Vaporizing Essential Oils

My journey into the world of essential oils through consulting at cannabis clinics in 2011 which prompted my discovery into the world of terpenes and naturally extracted essential oils. During this time I experimented vaporizing pure essential oils in my own body, using a low-tech vaporizer device called the Essential VAAAPP.  This device used glass vials which you can place a single drop of pure essential oils into, and manually heat with a lighter.  The goal I found was to heat the glass vial, without burning the oil – one should not heat the oil to cause it to deliver smoke, but an invincible vapor which is profound in flavor and effects.  As essential oils are volatile in nature, through heating their potent terpene molecules increase in energy and expand into a gas vapor. I have enjoyed experimenting and experiencing the effects of essential oils through volatilization into the lungs.  A single drop can be enough for 10-20 inhalations with the right technique and device!

When I was experimenting heavily with vaping pure EOs without herbs around 2012, I had learned that vaporizing alcohol and/or a carrier oil may be damaging to the lungs. Many designer vape companies started using MCT oil as a carrier oil for various vapor products at the time I was regularly vaping pure essential oils with my Essential VAAAPP.  My intuition suggested against it – my lungs felt more heavy when I experimented with essential oils in MCT oil, almost a resultant stickiness in the lungs. At this time, I couldn’t gather any research around the safety (or danger) of vaporizing essential oils with alcohol or MCT as a general topic.  I used my body and intuition to guide my discovery for vaporizing pure essential oils.

Around this time, I read the phrase “popcorn lungs” starting to flood internet forums – “Popcorn lungs” was a description highlighting accumulated damage which occurs with regular usage of vaporizing alcohol in vape products, causing damage to the alveoli in the lungs. I was unsuccessful around 2012 finding primary literature to deepen my confidence of safety or known risk for broadly sharing this practice of vaporizing pure essential oils for therapeutic usage.

I’ve really grown since I graduated pharmacy school in 2009, listening to my body and growing through its sensitivities. Through my applied ceremony work, psychedelic exploration and journey of regular detoxification, my body, mind and consciousness became a hyper-tuned tool which I was able to extrapolate towards other’s experiences. There were times when I experimented with my body because I knew it was capable and strong to learn for others of what NOT to do! I chose to allow my body, mind and consciousness to be my greatest teacher, and share this applied wisdom today to empower others.

General Vaporization Technique

I choose to only vaporize pure essential oils / pure essential oil blends OR Essential Oil Wizardry’s “Wizard Alchemy Tinctures” (essential oils infused in high-proof organic alcohol) with a very specific protocol to assure no alcohol is being inhaled. When vaporizing using a Wizard Alchemy Tincture (aka Essential Oil Tincture) as an ingredient for vaporization, I will either allow the alcohol naturally to evaporate off the plant material for 5-15+ minutes before vaporizing the herb. When time is of the essence and using the Volcano vaporizer, I will also place the “tincture enriched” herbs for 15+ seconds on the heated element, before adding the bag, to safely evaporate off the alcohol as well. This assures alcohol is not evaporated into the bag and inhaled into the lungs.

Most of our Wizard Alchemy Blends are infused in Fractionated Coconut Oil as a carrier (which I avoid vaporizing) – I’ll typically opt for the EO tincture when applying Essential Oil Wizardry designer blends onto herbs. If a plant or herb is said to be toxic, I wouldn’t vaporize the plant’s essential oil (ie. Wormwood, Mustard, Pennyroyal, etc.). As a general rule of thumb, if you won’t eat it, you shouldn’t vaporize it!

Essential Oil Wizardry Specific Vaporizing: Notes & Best Practices

I wouldn’t suggest vaporizing our Ultrasonic Tinctures as there may be minute amounts of lipids present which can be heated / damaged / combusted leading to smoke & irritation of the lungs. For that matter, I personally avoid vaporizing any essences with fats / fatty acids (ie. using less pressure “total extract” CO2 extracts) as the combustion of fatty acids can create some irritation on the throat or lungs. Other extraction forms complete with volatile aromatics while devoid of any lipid / waxes will be most ideal for experimenting with vaporization.

A pure essential oil, or essential oil tincture (with the correct device / proper usage) is the superior addition, to burn the cleanest yielding the greatest flavor and effects.  This is my personal experience in vaporizing pure oils (never vaporize tinctures without evaporating off the alcohol first, before inhaling), and / or infusing onto herbs and vaporizing with a Volcano vaporizer, an occasional practice since 2012. In a device such as the Essential VAAAPP, one can vaporize the pure oil without any herbs present and should aim to use low temperatures where no smoke is visible.

Each person is unique and their journey of vaporization will be a journey of self-discovery. Sometimes the flavor or effects will outweigh the risks for an individual, while others may be sensitive and feel excess stress to their lungs or airways. In many cases, the occasional experimentation outside of these recommendations may be fine for healthy individuals. These following suggestions come from the intent of maximizing benefit, minimizing potential harms, and providing maximum value for each unique experience.

What I personally enjoy vaporizing in the world of plant extracts / essential oils with herbs or alone are:

• Pure Essential Oils

• CO2 Select Extracts (no lipids)

• Essential Oil Tinctures of our Wizard Alchemy Blends. Always allowing the alcohol to evaporate off before heating / inhaling. I only tend to enjoy these on top herbs in a Volcano vaporizer.

• Absolutes (may contain minute amounts of residual solvent, not ideal for therapeutic usage or unwell individuals)

  • I enjoy these as a rare & special treat! These are typically most flavorful and full spectrum, but not the cleanest products as they are often extracted using non-polar solvents and may have micro amounts of residual solvent. Absolutes are not for daily exploration, yet I do enjoy sharing these with friends for memorable experiences with the most profound flavor profiles.

  • Of note, I have not personally experimented adding Absolutes onto herbs in a Volcano, but have enjoyed many an Absolute vaporizing in my pure essential oil vaporizers (Essential VAAAPP). I do expect Absolutes would create a fantastic experience in a Volcano in conjunction with herbs!

I generally avoid vaporizing the following from my product line:

• Ultrasonic Extracts / Tinctures

• Wizard Alchemy Blends infused in Fractionated Coconut Oil

• CO2 Total Extracts (some may contain lipids)

• Carrier Oils (ie. Pomegranate, Tamanu, Seabuckthorn Pulp, etc.) – these contain lipids.

Personal Experience / Testimonial

Always remember, the dose makes the difference between a medicine and a poison! My belief and experience suggests for my body that vaporizing essential oils is somewhere between therapeutic, and a less harmful substitute for smoking. In Example: I self-treated a respiratory infection, returning to about 60-70% of my baseline within 48 hours using oil of Oregano and an essential oil vaporizer 2-3x / day back in Winter 2011-12. (Oregano oil is highly irritating for the lungs, and I am not making this recommendation for anyone – I was having difficulty breathing and concern that I might literally die if I didn’t get immediate medical help. I would today, much prefer to select my ReSpire or Immunity Oil formula.)

I conclude vaporizing herbs and EOs is somewhere between a social / therapeutic exploration. A little bit can be enjoyable while I have also had periods where I found it heavier on my lungs during consistent and regular usage (ie. 10-20+ inhalations daily) of vaporizing pure oil throughout my day. One must proceed with prudence & self awareness, taking responsibility if choosing to experiment vaporizing essential oils in their own body.  You may note some benefits, and/or some harms – pay attention to what your body is telling you and adjust accordingly!

Here is a list which catalogs some of my favorite essential oils and botanical extracts to vaporize.
I started compiling this list while I regularly enjoyed vaporizing oils with friends and at gatherings (Circa 2012 – 2016, and to a lesser extent during some minor social or therapeutic usage 2020-2025). I experimented both in conjunction with herbs, and to a greater extent, using devices to vaporize just the PURE essential oils & blends.

This list offers some delicious flavor profiles and some therapeutic offerings, yielding a wide array of possibility – truly a lifetime full of exploration. I hope that you find this to be inspirational!

Some of my favorite pure essences to vaporize using the Essential VAAAPP or added to the Volcano with herbs using appropriate technique include:

Pure Essential Oils / CO2 Extracts / Floral Absolutes

Agarwood (CO2)
Amyris
Bergamot
Blue Lotus Absolute – Note this uses a solvent to extract and may have residual solvent on it. Absolutes are the most robust flavor profile, so frequency and health of individual may yield whether this is a good decision for you!
Cardamom (CO2)
Cedar Atlas
Cape Chamomile
Roman Chamomile
Coffee (CO2)
Cypress Leaf
Elemi
Eucalyptus Polybractae
Fennel, Sweet (One of Paul’s Go-To’s)
Balsam Fir Absolute
Silver Fir
Frankincense Carterii (CO2)
Frankincense Sacra
Galbanum (CO2)
Geranium, Rose
Grapefruit
Howood / RavINTsara
Lavender Vera (Lavender Fine)
Lemon
Lime, Distilled
Litsea Cubeba
Mandarin, Red
Marjoram, Sweet
Muhuhu
Myrrh (CO2)
Neroli
Niaouli
Opoponax
Orange, Bitter
Orange, Blood
Palo Santo
Patchouli (Euphoric!)
Black Pepper (Euphoric)
Pink Pepper (Quite Euphoric)
Peppermint (Very Potent)
Ravensara
Rhododendron
Bulgarian Rose Absolute – Note this uses a solvent to extract and may have residual solvent on it. Absolutes are the most robust flavor profile, so frequency and health of individual may yield whether this is a good decision for you!
Rose Otto
Rosemary
Rosewood
Clary Sage
Sandalwood
Savory, Mountain
Spearmint
Black Spruce
Tulsi
Turmeric (CO2)
Vetiver
Ylang Ylang Complete
Ylang Ylang Extra

Wizard Alchemy Blends (Pure Essential Oil)

Citrus Blast
Hydration Martini
Immunity Oil
Release
Spark!
ReSpire
Sensation

Wizard Alchemy Tinctures (Essential Oil Tinctures) – Must use appropriate technique, do not vaporize any residual alcohol.

Ascention Tincture
Celest-Treeal Tincture
Chai Perfect Tincture
Cosmic Orgasm Tincture
Digestif Tincture
Diviner’s Eye Tincture
Euphoria Drops Tincture
Frank, Myrrh & Gold Tincture
Huachuma Flower Tincture
Golden Spice Tincture
Positive Transmission Tincture
Release Tincture
Respire Tincture
Sacred Ritual Tincture
Sensation Tincture
Solar Plex Tincture
Spark! Tincture
Stillness Tincture
Super Immune Boost Tincture
Third Eye Tincture
Throat Tincture
Vanilla Drops Tincture

Regarding Wizard Alchemy / Essential Oil Tincture Formulations: User MUST evaporate out alcohol from herbs before heating & inhaling. Tinctures are not to be vaporized alone in any vaporization device. These are best combined onto plant material & vaporized with appropriate technique.  Paul Chek has a fantastic course periodically called the Herbal Alchemy which he dives deeper into protocols, tapping into your intuition, and appropriate technique.

In Closing

Personally I go through phases of vaporizing herbs & oils. I’ve developed relationships with them for usage therapeutically, socially, spiritually and dynamically. When I listen to my body, I am guided if I should adjust my usage – you are invited to do the same to maximize your results, minimize potential stress on the lungs, and to connect with your sacred alignment of this practice. Take responsibility for your actions and find your own unique sweet spot – become your own herbal alchemist!

~ This practice has taught me much about my body, and the potency of plants ~

*It’s important to listen to our bodies, set intention for usage and stop if you note any specific physical, mental or emotional discomfort from vaporizing herbs with or without essential oils.*

Please note your user experience with regard to flavor, taste, effects, smoothness will be dynamic and personal. Each bag or inhalation of a pure essential oil is a novel alchemical experience!  By combining various herbs, tinctures, oils, flower essences, various temperature settings, your intention, and your chosen vaporizer device, your experience will be unique for you.

These lists compiled above should not be construed as medical advice and is not to be considered as a “safe / healthy” vapor list ~ these are reflections from my 14+ years of personal exploration as favorable ingredients I have enjoyed walking the path to explore vaporizing consciously. This list of botanical extracts may be used vaporized as a pure EOs (no tinctures) OR combined with herbs using appropriate technique as an experimental practice with some potential benefits and stresses to the body.  If you experiment with any of the oils or items listed above, enjoy doing so – with intention, and love in your heart ~ and if you note any stresses to your body, adapt your usage and strategy accordingly. 

Hope you feel inspired by my botanical journey!

Dr. Nick

Follow-Up Note:  We periodically receive emails for requests to source vaporizers or for instruction to fine-tune a vaporization protocol.  At some point we sold essential oil vaporizers through our website, until our payment processor threatened to cancel our service as the device was legally defined as “drug paraphernalia”.  If you are interested in scheduling a call for personalized support for vaporizing (ie. technique, optimal device selection, best oils for desired effects) you can schedule a consultation with Dr. Nick.  You may also send us an email if you are interested in purchasing an Essential VAAAPP as we are in contact with the inventor, who periodically does runs of them (as of July 2025, the manufacturer is out-of-stock).  We may be able to provide them to you privately at a later time, when the next run is completed, and will contact you accordingly.