Essential oils have come a long way in how they are viewed and used. What was once considered an "alternative" therapy, has now become more mainstream. I personally use essential oils in A Girl's Gotta Spa! products, I've worn aromatherapy jewelry, each night my husband and I use our Gurunanda Aromatherapy Diffuser to help us sleep and now portable aromatherapy devices have piqued my interest. OK, OK, before I am corrected...piqued my son's interest. My just shy of 16 year old son, Connor, brought it to my attention. Connor has always dealt with anxiety issues and expressed interest in seeing if a portable aromatherapy device would help. I decided that this would be a product we'd try together, especially since there aren't any studies that show conclusive evidence that drawing in essential oils and vitamins into your mouth via a device like this, offer any true benefit. That said, I also know this it is relatively new ground and essential oils in general have been used forever for their medicinal properties.  First, what is Corked? It's a portable aromatherapy device that diffuses a blend of vitamins (B12), minerals and essential oils. A portable aromatherapy device is not an e-cigarette. There is no nicotine and you do not inhale the blend into your lungs. So how do you use it? You draw in the vapor through the device like you would use a straw, hold it in your mouth for a few seconds and then exhale it through your nose. You will both smell and taste the blend at the same time. If this is your first time using a device like this, you may cough a little or exhale it through your mouth on accident. You only take a max amount of 2-3 puffs per day, up to 3 times per day. Each device lasts approximately 250-300 puffs or about 2 months when used correctly. As you are sucking in the vapor from the device, the end lights up blue so that you know its working. What we thought: I allowed Connor to use Corked only under my supervision and made sure he understood how to and how many times he could use it. There are no formal age restrictions required by law for using this device, however Corked does encourage anyone who may be under 18 to make sure that their parents/guardians are OK with them using it. We also made sure to speak to his psychiatrist first to get his OK to give it a try. He decided to try Trance, Alive and Mindful (their Mix of the Month.) He only used it twice per day - Alive (or Mindful) when he got home from school and Trance about 30 minutes before bed time. He really likes the fragrance of them and had no complaints about taste either. Alive: Lemon, thyme, vanilla, vitamin B12 and 12 other essential oils. Trance: Lavender, sweet marjoram, valerian, vitamin B12 and 11 other essential oils. Mindful: Clary sage, Frankincense, lavender, and ylang ylang. He felt that Trance had the most noticable effect on him, where he felt more relaxed. He told me that each night he used it, he slept through the night (which is uncommon for him) and on the one night he forgot to use it, he woke up that night. As he said to me, "I don't know if that is a placebo effect or real, but either way, it seems to be working for me." (You can tell when a child's mother has their Psych degree because their kids throw around phrases like "placebo effect.") I chose Meditate, Ecstacy and Refresh. My days are often chaotic and require so much adrenaline that it can drain me. I thought these might be a good fit to help make the day feel more stable mood-wise. Meditate: Frankincense, orange, ylang ylang and vitamin B12, plus 16 other essential oils. Ecstacy: Cinnamon leaf, geranium, lemon, vitamin B12 and 9 other essential oils. Refresh: Copaiba, mandarin, turmeric, vitamin B12 and 12 other essential oils. It took a little getting used to for the taste of Meditate, but it did give me a sense of balance. If you love cinnamon, then Ecstacy is for you. I didn't taste/smell the other oils in this one, which is fine because I do like cinnamon. Interestingly, Refresh is meant to help with pain issues, not necessarily perk you up. I have arthritis and bursitis in my hips (yay me), so I definitely welcomed trying something that wasn't a pill. I have to use it more than a few times to see if it really has an effect, so the jury is still out on this one. Aside from these 6, there is also Mix Your Mood where you customize your Corked blend. I like that all of the diffusers, with the exception of the Mix of the Month, have B12 in them. You might want to check out our other post - Do I need to get B12 shots? Many of us are vitamin B12 deficient, and this vitamin is essential for sustainable energy and focus. Now again, I have to mention that there haven't been any studies as to whether or not breathing in B12 has any effect, so can I say conclusively that it worked? No, I can only report how both my son and I felt using the Corked diffusers. This was our first time ever using essential oils in this way and it was interesting. It's definitely easy, doesn't require much of a committment of your time and the packaging is stylish. Essentially anyone can use Corked. However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or if you have allergies or sensitivities, you are advised not to use Corked. If you have other health issues, always consult your doctor. Have you tried Corked? I'd love to hear which blend you used and your experience with it! Subscribe to A Girl’s Gotta Spa! beauty blog. Watch our reviews on YouTube, see our pins on Pinterest and check us out on Instagram. Got a Kindle? We’re on Kindle too! Or check out our natural bath and body line!