The other day I had to go to the hospital.  I was having surgery. I walk in and there is this curious smell. Have you ever noticed it? My immediate thought was YUCK. Most public places have peculiar smells: gyms, public restrooms, schools, office buildings, hospitals or funeral homes. Hospitals, depending on the age of the building have very distinct smells. Although I was having surgery, I was healthy and the smell was getting me down. This particular hospital didn't smell like disease or old people, it was a kind of disinfectant smell that makes you think of formaldehyde or worse yet, decay. Honestly, it was gross. I don't know about you, but smells have a powerful influence on my emotional world. If you read anything about aromatherapy, you'll most likely agree. I mean think about it. The smell of fresh baked bread. Or Thanksgiving dinner. Or a new car. What do those smells mean to you? It's true.  Smells have an influence on our emotional state of being. As I walked into the hospital, with that particular smell, I could not help but think of sickness, death and dying. I guess it's the memories I have as a child. Walking into hospitals meant sick people. It meant death. Bu here I was and I was not dying. I was simply having a surgical procedure on my nose to help me breathe better. And the truth of the matter was, no one looked that sick. But still, I got this creepy feeling walking in. If you've been following my blogs until now, you know that I carry essential oils everywhere I go. I have to. They are the miracle cure. And that's what I needed at this moment, was going to need in surgery and was going to need post-op. So I reached into my bag and took out a little Peppermint essential oil I placed a drop into my palm, rubbed my hands together and inhaled. Whewwwww!   All the aromas, chemicals, age, and disinfectants swarming around in the air completely dissipated and I was immediately invigorated by the smell of Peppermint. They take me through the channels of paperwork, checking me in. Get me prepped. You know the drill. And when they ask me if I have anything else I'd like to discuss, right there on my hospital bed, I whip out my diffuser. "Can you plug this in during my surgery?" I asked? They thought I was nuts. I thought they were nuts for offering a "pre-cautionary antibiotic intravenously."  Seriously?  With all the other meds they were going to have to pump through my veins to keep me asleep and pain free, they wanted to give me anti-biotics proactively as well?   NO WAY JOSE. On Guard, the blend of oils I brought to diffuse during my surgery is PROVEN to get rid of staff infection, including MRSA. Why wouldn't everyone want that diffusing in the O.R." I'm always diffusing essential oils. I diffuse uplifting essential oils like Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Peppermint, Wild Orange, Citrus and Geranium while I'm working at my desk. Yep, that diffuser is right under my face while I'm working! At night, I diffuse Roman Chamomile, Sandalwood, Lavender, and Ylang Ylang to help me relax and sleep better. If someone is feeling like dog-do in my house, we diffuse On Guard, Lemon, Grapefruit or Purify. Diffusers are incredible. And it's so cool that you can pick whichever oil you want to get your desired results. Diffusers are relatively not that expensive, and like humidifiers and air purifiers, they literally transform the air you breathe. But remember this: not all diffusers are created equal. Here are the two types I would recommend. Don't even mess with the rest. Nebulizing Diffuser A nebulizer blows jet air across a small tube and creates a vacuum that pulls whatever liquid is at the bottom of the tube to the top of the tube. The air flow blowing across the surface of the oil at the top of the tube then blows the oil away in a fine spray or mist. Since there is a constant air supply source, this type of diffusion can quickly put a large amount of oil into the air. This diffuser works to put the essential oil into the air in the form of tiny droplets. I would highly recommend this type of diffuser for therapeutic grade essential oils in larger rooms. It is best to put this type of diffuser on a timer as it helps to conserve oil. Ultrasonic or Humidifier Diffuser Like nebulizing diffusers, ultrasonic diffusers also create a fine mist. An ultrasonic diffuser utilizes electronic frequencies to cause a small disk under the surface of a liquid (usually water) to vibrate at a very fast rate. These ultrasonic vibrations break the essential oil into tiny microparticles, dispersing the oil in a fine mist. These tiny particles are more easily absorbed by your lungs for a greater therapeutic effect on the body, mind, and spirit. This diffuser works best when you want it next to you---at your desk or by your bed. And if you don't have a diffuser, improvise. Bring your favorite oil with you and simply open the lid. And if you travel a lot, like I do, put drop of your favorite oil on a tissue, stick that tissue up in the air vent and your plane ride will be a lot more bearable! I have just given you several reasons why you don't want to live without a home diffuser and I have just given you two types of diffusers that meet both home needs. Have you ever diffused essential oils? Would you be willing to kick your meds to the curb and go au naturale and see for yourself if a diffuser becomes your knew best friend? I would love to hear from you. Please leave your comments in the box below. If you found this post uplifting and informative and think someone else could benefit from it, feel free to share it with friends. Post it on FB, Pinterest or Tweet it. XO, Hayley If you want to know where I get my essential oils and my diffusers, cause you KNOW, I ONLY use the very BEST, click HERE