Aromatherapy Burner Questions Answered

What is an aromatherapy burner? - A burner is simply a device that heats your lavender or other essential oil to disperse the molecules of the oil throughout a room. It doesn't actually "burn" the oil, it is simply the same concept as a burner on your stove where you don't actually burn your food (hopefully), you just heat it.

How does it work? - Multiple different methods are commonly used to heat the oils in a burner. The most common is probably with the use of a tea candle below the oil container. The container is most often a small glass bowl, but could be ceramic or even soapstone. Another common heating method in burners is with electricity. There are burners that sit on a light bulb, some that plug into the cigarette lighter in your car, and there is even a unit that plugs into the USB port on your computer! Instead of a bowl to hold your lavender or other essential oil, some burners use a pad that soaks up a few drops of the oil.

Who would use an aromatherapy burner? - Burners are used by all types of people practicing aromatherapy, but are particularly attractive to the casual user due to their relatively low price and ease of use. If you are looking to simply add a pleasing scent to your environment, the tea candle design might be best. If you intend to use the burner for therapeutic purposes you might consider an electric unit since they tend to burn longer.

What are the "Pro's" of using an aromatherapy burner? - There are a wide variety of decorative designs of burners available, and some people enjoy them for their appearance as much as for their function. They are also inexpensive, with prices ranging from $10 to $50. Burners are simple to use and the electric designs are particularly safe.

What are the "Con's" of using an aromatherapy burner? - Many people believe that heating the oil is not the best way to diffuse it. Since essential oils are complex compounds with many types of naturally occuring molecules, the lighter molecules tend to be driven off first, leaving the heavier molecules for last. This means that the aroma given off will not be consistent throughout the "burn". Another concern with burners is that if the oil container is allowed to run dry and the heat is not removed, the container can break due to the heat. Any time a flame is used for heat there is a danger of fire. If oil is spilled on a light bulb when using that style of burner, the bulb could explode.

Conclusions on aromatherapy burners - Although the "Con's" list appears a little longer than the "Pro's" list, don't let that discourage you from looking into this style of diffuser. Burners are problably the most common method for spreading the aroma of lavender or other essential oil. With just a little care and caution, they are safe and reliable. They are very effective and with the wide variety of designs available and low price, you can have a different one to add to the decor of every room!

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