Humidifiers add moisture to indoor air during fall and winter when humidity levels are low. The Mayo Clinic recommends 30 to 50 percent humidity levels for indoor air to prevent dry skin, nose and throat irritation and itchy eyes. They also explain that humidifiers can help keep colds and flu at bay and alleviate symptoms when you’re sick.

The mist emitted by a humidifier is “unscented” because it is odorless water vapor. However, this leads to much interest in whether or not you can add essential oils to the humidifier’s water basin. The notion is that in addition to a pleasant scent, essential oils in the air may provide health benefits.

Can I Put Essential Oils in My Humidifier?

The short answer is no, it’s generally not safe to put essential oils in your humidifier. The longer answer is probably no, but ….

How Humidifiers Work

Most humidifiers emit cool mist by blowing water through a wet wicking filter. This is the type of humidifier that cannot be used with essential oils because the oils can erode the plastic tank and fan mechanisms or even clog the wet wicking filter. That’s why most major manufacturers of cool mist humidifiers recommend using a diffuser specifically designed for adding essential oils to your air.

There are also steam vaporizers that boil water before emitting any mist. However, most steam humidifier and essential oil manufacturers advise against using these two together because high heat can transform the chemical makeup of the essential oil, which can then change the scent and potential health benefits derived from the oil.