The use of essential oil diffusers such as the popular “Air Wick Essential Mist Diffuser” can be extremely relaxing. Many essential oils such as lavender, tea tree, and eucalyptus are touted to have a variety of benefits ranging from pain relief to boosting your mood. But can essential oil diffusers actually be bad for your health and pollute your air? 

Essential Oils: An Unregulated Industry

Essential oils are not regulated by the FDA and therefore are exempt from disclosure of their ingredients on their label. Unfortunately, this leaves consumers in the dark about what exactly is in their essential oils and the possible health effects. To get a clearer picture of the possible health effects of these essential oils, let’s take a closer look at an independent study.

Study: Essential Oils Release Dangerous VOCs Into Air

A study tested 24 commercial essential oils, including 12 claiming to be “natural” or related terms, such as organic, 100% pure, or plant-based. That study found 188 different VOC gases among the 24 essential oils, and 33 of those are considered hazardous, such as acetaldehyde, acetone, and ethanol. The hazardous VOC toluene was found in 50% of the essential oils. Every essential oil tested emitted at least one or more dangerous VOC into the air.

Does This Mean Essential Oil Diffusers Are Bad?

Although there are dangerous VOCs created by essential oils, could the levels be so low that it does not present a health risk?

One study tested the dangerous VOCs emitted from essential oil diffusers. The researchers found many VOCs in the air, but the total concentration of VOCs in the room was considered to be below guideline recommendations and considered safe for use. 

For example, the highest levels of toluene they found in their tests of 4 different essential oils were .00025 ppm. The Japanese government’s threshold for toluene is .07 ppm, 2,800 times higher than the levels found from the essential oils. 

Total concentration of all VOCs combined peaked at .6 ppb throughout the test. Although overall levels of VOCs remain low, this does not mean that essential oils are 100% safe. It is possible that one of the many VOCs released into the air from essential oils could cause harm at very low levels. More research is needed. 

Can You Run An Air Purifier And Essential Oil Diffuser At The Same Time?

Yes, you can run an air purifier and an oil diffuser at the same time, although they will be fighting each other. Oil diffusers emit dangerous VOCs created by essential oils, but an air purifier with activated carbon filters can reduce VOCs from the air. But many smells are VOCs, so the purifier will also be reducing the smells from the essential oil.

Summary: What Should You Do?

Although all essential oils release VOCs into the air, there is inconclusive evidence on whether the low levels released into the air can cause negative health effects. 

To stay on the safe side, Smart Air recommends:

1. Don’t overdo it. This is regarding the amount of time used diffusing essential oils into the air and the number of essential oils used in your diffuser. Keep exposure to 15 minutes – 1 hour. 
2. Use a carbon filter. A carbon filter is a filter that can be used on an air purifier. Carbon filters are effective at trapping the VOCs that are emitted into the air from the essential oils. Note, they may also weaken the essential oil smell itself. Recommendation: Use a carbon filter in areas of the home where you want to reduce essential oils in your air.