Aromatherapy Diffusers

[Gilly100]

I stopped using candles because of the toxins they produce but like the idea of an aromatherapy diffuser. I hear that peppermint and lavender can be good for breathing problems. Has anyone got one and have they proved beneficial? Thanks in advance.

[Lysistrata Administrator Community Ambassador]

I would be very, very careful using anything like this. These scents can be asthma triggers for some people. I react to probably the majority of things you can put in a diffuser, especially lavender, eucalyptus, rose and others, so I try to avoid them all.

Although not everyone reacts this way (and some people even find eucalyptus helps them decongest their nose), I don't think there's much evidence that they will help your asthma either, except maybe indirectly by decongesting your nose as above.

If they don't trigger you they might be relaxing and smell nice or help you sleep, but as per above be sure they don't trigger you or anyone else you live with before diffusing them.

[Gilly100 in reply to Lysistrata]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[Wheezycat]

While I don’t react as badly as I suspect Lysistrata does, I find them universally unpleasant. In fact all scents. They kind of bite my chest, sometimes just a nibble - not so bad, but sometimes a real vicious bite! Generally I try if I can to remove the when I encounter them, like from public toilets etc. Mostly that is difficult. Then I just chunter under my breath. Like Lysistrata says, be very, very careful! All such things do release pollutants (VOCs) that are not good for our environment.

[Fuzzymooch]

Try pure beeswax candles. My husband has allergy asthma and I'm bring investigated for breathing related issues. We only ever use beewax, in fact I make my own to be certain. They burn clean no petrochemicals. x

[Wheezycat in reply to Fuzzymooch]

But the burning itself will produce particulate matter, another pollutant.

[Poobah]

My asthma nurse has just interrogated me about this kind of thing as anything like candles, diffusers, sprays, plug-ins, air purifiers can irritate the lungs. I don't have anything like that as any kind of scent makes me wheeze. Even natural scents can be an irritant. Natural doesn't always mean safe.

[Wheezycat in reply to Poobah]

I can have an issue with essential oils, and I avoid them. They may be ‘natural’, but what flower smells in such a concentrated way? So I am with you, I avoid them.

[frose]

I have one. It smells lovely but I can't use it as it makes my chest terrible...

[Hidden]

Diffusers are often more concentrated oils than candles and they affect me really badly. Be careful.

[Gilly100]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Won't buy.