You may have seen some of the oil diffusers we offered by various sellers and perhaps wondered what one could possible use those strange contraptions for. Well I'm here to tell you. Isn't that useful? :-)
An oil diffuser is another way of adding some nice scents to your room, ritual area, or wherever you might be. Ritual incense comes in many different scents and types, but they by no means cover the gamut of scents that you might want to fill your nostrils with. Oil diffusers or Oil Burners are simply another way of providing scent.
Scent is one of the senses that we tend to ignore. However, it has a very strong (pardon the pun) impact on our daily lives, our memories, and even our bodies. More Americans are coming to the conclusion that scents may effect the way their minds and bodies work, which is apparent in the great increase in healing modalities like aromatherapy.
In aromatherapy, one can purchase elaborate and expensive oil diffusers or oil burners to dispense their essential oils or fragrance oils. However, a nice inexpensive one does pretty much the same job.
Once you decide which type of oil burner you would like to use, all you need to do is choose what oil you'd like diffused. You can read about some of the differences between magickal essential oils and fragrance oils in other articles. Many vendors offer a plethora of different types of magickal essential oils to choose from. Do I get 10 points for the use of "plethora" in a sentence? :-)
So now what do you do? You have this oil diffuser, you have your magickal essential oils, what else do you need? A heat source of course. A small chime candle or a tea light (depending on which burner you choose) will do nicely. Light that puppy up, and make sure that the flame is not too close to the bowl of the burner, so that it doesn't crack. Let it get a bit warm (use time, not touch to figure out whether it's warm...these things CAN burn), then when you are ready, it's time to add the oil.
Here is the point where you have to know what kind of oil you are using. If you are using an essential oil, use ONLY one or two drops to start. This oil is very concentrated. A tiny bit goes a long way. If you are using a fragrance oil, you can use a little bit more than that. See whether or not it is enough to make the nostrils happy. Give it time, since it takes at least a few minutes to diffuse through the room. Keep adding oil, and you will soon find yourself opening all the windows or fleeing the room. If you're in an apartment, your neighbors may no longer greet you in the hallway. Be patient, and err on the side of little rather than LOTS.
As with all things, be prudent in your selection. Tea Tree essential oil is wonderful to use as an antiseptic, but it really doesn't smell all that great. Something like Lavender or Chamomile or another floral scent is likely a better choice. Of course, you can always use the magnificent blend called Enchanted Oil (sold by Enchanted Works) which contains Reiki energies as well as those sacred to Hecate.
Many scents of magickal essential oils and even fragrance oils correspond to types of incense that might be specific to a certain ritual. This does not mean that you will like every scent that is recommended for every ritual, so start off small so you don't choke :-).
Blessings
Kestra is a Wiccan Priestess, Master Herbalist, and Reiki Master, offering the best in practical information, unique and useful altar tools and ritual supplies at an online shop called Enchanted Works. Please check out our offerings at http://www.enchantedworks.com Guaranteed not to be your "same ole" Wiccan shop.