What users love most about using silicone is that it is a natural ingredient that is considered to be safe and non toxic, and it often doesn’t have a strong chemical odor. Also, many machine often disclose that they can only be oiled with one type of solution, and it is typically silicone. This means that if you bought an old model from a yardsale and the owner's manual has been lost to time, silicon is going to be your best bet in ensuring that you are using the proper oils for your device. Other formulas may do a find job, but we feel that using silicon is the best solution for home use that is going to be safe to use around little ones as well as pets. Plus, no one likes it when their home smells like strong chemicals!