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Essential oil inhalers are a great addition to any essential oil collection. They are perfect for on-the-go and for those times you can’t use a diffuser.
Learn all about how to use one correctly. Plus, I share a few favorite essential oil inhaler recipe blends that you can use today.
Getting started with an essential oil inhaler
What is an essential oil inhaler?
An essential oil inhaler is a small, portable device (about the size of a chapstick) that allows you to breathe in your essential oils.
They are sometimes called aromasticks as you can use them for aromatherapy.
They are meant to be used whenever you want to enjoy the aroma of your favorite essential oil blends!
2 types of essential oil inhalers
There are two common types of essential oil inhalers.
Each one is filled slightly differently but they all work the same. When you are finished, replace the cap to keep the scent inside.
How to correctly use an essential oil inhaler
An essential oil inhaler can be used as often as you like (within reason, of course there’s no need to inhale for more than a few minutes at a time).
Just remove the cap, place the inhaler beneath your nostrils, and inhale deeply.
You can hold it beneath your nose, or for a stronger effect, place the tip on one nostril, inhaling deeply. Then repeat with the other nostril.
Filling a cotton-wick essential oil inhaler
A cotton-wick essential oil inhaler has 4 different parts:
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Cover – slides over the bottom part of the base and inhaler tube
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Wick – absorbs the essential oils and hold the aroma
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Base – a slender tube that holds the wick in place snaps into place to hold the wick inside the inhaler
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Cap – covers the base and inhaler tube to hold the aroma inside the inhaler when not in use
Start by placing the four parts on a table. Place the cotton wick in a small glass bowl. Drip the essential oil (10-15 drops is sufficient) you plan to use onto the wick.
If you miss, simply use tweezers to move the wick around so it absorbs all the oil. Place the wick inside the inhaler, snapping on the base. Add the cover.
Tip: If the base gets stuck and is hard to remove, grab a paper clip and straighten one end of it. Push it through the nasal opening of the inhaler and push the base off using the end of the paper clip.
Using a glass-vial essential oil inhaler
A glass-vial inhaler has slightly different parts but operates in basically the same manner as the cotton wick aromatherapy inhaler.
There is usually a cover and base, a glass vial, a cotton wick, and the cap.
Remove the cap from the glass vial. Add the essential oils, insert the wick into the glass vial, leaving about 1/4″ exposed.
Screw the cap back onto the vial. Replace top and bottom pieces of the inhaler.
Depending on the type of inhaler, you can either carefully drip the essential oils directly into the glass vial, add the cotton wick, and assemble the inhaler.
Or, like the cotton-wick inhaler, add the drops to the wick before placing it into the glass vial and assembling the inhaler.
With both types, be sure not to push the wick down too far — keep about 1/4″ out of the glass vial.
Benefits of a personal inhaler
There are plenty of benefits to aromatherapy. While you can’t take your essential oil diffuser with you when you’re out running errands or at work, you can take your inhaler instead.
There aren’t any bottles of oil spilling in your bag or messy hands because you’ve just applied some oils.
An essential oil inhaler is perfect for kids going to school, or for sharing your favorite blends with family and friends.
5 everyday essential oil inhaler RECIPES
These five essential oil inhaler recipes are versatile and can be used in many situations.
Best of all, inhalers are small and easy to transport in a bag or backpack wherever you go.
If the inhaler is for small children, reduce the total number of drops to 10.
1. Focus Inhaler recipe
10 drops Sweet Orange
5 drops Cedarwood
2. Relaxation Inhaler recipe
5 drops Lavender
3 drops Cedarwood
2 drops Vetiver
3. Energizing Inhaler recipe
5 drops Spearmint
5 drops Lime
5 drops Sweet Orange
4. Nausea Inhaler recipe
5 drops Ginger
3 drops Fennel
2 drops Peppermint
5. Congestion Inhaler recipe
5 drops Fir Needle
5 drops Rosalina
5 drops Cypress
Where to buy essential oil inhalers
Essential oil inhalers come in a variety of materials, from plastic to metal.
Here are my favorite online shops:
- Glass vial inhalers from Rocky Mountain Oils
- Glass-vial inhalers from Plant Therapy
- Colorful cotton-wick inhalers from Amazon