Another type of inhalation is an indirect method. Rather than administering the oil remedy directly to the subject, the person’s surroundings are treated with the chosen scent. This can be accomplished in several different ways.
Indirect Inhalation Formula
Pure essential oil or oil blend
Oil Diffusers
Pure essential oil or oil blend
The oil diffuser is an item developed specifically for use in diffusing essential scents into the air. It does this through breaking up the oil blend and delivering the scent into the air. These are far more costly than the simple light rings but do seem to be more effective.
Like many such items, it is possible to spend a little or a lot, depending on the specific brand, construction, and special features of the particular piece of equipment purchased.
Vaporizers
Pure essential oil or oil blend
A personal choice over the more costly oil diffuser is the vaporizer. This is the common medical device that many of us may recall as the source of the aroma of a medicated eucalyptus scent in childhood days at the onset of cold and flu season.
Just place the blend in the compartment that is reserved for medication and let the vaporizer do the rest. There are both hot air and cool air vaporizers commercially available. While my own preference is to employ the cool mist type, either could accomplish the intended purpose.
Spray Mist
100-150 drops of essential oil (3/4-1 dram), 4-5 fluid ounces of water (distilled is preferred) 1/8-1/4 dram alcohol (ONLY if needed to thin out some of the thicker essentials to produce a more usable spray mist. The exact amount may be varied depending on the aromatic strength of the essential. This is included only to help the mix, and should not result in an alcohol smell).
Dilute the essential blend into a spray mist and scent the home or office. This is done by mixing a small amount of the essential oil with water. Place the solution in a spray bottle (readily available at grocery, hardware, gardening supply, and many other stores) and use as one would use a commercial room freshener.
Light Rings
Pure essential oil or oil blend
The light ring is one of the most inexpensive aides that can be employed. It is a circlet, often made of brass with an absorbent, changeable insert, or sometimes constructed of a porous material such as clay. The ring is placed over a light bulb, and the essential oil placed in the ring. Heat from the light gently evaporates the oil into the air, scenting the entire room.
As far as which type is better, it is largely a matter of preference. While the clay type of ring eliminates the need for changing the absorbent inserts, it does have a drawback in that a scent can become ingrained in the porous material. This will leave an undertone aroma of the previous usage when the oil is changed to a different purpose. These rings are normally very inexpensive and readily obtainable from almost anyone who deals with essential oil products.
Potopurri
Pure essential oil or oil blend
Caution should be used. Only a few drops will be required. Using more may smother the charcoal, if using an incense base. Also remember that oil products are flammable! In ancient times, before the availability of a wide range of essential oil products, the raw herbs were burned in order to deliver the virtues of the fragrance to a client.
A more modern variation of this practice would be to use a potpourri pot. Oil may be added to a favorite blend, thereby delivering healing properties at the same time as pleasantly scenting the home.
Incense
Pure essential oil or oil blend
A similar application of this method would be to add a few drops of a healing oil blend to a favorite incense. While these methods will accomplish the purpose, it should be remembered that the scents of the potpourri or incense may create some effects of their own.
The properties of these base scents may diminish, alter, or even reverse the virtues of the blended remedy. Therefore, it is wise to know the properties of the base scents, as well as the remedy, before introducing it as a viable medium for inhalation therapy.