What Can You Put In A Diffuser Besides Oil? (Find Out Now!)

Matthew Mountain
by Matthew Mountain

Being in a room that smells bad is uncomfortable, and it’s for this reason that a lot of individuals go out of their way to ensure every room in their homes smells good. One way to ensure there’s a pleasant aroma permeating throughout the home is to use a defuser and essential oils.

But are essential oils the only substances that can go in the defuser? Such is the question this article answers.

When you don’t have essential oils to put in a diffuser, you can use perfume and fragrances, vape juice, lemon juice, or vanilla extract. Just make sure, if you’re using perfume, that it’s oil-based perfume. And if you’re using vape juice, you should make sure there’s no nicotine in the juice.

What Is a Diffuser?

An oil diffuser breaks down essential oils and then disperses these small molecules into the air. Essential oils, whether they’re in liquid form or gaseous, smell good, and they can even bring calmness and a bunch of other positive results. For example, lavender helps a lot of individuals sleep.

A good diffuser will evenly disperse broken down essential oils, as this way the pleasant smell doesn’t come at the cost of not being able to breathe. Some air fresheners disperse too much fragrance, and this concentration makes the smell overbearing. A diffuser can fill a room with just the right amount of aroma, and someone who is in such a room will be calmer and able to think more clearly.

Another good example is that some individuals diffuse lemongrass essential oils because the smell evokes pleasant memories. In short, you can use essential oils throughout the day to make a variety of activities more pleasant.

When You’ve Run Out of Essential Oils

While a vial of essential oils takes awhile to completely diffuse, it’s true that getting new essential oils vials is just a part of owning the defuser. But what about when you’ve run out of essential oils and you’re looking for something else that can take their place in the diffuser?

The substances that can be used instead of essential oils in a diffuser are listed and briefly discussed below.

Fragrances and Perfume

This is one of the first substances individuals go to when they’re all out of essential oils and they need something to diffuse. But one must keep in mind that only oil-based perfumes are safe for the diffuser.

If you have perfume bottles laying around that are 80% empty, this remaining perfume is great for the diffuser. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the smell of perfume can be overbearing, especially if it’s constantly being dispersed over a long period of time.

To get perfume into the diffuser, first take out the perfume you intend to use; make sure it’s oil-based and doesn’t contain alcohol. Next, ensure the diffuser has water in it. Now pour a few drops of perfume in the diffuser.

Give the mixture some time to diffuse into the air. Once it does, you can enjoy the wonderful fragrance.

Vape Juice

You can also use e-cigarette liquid, or vape juice, when you run out of essential oils, as this substance will diffuse well to emit a pleasant aroma. Just make sure there is no nicotine in the vape juice you are defusing.

While some believe diffusing vape juice is harmful, years of data shows that doing so is completely safe, provided the vape juice is nicotine-free. Some individuals buy vape juice specifically so they can defuse it and enjoy the smell without actually having to inhale large amounts of vapor.

Here’s how you should put the liquid into the diffuser:

First, make sure the device has water in it. Next, grab some nicotine-free vape juice. Now put a few drops in the diffuser; about four drops will do, but you can add more if you want a stronger aroma. After a few minutes, the juice will diffuse and you’ll be able to enjoy the unique aroma.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice can go into the diffuser as well. Just make sure you’re putting fresh lemon juice in there, as only fresh lemon juice will emit the best fragrance possible.

Lemon is an essential oil, so using it in the diffuser isn’t a problem at all. It just may be a little bit more difficult to use, as you’ll have to get the juice from a real fruit and not from some neatly filled vial.

Here’s how you should put lemon juice in a diffuser:

Cut a lemon in half and place both halves in a bowl. Now squeeze out as much lemon juice as you can. Once you have an adequate amount, put some into the water-filled diffuser. Once the lemon juice has diffused, you’ll be able to smell the lemony goodness throughout the room in which the diffuser is used.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract can also be diffused, and such is why a lot of individuals diffuse this when they want to defuse something other than essential oils. Vanilla extract comes from vanilla beans that have been soaked in water and ethyl alcohol, and some say the smell is more distinct than the actual taste of vanilla.

Some defuse vanilla extract because it’s been found that, if you inhale this stuff, you can benefit from the antioxidants vanilla extract contains. These antioxidants are what give vanilla extract it’s anti-aging quality, and they can help with smoothing wrinkles and repairing damaged skin.

Many assert that consuming vanilla extract does more than any anti-aging face mask can do, and with the former you can regain some youth while enjoying a lovely aroma.

Health Benefits Associated With Using Essential Oils

Essential oils don’t just smell great: one can use these to reduce stress, treat fungal infections, and achieve better sleep. Essential oils are extracted from plants and distilled so one can get the essence of the plants in a liquefied form. When you defuse essential oils, you won’t just enjoy the aroma, as your body and mind will benefit as well.

Matthew Mountain
Matthew Mountain

Matt loves everything DIY. He has been learning and practicing different trades since he was a kid, and he's often the first one called when a friend or family member needs a helping hand at home. Matt loves to work with wood and stone, and landscaping is by far his most favorite pastime.

More by Matthew Mountain

Next