mcabillodes324-blog

[mcabillodes324-blog]

GOODBYE CANDLES, HELLO DIFFUSERS

Week 1

February 2, 2018

Technology Review

How do you care for yourself? Do you do yoga? Meditate? Put on face masks at night and go for a jog in the morning? With social media heavily advocating the practice of self-love and the idea of taking care of one’s well-being more recently, aromatherapy is getting a lot more attention. Aromatherapy is the use of plant products, utilizing its naturally extracted aromatic essences to ease stress and give a sense of calmness. Aromatherapy is commonly used in massage and meditation practices all around the world. Though this form of therapy and meditation is just recently receiving attention in today’s society, it has been in use for a  long time: dating back to civilizations in China, Egypt, and even Rome, where they burned  incense and essential oils with high hopes to to reach the utmost level of meditation and tranquility. These practices thrived in ancient civilizations even until this day with the use of aromatherapy in the home, but with a modern twist. One of the more modern products that utilizes aromatherapy, and is now very popular in the markets, is an oil diffuser. Targeting women, specifically middle-aged women from the ages of 25-45, the oil diffuser is a product that is both utilitarian and tasteful in design. An oil diffuser is typically a small plastic product that lights up and releases the aroma of the oils when plugged into an outlet. There are many different designs, but ultimately every oil diffuser is designed in a round shape like a circle or cylinder. In order to use it, remove the top of the oil diffuser and fill the it with water and add a few drops of any of your favorite essential oil of your choosing; each oil having a different scent and purpose. For example, common oils that are bought with a diffuser are tea tree, eucalyptus, and lavender. Some oils are meant to clear the mind, ease stress, and even improve depression. The benefits are endless! After putting the top of the diffuser back on, it is as simple as a push of button to get the diffuser to disperse the essential oil and fill one’s room with natural fragrance. Priced at around $20-$40 depending on the size, an oil diffuser’s main competitor is a good old fashioned candle. Many people, however, are straying away from candles and desire an oil diffuser instead, because of the fact they conveniently get more for what they are paying for. Rather than buying a candle that lasts a few hours- or a couple of days at best, people would rather buy an oil diffuser that comes with a pack of various different oils. Especially since two or three tiny drops of the oil can last a whole day, this makes candles seem like such old news. Not to mention that candles are a safety hazard around the house, especially with small children; the diffuser is a safer approach. The different oils you can buy are almost limitless with hundreds of different scents and even some that you can make your own of. This everyday item can be purchased in a variety of stores such as Target, Bloomingdale’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, and even online on websites such as Amazon.

After hearing great reviews about this product, I decided to buy one myself. There are many different companies all over the world who are producing oil diffusers, but as for myself, I purchased my oil diffuser on Amazon. The manufacturer of my diffuser  is a company called VicTsing which is located in the United States. It is made of plastic, but had an appearance as if it was made of wood. It has fourteen soothing LED lights that displays seven different colors, so I could change the color of my diffuser depending on my mood for the day (and can also act as a night light for children). There are also timers on the diffuser for an hour, three hours, and continuous- which insures that the diffuser will turn off when you need it to. This function is great if you are cozied up in bed and fall asleep to the diffuser  I must admit, I was skeptical in buying one solely because I  like the type of aesthetic candles give a room. Also, I grew up with having candles around my house all the time as a child. Candles are more intimate, whereas oil diffusers don’t give the room that subtle romantic, toasty, and relaxing vibe. However, after using it just one time I instantly fell in love. It is much more convenient than having to worry about finding a lighter to light a candle. All I have to do is click a button and the smells instantly put me at ease. I also noticed that the different type of oils really did have different effects. It was fun to figure out just what each oil smelled like and did to my mind and body. In the past I have dealt with severe allergies and congestion practically all my life and my doctor suggested we buy an oil diffuser that would open up pathways and help me breathe at night, but we never did. Now after finally purchasing the oil diffuser I can now say that my sleep hasn’t been interrupted due to ny congestion and I breathe so much better at night.  Overall, I would suggest this product to anyone who wants to invest in their “me time”. I say this because an oil diffuser is a great product to have on when you are in bed reading a book, doing some homework, drawing, or just reflecting. It eases your mind a lot and relaxes your body and can even help with some medical problems that individuals may have. Though this product might not have much value in money and is not considered a luxury, I still consider it an interesting innovation and use of technology. It is a small, convenient everyday item that I think everyone should invest in and it’s definitely worth every penny!

Websites used for reference:

https://www.essentialoilhaven.com/understanding-essential-oil-diffusers-better/

http://naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/about-aromatherapy/what-is-aromatherapy

https://www.amazon.com/VicTsing-Essential-Diffuser-Humidifier-Office/dp/B01N7IZ4BZ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1517601930&sr=8-5&keywords=oil%2Bdiffuser&th=1