When it comes to home fragrances, essential oil diffusers are great for introducing scent into living areas, without the hassle of keeping an eye on burning candles. And there’s something about a diffuser that has the ability to transport you from the rigmarole of at-home living to the serenity of a spa or yoga studio.
Whether you’re looking for an aroma to create an uplifting or relaxing vibe in your home, essential oil diffusers come in reed or electronic forms, complete with perfumed oils that can be released constantly or in time-controlled bursts. Think: essential oils, bursts of rose and patchouli for summer, or – come the colder months – notes of pine and cinnamon.
Some diffusers are aromatherapy-focused, while others have perfume-style scents. Generally speaking, reed diffusers last for up to four months before the oil runs out, while electronic diffusers are long-term options that you can keep refilling with the scents of your choice. The key to making that scent last? With reed diffusers, you need only rotate the oil sticks from time to time and you’ll notice an uptick in the strength of fragrance around your space.
Reed diffusers are cheaper and electrical diffusers are more of an investment buy, often looking like an interior accessory when in situ. Whether you’d like to add scent to a home office, bathroom, bedroom or any other living space, an essential oil diffuser is a quick and easy flame-free option. In fact, brands like Neom have even created wireless electric diffusers (£38.45, Beautybay.com) to fill your car with scent.
They can provide a spa-like ambience for unwinding, an uplifting fragrance if you’re entertaining guests and a pleasing scent for those of us with pets. From well-known brands to budget options, we’ve put the best oil diffusers through their paces, to bring you a list of the ones that will make your home smell amazing.
How we tested
Each diffuser was tested for several weeks in a home with a dog and a cat. During testing, we trialled electric and reed diffusers in order to cater for every household need. We carefully considered each diffuser’s scent. Those that smelt artificial did not make the cut. Instead, we chose those that had a lovely fragrance, and decent scent strength so that it could fill various sized rooms. This, however, did mean that in some instances, diffusers that smelled lovely but weren’t able to fill a small room were not selected. Longevity was also important, discounting the reed diffusers that didn’t last a long time. Finally, when we tested the electric options, we considered how easy they were to set up, how powerful they were, and whether they were easy to clean. Below is our review of the best diffusers that did tick all of the boxes.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Helen Wilson-Beevers has been working in the industry for more than 10 years. She is well-versed in the best high-quality, good-value brands and retailers and, she has covered topics in the same sphere as oil diffusers on countless occasions. Think soy wax candles, Molton Brown products and more. Now, after months of sniffing and whiffing, she has compiled a definitive guide to the very best diffusers.
