Smells Like A Lie

We’ve got another weird item pedaling vague impossible-to-prove pseudo-science, so that means another installment of THE SKEPTIC’S CHOICE: a feature wherein we lay out the product’s claims and explain why we’re not so sure we believe them. Here goes!

The Claim

The Pure Daily Care Diffuser is the “ultimate starter pack for essential oil enthusiasts.” The various botanical oils are “100% pure” and also “100% organic” with “no fillers or additives.” All of this is fairly simple. Where it gets more interesting is in laying out the benefits of each included oil:

• Peppermint is a “mental stimulant” that “provides energy”;
• Orange is a “respiratory stimulator, antiseptic, antidepressant, aphrodisiac, and neural stimulator”;
• Tea Tree is a “powerful immune stimulator”;
• Lemongrass is “neural stimulator” that “soothes aches and pains while also reducing anxiety”;
• Lavender is another “neural stimulator” that “reduces stress and anxiety and promotes restful sleep”;
• and Eucalyptus is a “respiratory booster” and is “great for relieving sinus congestions.”

The Skepticism

Perhaps I shouldn’t call myself skeptical here. I’m not skeptical. I think this is bullshit, and moreover, I think it’s pretty dangerous. Not the diffuser itself, but the language.

Because eucalyptus oil will not relieve sinus congestion in a meaningful way. And lemongrass oil isn’t going to help with your sore joints. And orange oil is as much an antidepressant as the two day old styrofoam tub that held raw chicken in the trash is a depressant. By which I mean: walking into a house that smells bad sucks, and therefore will make you feel unhappy; so, conversely, walking into a house that smells good doesn’t suck, thus making you happy by contrast.

This is all to say that if you have sinus issues, or joint pain, or depression, don’t just buy a diffuser. See a doctor.

But again, this is an issue of language, specifically language that makes empty promises. The actual truth is essential oil diffusers are great. They don’t smell as fake and chemical-y as plug-ins. They’re not smokey like incense. It’s kinda cool to watch the mist rise out of them. And this one has 7 neat ambient light settings.

That’s why my wife and I are buying one: not for any medical reasons, but because we just moved into a new house and we want it to smell okay. Even when I forget to take out the trash…

In Conclusion

Diffusers are actually pretty nice, as long as what you’re looking for is a good smell, and not a cure.