Scent your space

At your bedside, on a sideboard, at your desk, or on a shelf – the choice is yours. We recommend placing your diffuser on a stable, flat surface, away from carpet and curtains, and well out of reach of children and pets to help avoid accidents.

For best scent dispersal, position it somewhere open and central, rather than tucked into a corner or placed directly against a wall. It is also best kept away from direct airflow such as air conditioning vents, open windows, or fans, as strong air movement can dilute the aroma quite quickly. This allows the mist and scent to disperse more evenly throughout the room.

In larger spaces, it is often best to place the diffuser closer to the area where you spend the most time, rather than expecting one compact diffuser to scent the entire room. If your space is especially open-plan or has high ceilings, using two diffusers in different areas may give a better result.

As a general guide, we suggest using between 5-20 drops of essential oil.

Some oils require less and others more – for example, aromatic base note oils like myrrh, vetiver or patchouli require fewer drops while top note oils like citruses tend to evaporate faster. 

You may have to experiment a little to figure out what's right for you. 

Ultimately, the scent strength depends on the size of your space and your personal preferences.

To protect your diffuser and ensure the best performance, we recommend using only 100% essential oils.

Our diffusers are designed specifically for pure essential oils. Because perfume oils, fragrance oils, and other scented blends can vary greatly in their ingredients and texture, we cannot be certain how they may behave inside the diffuser or what effect they may have on its components over time.

Some oils may leave residue, clog the ultrasonic plate, or gradually contribute to wear that affects diffusion. For that reason, we do not recommend using them, and any resulting damage would not be covered under warranty.

For best results, use 100% essential oils and clean your diffuser regularly according to our care guidance.

Of course!

We only ask that you ensure they are 100% pure, undiluted essential oils. Using a synthetic perfume oil, for example, simply won't have the therapeutic benefits, while an essential oil diluted with carrier oil could damage the diffuser or cause it to malfunction.

Essential oils are highly volatile, which means they evaporate rapidly and emit concentrated aroma molecules, which is why they are so beneficial in aromatherapy. Carrier oils are usually cold-pressed from fatty seeds, nuts, kernels etc, and are not as volatile. They are ideal for topical applications, but there is no benefit in diffusion. 

To ensure you're buying a quality oil for your diffuser, take a look at the Appellation guide to buying essential oils.

To keep your diffuser performing at its best, we recommend cleaning it regularly to prevent residue build-up and maintain an even mist. As a guide, a light clean once a week works well for most daily use, with a more thorough clean between scent changes or after diffusing heavier, resin-based oils. You can read our full step-by-step cleaning guide on the Journal

There are a few common reasons why diffusion may feel lighter than expected – and in many cases, it can be improved with a few simple adjustments.

1. Check your water-to-oil ratio

If you are not getting a strong enough aroma, it may simply be a ratio issue.

Ultrasonic diffusers disperse essential oils through vibration and water, and each oil behaves a little differently. Some oils – particularly citrus oils – are more volatile and tend to atomise more quickly, which can make the scent feel lighter in the room.

As a first step, try using less water. You do not need to fill the reservoir all the way to the 120ml line every time – filling it halfway is perfectly fine and will still give you several hours of diffusion.

Then experiment with the number of drops. As a guide, we recommend using between 5 and 25 drops, depending on the oil, the size of the space, and your personal preference. Richer blends with deeper base notes may require fewer drops, while lighter oils may need more.

2. Consider where the diffuser is placed

Placement can make a significant difference to how well the aroma carries in a room.

We recommend positioning your diffuser away from walls, ideally somewhere more central, and not tucked into a corner. Corners can trap the mist and reduce how far the scent travels.

Strong airflow can also affect diffusion. Air conditioning, open windows, and heavy ventilation can all disperse the aroma more quickly. This is especially relevant in warmer climates where air conditioning runs constantly.

Even so, in an average-sized room, you should still be able to detect the scent.

3. Think about the size of the room

Our diffusers are compact ultrasonic diffusers, designed for everyday home use. They are not intended to perform like commercial diffusers that cover very large open-plan spaces.

If your room is especially large, open, or has high ceilings, the scent may feel more subtle simply because it is dispersing across a wider area.

As a general guide, if you are trying to scent a space larger than 20 square metres, you may find that using two diffusers works better than one. Many customers prefer to place one in the bedroom and another in a living area, which also allows for different scents in different parts of the home.

4. You may be experiencing olfactory fatigue

Sometimes the diffuser is working perfectly – you have simply stopped noticing the scent.

This is known as olfactory fatigue, also known as habituation or “nose blindness”. It happens when your brain becomes accustomed to a smell after prolonged exposure and starts to filter it out. It is the same reason you stop noticing your own perfume after a while, even though other people can still smell it. Read more about this curious phenomenon in our Journal.

This does not mean your nose is overwhelmed or that the diffuser is not working. It is simply a natural form of sensory adaptation.

So if you can no longer smell your oils after some time, it does not necessarily mean they are no longer diffusing.  

Because every oil is slightly different, a little experimentation is often the best way to find the right balance for your room and preferences. Try these simple adjustments:

• use a little less water
• increase the number of drops
• move the diffuser to a more central position
• avoid placing it near strong airflow or air conditioning
• use two diffusers in larger spaces
  
  

Appellation's diffusers are best suited to smaller, more contained spaces rather than very large open-plan rooms or homes with especially high ceilings. If you are diffusing in a larger area, the aroma may feel more subtle simply because it is dispersing across a wider space.

As a general guide, if your room is larger than 20 square metres, or if you would prefer a more noticeable scent, using two diffusers in different areas may give you a better result.