Paired with essential oils, our sculptures offer a calming experience combining the beauty of handmade art with the ancient craft of aromatherapy. Our Pacific Northwest clay-body releases essences, relaxing our nervous system and nourishing the body-mind. Oil absorbs into the porous surface of the clay and gently diffuses into the air as it evaporates, slowly dissipating and waning over time. A 60-80 square ft (8X10 ft) enclosed room can be subtly filled with fragrance with one to two drops of oil in the tiny bowl, impression or on the surface of the sculpture. Strength and time depends on quality, volume, temperature and variety of drops used, but generally lasts 1-2 days fading gradually. The diffusion process speeds up when sculptures are bathed in warm sunlight or nestled among candles. Any of our clay sculptures can withstand heat up to 1000 degrees f. and can be placed on a warming tray, or directly on a wood stove surface. Please use caution when removing from hot surfaces!
Besides filling small areas such as a massage therapy room or bathroom, clay diffusers work well in places you sit for work, relaxation or practice, at your desk, or on a table nearby. The oils will look wet, eventually leaving a film until fully diffused becoming undetectable. Strong viscous oils* may leave permanent darker spots on the clay but will not harm it. Burning oil in the bowls is possible but will leave permanent black flame traces on the clay. Some say this adds character. You can find instructions on the Internet for using a tiny wick of cotton saturated with oil for burning. If you plan to alternate oils, use water in the small bowl or impression along with the drops and rinse with hot soapy water after use. Some fragrance may remain, depending on strength and viscosity*.
*The longest-lasting oils, which improve as they age, tend to be the thick resins such as frankincense and myrrh, woods such as sandalwood, roots like vetiver, as well as other oils, including spikenard and patchouli. ~ (Excerpted from Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art ISBN: 0895946920)