Diffusing essential oils in your home can smell amazing, but at the same time, they can also bring several benefits to both your physical and mental health. It can help you feel less stressed, reduce anxiety, and even aid with body aches. All of these benefits will help you get much better sleep at night, and it can all be done naturally. 

Knowing that it can be very tempting to keep your essential oils diffusing all day and all night. The logical thought process would be to keep the diffusers on all night since they can help you sleep better, right? Well, the truth is, you need to be mindful that essential oils, like everything else, needs to be used in moderation. Otherwise, the health benefits you thought it could bring, may become something else entirely. 

Research shows that you should not do so since extended exposure to diffused essential oils can cause headaches, increase your blood pressure and heart rate, as well as make your throat and skin irritated. Leaving your oil diffuser on overnight would mean being exposed to it for 5 to 8 hours, which is considered to be too long. 

To take full advantage of all the benefits provided by essential oils, you should try following some guidelines. Here, we have researched some of the best practices and have covered them below. 

How Long Should You Run a Diffuser With Essential Oils?

Diffusing your essential oils is one of the safest ways to reap the benefits from them. However, the recommended frequency to diffuse them is between 1 to 3 times a day. If you’re using a diffuser inside a small room, you can leave it on for up to 20 minutes at a time. If you’re using it inside a bigger place, you can diffuse it for a period of 30 minutes to an hour. 

Keeping them on longer won’t necessarily mean it will be harmful, but it can cause some adverse health effects. If you’re prone to allergies and asthma, essential oils can accentuate them. If the fragrances you’re using are overpowering, the air may become heavy, and that may lead to headaches, allergic reactions, and increased blood pressure. 

Can You Sleep With Your Diffuser On?

If you enjoy falling asleep while the essential oil diffuser is running, it’s best to purchase one that offers an auto shut-off function. Once you’ve got one, you can turn it on for a few minutes before you go to sleep, and set it up, so it turns itself off in 30 minutes to an hour. 

Can I Run My Diffuser All Day?

You should also apply the same principle of diffusing essential oils overnight applies to diffusing them throughout the entire day. However, since during the day you can keep windows open, you might diffuse them for more extended periods. Leaving the windows open will allow the air to circulate better, keeping the air from becoming too heavy.