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Byredo’s New Diffuser Works Like a Speaker, Only for Fragrances

10 points by davidbarker 4y ago

c54 4y ago
Yowza, $1300. I've read that ultrasonic diffusers and humidifiers can do a lot of harm by atomising whatever is in the substance you fill them with. In the case of humidifers with non-distilled water this could mean heavy metals coming out of the faucet, or whatever biofilm crud has built up inside the device. Lots of essential oil diffusers ask to be filled with water and a few drops of the oil. I imagine the oil itself is often filled with non-scent molecules that you probably don't want to be breathing, depending on quality and reputability of source. It all seems like an easy category of footgun; easy to cause more damage to your health than benefit. Does anyone know more about this kind of effect and whether it's dangerous?
- SemanticStrengh 4y ago
  dynomight has a blog about it
jcrawfordor 4y ago
Years ago I shared a house with a guy who sold scent diffusers as part of his job as a sales rep for a big janitorial supplies firm. Since he did demos and handed out samples we had a basement room full of commercial cleaning supplies, which is a nice perk. Anyway, what surprises me about this is... how much worse it looks than a commercial diffuser? I get that the industrial look is intentional but given the complexities of airflow the article really doesn't have me nearly convinced that the horn shape actually does anything... These things wouldn't run at nearly a high enough velocity for the shape of the outlet to really matter, and if they did it'd be annoying to have them blowing your stuff around all the time. I also find it suspicious that the small blower on the back looks pretty much exactly like a failed part I removed from a cheap ultrasonic humidifier today and ordered a replacement for at less than $10 shipped. You can see the plastic clamshell construction which makes me think it is indeed just an inexpensive appliance blower. Ambeyond AV-F7525HS for example looks like a good match at $3.20 per piece, although I'm sure multiple manufacturers use the same or similar housing molds. Hopefully the bearing on this holds out better for... $1300. Anyway, I like how they put HIGH VALUE on the box. I wonder how much that bumps up the theft in transit rate...
unsupp0rted 4y ago
The scientist in this CBC investigative journalism piece on Air Filters believes diffusers destroy the room’s air quality and never uses one. Perhaps “Olfactive Pyramid” is less harmful than diffusing essential oils, but I wouldn’t bet on it. https://youtu.be/0uZKBlwLEFs https://youtu.be/0uZKBlwLEFs (diffusers at 16:32)

10 points by davidbarker 4y ago

c54 4y ago

Yowza, $1300. I've read that ultrasonic diffusers and humidifiers can do a lot of harm by atomising whatever is in the substance you fill them with. In the case of humidifers with non-distilled water this could mean heavy metals coming out of the faucet, or whatever biofilm crud has built up inside the device. Lots of essential oil diffusers ask to be filled with water and a few drops of the oil. I imagine the oil itself is often filled with non-scent molecules that you probably don't want to be breathing, depending on quality and reputability of source. It all seems like an easy category of footgun; easy to cause more damage to your health than benefit. Does anyone know more about this kind of effect and whether it's dangerous?

SemanticStrengh 4y ago
dynomight has a blog about it

jcrawfordor 4y ago

Years ago I shared a house with a guy who sold scent diffusers as part of his job as a sales rep for a big janitorial supplies firm. Since he did demos and handed out samples we had a basement room full of commercial cleaning supplies, which is a nice perk. Anyway, what surprises me about this is... how much worse it looks than a commercial diffuser? I get that the industrial look is intentional but given the complexities of airflow the article really doesn't have me nearly convinced that the horn shape actually does anything... These things wouldn't run at nearly a high enough velocity for the shape of the outlet to really matter, and if they did it'd be annoying to have them blowing your stuff around all the time. I also find it suspicious that the small blower on the back looks pretty much exactly like a failed part I removed from a cheap ultrasonic humidifier today and ordered a replacement for at less than $10 shipped. You can see the plastic clamshell construction which makes me think it is indeed just an inexpensive appliance blower. Ambeyond AV-F7525HS for example looks like a good match at $3.20 per piece, although I'm sure multiple manufacturers use the same or similar housing molds. Hopefully the bearing on this holds out better for... $1300. Anyway, I like how they put HIGH VALUE on the box. I wonder how much that bumps up the theft in transit rate...

unsupp0rted 4y ago

The scientist in this CBC investigative journalism piece on Air Filters believes diffusers destroy the room’s air quality and never uses one. Perhaps “Olfactive Pyramid” is less harmful than diffusing essential oils, but I wouldn’t bet on it. https://youtu.be/0uZKBlwLEFs https://youtu.be/0uZKBlwLEFs (diffusers at 16:32)