheat your water if it has cooled to continue allowing the steam to carry the oils throughout your home.
Bonus tip: Drop a few slices of orange, some fresh sprigs of rosemary or even a cinnamon stick into your pot of water and oil to make your own 100% natural potpourri. Have fun finding the right scent for your home that smells great while providing all the benefits essential oils have to offer!
2. Dabbing Directly on Pressure Points
Applying a small amount of diluted essential oil directly onto your skin is a great way to reek the benefits of the product without needing any additional tools or materials. There are several pressure points you can focus on when wanting to use essential oils to aid stress or improve overall health.
Here are a few examples, but feel free to experiment with other pressure points on your face and body!
- Temples: Your temples are a great target area when wanting to destress. Enjoy giving your temples a gentle massage with your preferred essential oil- we like lavender!
- Hairline: Soothe headaches by lining your hairline with a relaxing diluted essential oil. An application of peppermint oil is a refreshing way to relax your furrowed brow.
- Feet: The feet are a very popular option when it comes to diffuser-free essential oil use. Soothe your soles and your soul with a gentle massage of diluted eucalyptus oil.
- Chest: Relax your breathing and heal your cough with a few drops of your favourite soothing oil to your chest and throat area.
It is important to remember that essential oils always need to be diluted when applied directly to the skin. Please use a carrier oil, like coconut or olive oil, as the base to your topical essential oil remedy.
3. Make Your Own Reed Diffuser
Homemade diffusers are remarkably easy to make, and you probably have everything you need already lying around!
Materials:
- A small glass bottle or vase (an oil perfume bottle would work great!)
- Water
- 5 Bamboo skewers
- Your favourite essential oil
Instructions:
- Make sure your diffuser bottle is clean and fill halfway with water
- Add 20-25 drops (or more) of your essential oil
- Place your bamboo skewers in the bottle
- Let your homemade diffuser begin to work its magic!
Now you have your own quick and easy heat-free diffuser. Keep in mind that it may take a few hours to start to smell the oils.
To keep the scent fresh, flip the bamboo skewers every day or so.
4. DIY Tea Light Diffuser
Tea light diffusers can be found in many aromatherapy stores or gift shops, but if you don’t have one in your area, or if you are feeling creative, you can make your own!
There are several different ways to make your own tea life diffuser.
- Directly into the candle: The easiest way to make your own diffuser to add a few drops of your oil directly on top of the wax of your tea light. As the heat from the wick melts the wax, it will also release the oils, allowing their benefits to be distributed around your space.
- Using a spoon: Put your tea light into a small jar then bend a small spoon so that its bowl is at a 90-degree angle from its handle.
Glue or tape the bottom of the spoon’s handle to the side of your tea light jar. The bowl should now be directly above the tea light.
You can now fill the spoon with your oils (mixed with water if you like) and light your candle.
- Sculpt out of clay: If you are really feeling inspired, get some clay out and sculpt your own tea light diffuser! Remember to have a hollow space for the tea light and a bowl above that space for the oils.
5. DIY Room or Pillow Spray
Making a simple essential oil mist is a quick way to scent your space. Because you are making the spray yourself, you can control the strength and blend of essential oils used in your aromatherapy concoction.
Just as you need to dilute your essential oils when applying them topically, you must mix the essential oils with water before misting.
Use a spray bottle filled with water then add your desired amount of drops before shaking very well. The key is to break up the drops of oil into as many small droplets as possible to guarantee you’ve distributed the oil throughout the water evenly.
This is a great opportunity to try different variations of oils together. Think of yourself as a perfume designer and have fun with it!
Here are a few of our favourite blends:
- Lavender & Rosemary
- Orange & Sage
- Lemon & Eucalyptus
- Sandalwood & Cinnamon
- Vanilla & Grapefruit
This spray can be misted throughout your living room, sleeping area, or directly onto your pillow as you get ready for bed.
Please make sure to test your spray beforehand so that you know how strong it is before you apply it onto your pillow. You don’t want an overpowerful mist to catch you off guard and disrupt your nighttime routine!
6. Aroma Stones
Aroma stones are unscented stones that evaporate the essential oils added to them. The best part of these stones is how low maintenance they are, no need to plug them, light a candle or dilute your oils.
The oils are typically added to the surface of the stone, although some may have a small crevice or hole so that the oils can be more easily distributed.
These easy-to-use stones can be purchased but they are also simple to make. You can use Plaster of Paris, stone powder or porous clay.
Keep in mind that the scent aroma stones give off is more subtle than burning or directly applying essential oils. However, it is a great longer-term solution to keeping a space delicately scented.
To clean the stones, gently wipe them with a damp cloth. Reapply oil to your stones as needed.
7. DIY Himalayan Salt Diffuser
This easy diffuser takes minutes to assemble and looks super aesthetically pleasing while also being very functional. The ideal is to make your own pink Himalayan salt lamp scented with essential oils.
Materials:
- 1 cup of Himalayan Pink salt
- 10-20 drops of your favourite essential oil
- Heat safe glass jars/containers
- Small unscented candles
These quantities can be easily adjusted depending on how many diffusers you want to make. Aim for about a quarter cup of salt mixture per small glass container.
Instructions:
- Mix the Himilayan Pink Salt with your preferred amount of the essential oils
- Pour the salt into the jars, dividing up equally
- Nestle the candle into the salt and light it
- Let the aromas begin to waft through your space!
To refresh your Himalayan Salt diffuser, simply remove the candle and mix in more essential oils. Once again, we encourage you to have fun trying different blends!
8. Make a Stylish Diffuser Necklace
Much like how an aroma stone works, a diffuser necklace is a clay that has been molded into a pendant to be worn as a necklace.
Materials:
- Air drying clay (for convenience)
- Leather or cord
- Decorative beads (optional)
- Essential oils
Instructions:
- Mold your clay into your preferred shape of the pendant. You could also use a small cookie cutter, but make sure the shape is small enough that you will actually want to wear it!
- Let the pendant dry completely
- Thread the pendant through the cord and add decorative beads. You want this to look pretty so you enjoy wearing it often.
- Apply the essential oils to the pendant and begin wearing your new necklace!
Not a necklace person? Try the same idea as a bracelet or even a pair of earrings!
9. Make Your Own Oil Infused Candle
Candles are surprisingly uncomplicated to make. All of the materials can be bought online or at a craft shop and assembly is relatively quick.
Materials:
- Beeswax or Soy Wax pellets
- Candle wicks
- Glass jars/containers
- Essential OIls
It is much easier to make the candles in jars rather than trying to pour them into molds. But we aren’t holding you back from giving both methods a go!
Instructions:
- Melt the wax in a double boiler then add your desired amount of oils
- Put a wick standing straight up in a jar
- Some recommend tying the end of the wick to a pencil and letting that rest horizontally on the top of the container
- Pour the scented wax into the jars, leaving a small gap at the top
- Let the wax set completely then enjoy lighting your homemade candle!
You could even add some dried flowers to your jars before pouring in the wax to make them look extra fancy. Don’t forget to brag to your friends and family that you’re a candle maker now!
Conclusion
There are so many easy ways to use and burn essential oils without a diffuser. Chances are, you have everything you need at home to get started using your oils right now!
Enjoy making and trying out your own new blends, and discover the physical and mental perks of using natural essential oils. Nothing is quite as relaxing as taking in a whiff of calming lavender or soothing sandalwood.
Always remember to check if your oils need to be diluted with either water or carrier oil. This will depend on how you intend to use them.
Typically, if you are going to come in physical contact with the oils, they need to be diluted. But don’t worry, this will not diminish any of the oil’s benefits.
Have fun exploring!
I currently work as a medical receptionist, but my ultimate goal is to work as an occupational therapy assistant. Helping others achieve a better quality of life is something I’m after. That’s one of the main reasons I started this blog. Learn more about me.