Is it possible to add aroma oils to an ultrasonic humidifier? Can you add essential oils to a humidifier? Purpose of an air humidifier with aromatization

A variety of smells surround a person throughout his life. They have a direct impact on work internal organs. Aroma oils for an air humidifier help create comfortable conditions at home or in the office. A pleasant atmosphere has a positive effect on the psyche and can relax you after a difficult time. working day. The smell tones or, on the contrary, excites. At correct selection The aroma will improve your well-being and feel a surge of strength.

Why is the aromatization function needed?

Thanks to modern inventions of aroma technology, an air humidifier can be used for special rituals or procedures. The devices are ideal for home or massage parlors. They are guaranteed to be available in all spas. Cosmetologists use the device to relax and prepare the client for the procedure.

Important! Aromatic oil is added only to a device adapted for this purpose. The humidifier must have a special function. Ether should not be added simply to water. This can cause the device to malfunction.

Choosing a scented humidifier

A person strives to create the most comfortable conditions for himself at home. Manufacturers offer a range additional functions to attract buyer attention to their products. A container for special pasta that exudes a pleasant aroma is very popular. Thanks to this, it is possible not only to create acceptable humidity for life, but also to freshen the air. This is why it is recommended to buy a device that already has a built-in aroma function. Only in this case can the device be used for this purpose.

Fragrance oil cannot be simply added to the following models:

  • Steam apparatus. Ether accumulates on its walls. It is difficult to completely eliminate it even with the use of special detergents.


  • The ultrasonic option quickly becomes clogged with essential oils. The situation is dangerous and can lead to immediate failure of the device.


  • A traditional device will have to be constantly washed with aggressive detergents. Additionally, you need to regularly spend money on replacing the filter.

Aroma oils can be added to devices with the following operating principles:

  • The humidifier additionally “washes” the air. Their system is less susceptible to contamination. There are also no filters that would have to be changed regularly.
  • The device has a special aroma function. In this case, there must be a special compartment in it. You can safely add ether to it and not worry about the functioning of the system.

Every person can appreciate the capabilities of an air humidification and aromatization system. The smell remains in the room for a long period of time. This is an absolute advantage over conventional air humidifiers.

Advantages and disadvantages

Fragrances not only create cozy atmosphere. They also have a positive effect on some human organs and systems.

Experts in the field highlight the following benefits of regular use:

  • The ether helps to quickly and effectively eliminate respiratory diseases.
  • A person feels calm and peaceful.
  • Strengthening the heart muscle and relieving additional tension from it.
  • Regular use significantly strengthens hair and nails. This dignity is guaranteed to appeal to every woman.
  • When using the correct concentration of ether, a person’s brain begins to function better. Aroma humidifiers can be installed even in the office. In this case, employees will not feel very tired at the end of the working day.
  • The freshener helps strengthen the immune system. The body begins to function in the correct mode.

Important! Humidifier oil contains phytocins. They are necessary for the immune system. Substances enter the body through the respiratory system. This is the most quick way their distribution.


Fragrance oils for a humidifier can also have negative impact on the body. The situation occurs when the device is used incorrectly.

  • The dose of ether is not allowed to be increased. Excessive saturation of the air with an odorous component can lead to negative effects.
  • The packaging always contains information about the composition of the substance. You should read it before using it.
  • The humidifier fragrance is not used if you plan to select a long mode. The smell quickly spreads throughout the room and persists throughout the day.
  • It should not be forgotten that certain odors can lead to allergic reaction.
  • If one of the family members has chronic bronchial diseases, it is not recommended to buy too rich aromas. It is best to find out in detail what you can do if you are sick from your attending physician.
  • During pregnancy or breastfeeding, it is best to avoid the aroma component. They can cause an exacerbation of an allergic reaction in an infant.
  • Fragrances for an air humidifier should not be used in a room where a person with thyroid disease is constantly present.

Ether can have positive or negative effects on the body. When choosing a specific option, it is recommended to analyze the presence of intolerance or predisposition to it in each family member. An incorrectly selected aroma can greatly aggravate an existing clinical picture.

Popular fragrances and their effect on humans

Today, any specialty store has a wide range of oils. With their help, it will be possible to create a pleasant atmosphere that will invigorate or calm. The effects of the composition are specific. You should know about them before using them. Otherwise, irreparable harm may be caused to your health.


The most popular aroma oils for an air humidifier:

  • For additional vigor and energy, it is recommended to choose the scent of orange. The composition is also used to relieve anxiety or insomnia. Positive effects on the stomach, intestines and heart muscle were also noted.
  • If a person suffers from spasmodic attacks, then he is recommended to use the aroma of basil. It helps to forget about the existence of a headache for a short period of time.
  • An air humidifier with bergamot flavor is used to eliminate fungal infections of indoor walls. Smell has a positive effect on brain function. He's guaranteed to like it creative individuals. Bergamot is used in folk medicine to quickly reduce body temperature.
  • Eucalyptus essential oils for a humidifier help fight infection. They create a barrier for microbes that cannot penetrate inside the body.
  • Tea tree has a similar effect. You can also use it to get rid of annoying insects.
  • Lemon moisturizer prevents the proliferation of viruses. With its help, you can also completely forget about headaches, which cause a person a lot of discomfort.
  • To combat depression, it is advisable to use lavender oil. It is suitable even for emotionally unstable patients who feel spiritually empty.
  • Chamomile aroma humidifier prevents the development of problems with the digestive system. It helps a person relax and overcome stress or difficult life situations.
  • Cloves are used in folk medicine to combat wet coughs. The smell penetrates the lungs and helps remove phlegm quickly and effectively.
  • Camphor aromas for an air humidifier should be placed in rooms with seriously ill patients. They kill all types of harmful viruses and bacteria. Additionally, the necessary analgesic effect is produced.
  • Juniper counteracts most viral diseases. With its help, it is also possible to normalize the pressure and functioning of other internal organs.
  • Scenting the air with pine and peppermint helps prevent any viral illness from getting worse. However, use must be done regularly.
  • You can cope with an exacerbation of a cold using sage. These aromatic oils accelerate the process of blood movement. Additionally, it is possible to provide the necessary stimulation of the vocal cords.
  • Yarrow can be added to a humidifier when needed to combat germs. The substance negatively affects their life.

Important! If a person finds oil without a label, then it should not be added to the device. It may have a negative impact on its functioning or a person's health.

Effective combinations

Essential oils for a humidifier can be used in combination. Thanks to this, it is possible to create an indescribable fragrance. Additionally, it also has a complex effect on the body. You can make the mixture yourself. However, it is not recommended to deviate from the proportions indicated on the packaging. Ready-made recipes have undergone many years of testing and receive only positive feedback from clients:

A composition of pine, chamomile and petitgrain is useful. Thanks to this, you will be able to forget about insomnia forever. The recipe should also be adopted by those people who often wake up at night due to internal anxiety.

Air humidifiers are filled with pine, lavender, spruce and orange ether to increase concentration on a specific problem. They can also be used to improve blood circulation. Regular use significantly improves brain function.

An aroma humidifier has a direct effect on emotional condition person. During periods of stress, sandalwood, ylang-ylang and lavender can improve your well-being.

An aromatized air humidifier has a positive effect only if certain proportions are adhered to during the preparation of the solution. For a room of 15 sq. m. you can add no more than 5 drops to the device. This rule must also be followed for the mixture.

A humidifier with an aromatization function cannot have a negative effect on the human body. However, you will need to be careful when combining or choosing a separate scent. Ether can be added to aroma humidifiers with a special function. Which scents to choose depends directly on individual preferences.

A pleasant atmosphere in a room not only includes the concept of comfort and coziness, but is also a condition for maintaining good health and well-being. But not always, when caring about creating such an atmosphere, due attention is paid to air humidity. But this is one of the important indicators of a prosperous atmosphere.

Excessively dry air in the room leads to decreased performance, increases the opportunity for the spread of viruses and infections, complicates the respiratory process, and causes allergic reactions.

The humidifier provides true comfort and creates a healthy atmosphere in your home and office. In addition, a modern household appliance with the help of a fragrance can fill the house with pleasant and healing odors.

Why do humidifiers need fragrances?

We cannot immediately understand whether the air in the room is sufficiently humidified; we do not always compare the negative reactions of our body with this indicator. But we will feel the smells right away!

Every person knows what a hospital or a bakery smells like, what the aroma of freshly washed laundry or brewed coffee is. Smell is one of the main characteristics of a room. Therefore, the ability of humidifiers to fill a space is highly valued pleasant smells. This task is performed by flavoring agents.

Due to the fact that humidifiers began to be equipped with them, not only water particles enter the air, increasing humidity, but also useful material essential oils with which flavorings are seasoned. Such substances - phytoncides - can cope with harmful bacteria; they can also rid the room of an unpleasant odor.

Causes of unpleasant odor

An unpleasant odor will become rare in your apartment if you follow simple rules. household, based on information about why unwanted odors appear in rooms.

Reasons for appearance unpleasant odors:

  • Rare ventilation.
    Systematic ventilation helps to timely remove odors from food and tobacco smoke, preventing them from penetrating deeply into the structure of home textiles and thus remaining in the room for a long time.
  • Irregular wet cleaning and washing
    Dirty clothes and linen that smell of sweat, curtains soaked with food, toilet pet and many other things do not add fragrance, but, on the contrary, become a source of unpleasant odor.
  • Dampness
    Excessive air humidity is undesirable in rooms, as is excessive dryness.

Important! Dampness leads to the appearance of mold, accompanied by a characteristic odor that cannot be called pleasant.

Anyone can get rid of these reasons and remove non-aromatic odors. Filling your home with a pleasant fragrance is also easy. To do this, you need to use special aromatic oils.

About the benefits and harms of aromatic oils

It has long been known that smell can influence a person’s well-being. Experts take advantage of these properties of essential oils, using them as therapeutic agents.

Benefits of various aromatic oils:

  • Use as antiseptics, antiviral and anti-inflammatory agents.
    Oils based on pine and cedar, geranium and tea tree, juniper and lemon purify the air in the room, destroying pathogenic bacteria, microbes and viruses. And their use as a prophylactic agent will help the body not to succumb to diseases even during periods of mass epidemics.
  • Strengthening the immune system
    Plants such as chamomile, lavender, lemon, grapefruit, etc. have a beneficial effect on human immunity. Oils made from them also retain beneficial properties.
  • Medicinal and health products
    With the right selection of odors, you can improve digestion and blood circulation, get rid of stress, reduce temperature and blood pressure, relieve pain, etc.

The serious capabilities of aromatic oils have made them full participants in the therapeutic effect on humans.

Important! The use of aromatic oils is best done after consultation with a doctor. A specialist, taking into account your health characteristics, will help you choose substances that will not cause negative reactions.

However, essential oils can preserve not only useful, but also harmful properties plants. Applied to the skin, in some cases they cause allergies, irritation or severe burns. The use of such oils requires compliance with special rules.

Rules for using aroma oils

Important! You can avoid the unpleasant effect of using aromatic oils by using quality product, which is manufactured in compliance with all technological rules and purchased from an official distributor.

Aroma oil- the product is delicate and tender. These substances require careful handling, which allows them to be used without harm to humans.

Preliminary testing of a new aroma oil, careful recording of the body’s reactions to this substance.

Thorough aroma cleansing- humidifier after each use of essential oils.

Compliance the following proportion in the use of essential oil: per 15 square meters of area - 5 drops of the selected oil.

Use essential oils only in humidifiers that have a special capsule for aromatic oils.

Popular fragrances for air humidifiers

Currently, people have learned to make essential oils based on the most different plants. In this regard, buyers have a problem: how and what flavors are best to choose for air humidification. Let's figure it out.

The choice of essential oil for a household appliance directly depends on the purpose of use. After all, any aroma oil will create a light pleasant aroma. When refilling the humidifier, the following properties of the substances should be taken into account:

  • To improve mood, relieve stress, get rid of insomnia and stress - orange, lavender, chamomile;
  • Sedative - basil, lavender;
  • Antibacterial - basil;
  • Antifungal - bergamot;
  • For appetite - bergamot;
  • Antiviral - eucalyptus, lemon, meat, pine, fir;
  • To normalize the functioning of the digestive organs - chamomile;
  • For cough - clove;
  • For diseases of the respiratory organs - juniper.

Important! Pregnant and breastfeeding women, allergy sufferers, and patients with bronchial asthma, diseases of the thyroid gland or kidneys.

The fragrance for a humidifier can be filled not with one oil, but with a mixture of several substances. The following mixtures have a beneficial effect:

  • To combat insomnia - sandalwood with chamomile;
  • To strengthen attention and memory - pine, spruce, orange in combination with incense oil;
  • To calm and relieve stress state- lavender with sandalwood.

How to make your own flavoring

You can distribute essential oil evenly throughout the room not only with the help of a purchased humidifier. You can make an effective flavoring yourself.

Purpose homemade device conditions will be created for the distribution of essential oils throughout the room. To do this you can soak various materials or create special connections. Here are a few simple tips How to make your own flavoring.

Soda and oil

Materials: glass container, lid with holes, soda, aroma oil.

Production: fill a third of the container with soda. Add 10 drops. oil, stir well, cover with a lid.

Sticks

Materials: wood sticks (from 20 to 30 cm), glass container for them, vegetable and aromatic oil, alcohol.

Production: pour into a container one third of the height of the sticks vegetable oil, combine with it aroma oil (per 100 g - 25 drops) and alcohol (2 tsp). After stirring, place sticks in the container, with the help of which the phytoncides will begin to spread throughout the room.

One or more special stones from salt dough, exuding healing aromas, will become a real decoration of the room and a useful gift for family and friends. We'll tell you how to make it.

Materials: flour, starch, salt, hot water, coloring (food coloring, gouache - optional), essential oil.

Production: add salt (1 kg) with starch (5 tbsp) to flour (600 g) and mix. hot water(200 ml) with the dye diluted in it, combine with flour and knead thoroughly. Pebbles are made from the resulting stiff dough (you can use shaped baking molds). Apply aroma to each stone - 2-3 drops of aroma oil. After the dough has completely dried and hardened, the stones can be laid out indoors or made into compositions.

Fragrances can be made using more than just essential oils. Small bags made of natural fabrics, in which dry fragrant fabrics are placed, also become excellent flavoring agents.

Fragrances for humidifiers can not only make our lives brighter and more interesting. With their help, you will reliably protect your family from harmful bacteria and viruses, speed up the healing process, and make your home unique.

The air in the room you are in is key point your health. Agree, it’s nice to have not only healthy air indoors, but also the house is fragrant with your favorite aromas. Today people are paying more and more attention to their health. That is why one of latest trends Aromatherapy sessions, which can be carried out at home, become aromatization of the air.

For these purposes preferable to use not artificial air fresheners, but natural essential oils. To distribute them evenly throughout the room, use a humidifier. However, not all types of humidifiers are suitable for this purpose.

The fact is that this device turns a mixture of water and oil into tiny steam. A traditional humidifier does not use essential oils and other flavorings.

The design of a traditional humidifier is built using a filter. It is necessary for water purification, because... this type humidifier is sensitive to its quality. If the water is of poor quality, the humidifier may break down or a white coating may settle on the furniture.

Let's get back to using essential oils. If you add natural essential oil to a traditional humidifier, over time the oil will settle in the reservoir and clog the filters and membranes (which are impossible to clean and expensive to replace). As a result, this will lead to deterioration in the quality of work, limiting the service life of the product, and even failure of the device. Thus, Only specialized oil can be added to a traditional humidifier for an air humidifier, water-soluble fragrances, which are usually chemical based.

What humidifier can be used to scent the air with essential oils?

This device allows you to provide sufficient air humidification while evaporating particles of essential oils. The operating principle of such devices is as simple as possible, and at the same time effective. They are not so sensitive to water quality and will not break when used quality water. Their design does not use filters, so there is nothing to clog. It is necessary to add essential oil to the humidifier, directly into the water tank (it is recommended to use about 5 drops of essential oil for every 15 square meters of room) and turn on the device. Online store website gives official full guarantee that You can use any natural essential oils in Inbreathe aromatic humidifiers.

Adding essential oils to Inbreathe Aromatic Humidifier has beneficial effects on human health. First of all on respiratory system, strengthening the immune system, and psycho-emotional state. Aromatherapy also helps in the treatment of respiratory diseases. ABOUT beneficial properties essential oils can be read. In addition to its positive effect on the body, aromatherapy masks unpleasant odors and also destroys bacteria in the apartment.

What essential oil can be added to a humidifier?

It all depends on your preferences and desired result. Lavender essential oil is known to help relieve stress and promote deeper, more restful sleep. While citrus essential oils (lemon, orange, grapefruit), on the contrary, will charge you with energy for the whole day.

When choosing aromatic oils, you should also be guided by the characteristics of the room. For example, shoes and outerwear are stored in the hallway. To prevent viral diseases in this part of the apartment, it is best to use essential oils of lemon, cedar, thyme, bergamot, and pine.

For the living room where the whole family gathers, essential oils of tea tree, shelf, geranium, and cinnamon are suitable.

The choice of oils and the range of their beneficial properties is varied, the decision is yours.

Thus, Inbreathe aroma humidifier is multifunctional device, allowing not only to moisturize, but also to aromatize the room.

We purchase all products directly from the manufacturer, who in turn guarantees that ultrasonic aroma diffusers are designed not only for air humidification, but also for aromatherapy. Simple, reliable and useful device will please you for a long time.

If the device does not have an aromatization function, you cannot add aroma oils to it. This can lead not only to equipment failure, but also to harm your own well-being. Use ultrasonic aroma diffusers specifically designed to humidify and aromatize the air.

Fragrance oils are pure distilled extracts obtained from flowers, peels, stems, leaves of plants or fruits. Essential oil is often used in aromatherapy and added to a humidifier, because many types of essences promote physical and emotional relaxation.

Today there are a lot various types air humidifiers with various capabilities and functions: steam, ultrasonic units, atomizers, cold-type humidifiers. However, is it possible to add oils to a humidifier that not only aromatize the room, but also improve health?

There are air humidifiers on the market that have an aromatization function, so-called aroma humidifiers. Therefore, many are interested in the latter option, in particular its impact on overall well-being, mood and the creation of an indoor climate.

An air humidifier with aromatization function is a household appliance that evaporates essential oils along with steam. When small water particles enter the air, they make the climate in the room more humid, and also fill the space with phytoncides, which are found in each essential product.

It should be borne in mind that if you use essential oils in a humidifier, it must be cleaned and rinsed after each use, since harmful heat-loving microbes intensively multiply inside.

However, before adding any essential oil to your humidifier, you should be aware of its beneficial properties and the harm it can cause to the human body.

Positive and negative properties of aromatic oils

Even in ancient times, various ailments were treated with plant extracts. In our time modern science has proven that these substances actually have beneficial effects on mental and physical health. The phytoncides contained in the essential product enter the bloodstream when inhaled, so they have an immediate effect.

Essences are especially useful if you need to restore nervous system and put your mental and emotional state in order. Aroma oils added to a humidifier have a beneficial effect on:

  • functioning of the respiratory and cardiac systems;
  • appearance of hair and skin;
  • brain function and ability to concentrate;
  • the immune system, making the body more resistant to viral and bacterial infections.

For the most part, essential oil contains antioxidants that prevent premature aging and remove harmful carcinogens from the body. That's why plant extracts are often used as substances that optimize the body's activity and effectively fight many diseases.

However, do not forget about the negative properties of aromatic oils. An air humidifier that emits a rich herbal odor along with steam, in addition to a positive effect, in some cases also has a negative effect. Yes, adding natural flavoring may be harmful if the dosage is not observed and the extracts are mixed incorrectly.

What harm can aromatherapy cause?

Inhaling healing vapors can have a negative effect if:

  • tendency to allergies (you need to be especially careful when handling sage and thuja);
  • bronchial asthma (an attack can be sudden, so you should consult a doctor before performing the procedure);
  • pregnancy (special care should be taken when using rosemary, cedar, sage and basil);
  • breastfeeding (the inhaled aroma with mother's milk will instantly enter the baby's blood, which can have a negative effect on a fragile body).

Also for people with thyroid, kidney or high temperature body, it is better to refuse a procedure during which a humidifier with aromatherapy function is used.

Popular fragrances for air humidifiers

What essential oil can be added to a humidifier? There are many extracts used for aromatherapy: from the well-known chamomile extract to the essence of Asian bergamot:

It is necessary to add any oil to the humidifier at a rate of no more than 5 drops per 15 m2 of room.

  1. Orange. Orange oil can improve your mood, it gives you vigor, relieves anxiety and relieves insomnia. Also, the rich aroma of citrus fruits stabilizes the heart and improves digestion.
  2. – is a strong antispasmodic, antibacterial, sedative. Basil can be combined with eucalyptus to increase its antimicrobial effect.
  3. Bergamot. is a powerful antifungal agent, and it also reduces fever, improves appetite and develops creativity.
  4. Eucalyptus. Phytoncides contained in eucalyptus provide a strong antiviral and antimicrobial effect. Oil can also be added to a humidifier to repel various insects.
  5. Tea tree essential oil – has antifungal, antiviral, antimicrobial effects. Moreover, the aroma oil actively fights sinusitis, asthma and bronchitis.
  6. . The slightly tart, sweet-sour aroma of this citrus is an excellent antiviral agent. Just a few drops of lemon flavor added to a humidifier will relieve migraines, flu and other viral diseases.
  7. Lavender oil calms, relieves insomnia, headaches, depression, and also helps cope with nervous exhaustion.
  8. Chamomile. Known for its calming, relaxing, anti-stress effects. In addition, chamomile extract can be used to normalize digestion.
  9. Cloves have a strong antibacterial effect. The spice is often used to get rid of wet coughs, as it has a strong expectorant effect.
  10. Camphor oil. It is famous for its anti-inflammatory and bactericidal properties, and camphor also has a slight analgesic effect.
  11. Yarrow. An excellent inhibitor of inflammatory manifestations, i.e. yarrow slows down the spread of infection in the body.
  12. Anise – has expectorant, antiseptic and antispasmodic properties.
  13. Juniper essential extract is a natural antibiotic, so it actively fights inflammation of the lungs and bronchi. The aroma oil also copes with apathy, relieves fears, cleanses blood vessels and normalizes blood pressure.
  14. Peppermint. The fresh mint smell alleviates the symptoms of colds, thanks to its sedative and antiseptic properties.
  15. Pine aroma oil is an effective remedy for colds. The fresh pine smell restores lung cells, so it is used to prevent viral diseases.
  16. Fir – has a pronounced anti-cold effect. Fir is often mixed with various extracts.
  17. Aromatherapy using sage helps restore the voice, stabilizes emotional background, removes depression, heals purulent pathologies on skin, activates blood microcirculation and increases blood pressure.

Optimal combinations of essential oils

Combining plant extracts is not only possible, but also necessary. However, this should be done with extreme caution. So, it is useful to add a mixture of essential oils such as:

  • sandalwood, chamomile and petitgrain – relieves;
  • pine, incense, spruce, orange - to improve concentration;
  • sandalwood, ylang-ylang, lavender – fights stress;
  • pine, ginger fir, peppermint - to lift your spirits;
  • sandalwood, lavender, petitgrain, marjoram - for relaxation.

In conclusion, it is worth noting. If the device does not have an aromatization function, then aroma oil and other substances cannot be added to a container filled with water. The humidifier should be used strictly in accordance with the instructions for use. Otherwise, you can harm not only your own well-being, but also the “health” of the equipment.

Smell plays a special role in human life among other senses. A person can determine the condition of food by smell. Smells are associated with memories of joyful or sad events. The feeling of comfort and pleasant atmosphere in the house is often, surprisingly, directly related to the smell in the room.

Aromatherapy oils help create a cozy and relaxing atmosphere in your home. These essential oils, which are extracted from plants, fruits or flowers, Lately It is customary to add it to a humidifier. Their aroma can significantly influence emotional and physical relaxation. This method has gained great popularity because the humidifier distributes odors evenly throughout the room.

A scented humidifier is used as a household appliance that vaporizes essential oil. During the operation of such a humidifier, the air is filled with small water particles, the space is moistened and receives phytoncides from essential oils.

Some fragrances for humidifiers can create not only a pleasant indoor climate, but also get rid of unpleasant odors. They can be used to tone the body and have healing effects. That’s why specialists often use fragrance for air humidifiers. massage rooms and beauty salons for aromatherapy. Similar use of humidifiers with aroma function is possible at home. Scented humidifiers allow you to fill the entire room pleasant aroma, which does not disappear from the room for a long time.

The use of special aromatic oils for moisturizing is not possible in all types of humidifiers, but only in those that have an aromatization function. The use of ether in combination with ordinary water leads to equipment breakdowns. Problems are caused by the inability to properly clean the internal elements of humidifiers from oils. This leads to contamination of filters and membrane compartments. Frequent use of oil flavoring deteriorates the quality of the device and it eventually fails. As an exception, the spout of steam humidifiers is used, where a drop of oil is applied. Where the steam comes out, the oil combines with the air and adds flavor without harming the inside of the humidifier.