Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've studied aromatherapy for many years, and own around 25 different essential oils, from which I make my mixtures. Some oils are good to put neat (pure) on the skin, some are good in massage oil, some work in baths, and some of the oils are best inhaled. However, incense contains smoke particles, which can be irritating. A spritzer bottle can work, but doesn't provide a consistent aroma. The ZAQ DEW Aromatherapy Essential Oil DIFFUSER provides a perfect solution for placing essential oils into the air. From the air, the herbs, gums, barks, flowers, and seeds which are processed to obtain pure essential oils, pass into your lungs, where the benefits of the oils absorb into your system. The ZAQ DIFFUSER is a breeze to use, and the LED lighted top cone, slowly morphs from blue, to indigo, maroon, green, orange, and yellow. You place the measured water into the container, add your 4 or 5 drops of essential oil, and press the button. Bingo. You have aromatherapy. Give the button another push, and the light will stop changing, another push, and the light goes off, and another push, and ZAQ is turned off. Precautions---If you have hard water, I'd use distilled water in this. The technology is the same as a cool air mister, so you don't want to get sediments to build up inside. Also, some essential oils made from gums (myrrh for example) might clog things up. This diffuser DOES NOT INCLUDE ESSENTIAL OILS. If you're buying it as a gift for someone, you might want to buy one of those essential oil kits they sell on Amazon, or at least start them off with one or two of the most practical smells. (Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, citrus oils, etc.) Personally, I would NOT use oils diluted in carrier oils (ie almond oil). You will probably gunk up the diffuser. Essential oils diluted in carrier oils, are for massage. AROMATHERAPY 101 Basically, essential oils will have a yin effect (soothing) or a yang effect (stimulating). I'll briefly describe a few of the most used oils, and suggest a couple of simple blends, since some of the oils have a synergistic effect when mixed. LAVENDER---very relaxing. A balance yin/yang oil, its sedative, tonic, antispasmodic, good for headaches, and insomnia. ORANGE BLOSSOM---a yang oil, but is a good antidepressant, and sedative. Other citrus oils, like tangerine, lemon, bergamot, tend to be stimulating, and always evaporate fast. Citrus oils make for a clean smell, if you need to cover pet smells. ROSE OIL--a yin oil, is holy to the Virgin Mary, and Shakti. Real rose oil is VERY expensive, but helps to calm the heart, and reduce anger. Its said to be a remedy to a hangover too, and an aphrodisiac. PEPPERMINT---yang. Used to break up mucus, and is a stimulant for appetite. I'd be careful not to get peppermint mist directly into your eyes, since the oil is a counter irritant used on the skin. CLARY SAGE---yang. A useful tonic herb, and is said to have a mildly euphoric effect. Useful in blends, with a floral note. EUCALYPTUS---Yin. Used for coughs, colds, asthma, and can bring down a fever. Used in cough drops. YLANG YLANG-- Yin. Very sweet smelling oil, reminiscent of jasmine. Good for depression, insomnia, and soothes anger. ROSEMARY--Yang. Has a warm, pine or camphor like smell, and stops a headache or migraine cold. It stimulates the nerves. FRANKINCENSE--Yang. This scent has more of a religious use, than medical. I've noticed it stimulates, and can help you cough up mucus. Probably not the first oil I'd buy for medical uses, tho it has its spiritual benefits. ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS Head Colds ---- one drop peppermint and four drops eucalyptus Bronchitis ---- two drops eucalyptus and two drops bergamot Headaches --- two drops rosemary, two drops lavender, and one drop bergamot or other citrus oil Anger Relief --- two drops ylang ylang, one drop rose oil, one drop clary sage (also stimulates love) Relaxation --- three drops lavender, one drop of clary sage, and a drop of rosemary OTHER USEFUL ESSENTIAL OILS --- I keep oil of pine around, cedarwood oil, and sweet birch, for creating a forest smell, that I find relaxing. I use patchouli oil, which is calming and makes a nice incense smell in the room. The citrus oils, when mixed with a little clary sage, make for a nice deodorizer for a room. Tree tea oil is very useful for aromatherapy, but its mostly useful applied directly on the skin, for infections or to counter athletics foot. In the summer, you could probably put citronella oil into a diffuser, to repel insects and fleas. If any essential oil calls to you, or you have a strong, positive emotional reaction to it, its definitely worth investigating. If I'm trying to create a new blend of oils, I open the lids to the two or three oils in question, and then pass all three bottles below my nose very quickly. You can get a ballpark idea about mixing fragrances that way. High quality perfume oil, (Vanilla oil for example) can also be used for aromatherapy, but I avoid artificial smells AT ALL COSTS. You want to bring the natural oils into your body, for their healing effects, and not just smell something nice. A well written book on aromatherapy makes a good investment, once you have a few different oils, and a little experience under your belt.