Aromatherapy can have many benefits depending on the scents you choose. Essential oil diffusers make it easier than ever to bring aromatherapy to your home and create a more welcoming environment for your family and guests. We’ve scoured the internet and even tested a few of these products ourselves to bring you this comprehensive guide to selecting the perfect diffuser for your home. In this list, you’ll find plenty of color and style options, various features, ultrasonic diffusers, some that double as humidifiers, and a wide variety of sizes for every room, workspace, and office.
Without further ado, grab a drink, sit back, relax, and meet your match in our list of the best essential oil diffusers.
- Best for Large Spaces: GuruNanda Tower XL Essential Oil Diffuser
- Best for Beginners: Pure Daily Care Ultimate Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser
- Most Compact: InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser
- Most Light Settings: VicTsing 500ml Essential Oil Diffuser with Oils
- Largest Capacity: ASAKUKI 500ml Premium Essential Oil Diffuser
- Most Travel-Friendly: EQUSUPRO Ultrasonic Cool Mist Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser
- Most Innovative: Anjou Dark Woodgrain Essential Oil Diffuser
- Best for Small Spaces: InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser with Oils
- Most Modern: Jack & Rose Essential Oil Diffuser
- Safest: Everlasting Comfort Essential Oil Diffuser
- Most Budget-Friendly: VicTsing 150ml Essential Oil Diffuser
- Remote Controlled: RENWER Essential Oil Diffuser
The Best Essential Oil Diffuser
1GuruNanda Tower XL Essential Oil Diffuser
The GuruNanda Tower XL Essential Oil Diffuser is hands down the largest diffuser on our list and one of the best diffusers for essential oils. This product not only provides diffusing of essential oils for up to 16 hours at a time, and it also humidifies the air because of how much water it can hold. Many diffusers do not possess a large enough water tank to humidify the air, but this tower certainly does. Unlike other humidifiers, it does not monitor the moisture levels in the air though. This tower stands out in a room and is very large, making it hard to hide but an excellent choice for large, open spaces and open plan living and dining areas.
This diffuser comes with three modes and features an auto-shutoff feature. While there are no timed features, I’ve found you can simply fill the diffuser up as much as you need and let it run instead of all the way full for varying run times. One of our favorite features is the remote, which allows you to control this diffuser from your comfy chair across the room. Read in-depth review here.
Extra large capacity
Auto shut-off for safety
Remote control
- BrandGuruNanda
- ModelTower XL
- Weight3.39 pounds
2Pure Daily Care Ultimate Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser
This essential oil diffuser offers adjustment options so that it nestles into any room with ease. The Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser and Essential Oils Set comes with a 300ml water capacity BPA plastic diffuser with a wood grain print and ten essential oils for hundreds of scent combinations. The light wood grain fits in with most home décor, and seven light settings with two intensities make for 14 lighting options for any mood or home.
There are multiple run-time options for this aromatherapy diffuser, including 1, 3, and 6 hours, as well as a continuous run time that auto-shuts off once the water is depleted. Additionally, there are high and low settings for mist levels. Lastly, this kit comes with everything you need to get started on your aromatherapy journey. Not only do you receive a diffuser, but you also receive 10 essential oils, including lemongrass, lavender, peppermint, orange, nutmeg, clove, tea tree, spearmint, jasmine, and eucalyptus. With so many oils to choose from, you have endless essential oil blends.
Light woodgrain design
Auto shut-off for safety
14 light settings
- BrandPure Daily Care
- ModelPDCAB2
- Weight2.03 pounds
3InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser
Our next essential oil aromatherapy diffuser is excellent for small spaces, desks, and bedrooms. The InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser is a 300ml capacity essential oil home diffuser that stands just 5.5 inches tall and is simple to use. It features eight light modes, so it can easily blend into any room or décor. Most of the diffuser is translucent; therefore, the color you choose will radiate through the entire device, not just a button or a line.
This diffuser offers two diffusing options. You can set the product to intermittent mist where the diffuser will mist every 30 seconds for 6 to 8 hours, or you can set the diffuser to continuous mist for 3 to 4 hours of run time. To prevent overheating, this diffuser also comes with an auto-off feature once the water tank is empty. The main downside of this diffuser is its size, but if you only need it for a small space, it is perfect.
Compact for small spaces
Auto shut-off for safety
Adjustable light settings
- BrandInnoGear
- ModelMT-039
- Weight7 ounces
4VicTsing 500ml Essential Oil Diffuser with Oils
The VicTsing 500ml Essential Oil Diffuser with Oils makes for an excellent housewarming gift or starter pack as you jump into the world of essential oils. This diffuser features a dark wood grain that we absolutely love and makes an excellent addition to your home décor. Fourteen different light settings mean this diffuser will help you set the mood, no matter what that mood might be.
Two simple buttons make this product exquisitely easy to operate. One button is for setting the run time, which has 1, 3, and 6-hour options, as well as a continuous run time option with an auto-shutoff feature. The second button controls the light features and modes. In addition to a 500-ml capacity diffuser, you also get five essential oils with this set so that you can jump in and start diffusing as soon as the box lands on your doorstep.
Dark woodgrain design
Auto shut-off for safety
14 light settings
- BrandVicTsing
- ModelHM582A
- Weight2.05 pounds
5ASAKUKI 500ml Premium Essential Oil Diffuser
Our next diffuser is a round, translucent option loaded with features for all homes. The ASAKUKI 500ml Premium Essential Oil Diffuser is a diffuser loaded with features and one that beams with light in your home. This translucent diffuser with a wood grain base provides seven color modes to light up your home.
Aside from being a bright beacon of light, this diffuser also features two mist intensity options and four timer options so you can choose your desired run time. Additionally, this product is entirely PP plastics, the same kind that baby bottles are made of, making it safe and eco-friendly. Our comprehensive guide to the best air purifiers offers more excellent products for your home. Check them out.
7 light settings
2 misting modes
4 timer options
- BrandASAKUKI
- Model100-DF001
- Weight1.5 pounds
6EQUSUPRO Ultrasonic Cool Mist Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser
The next diffuser on our list is the smallest on our list but also has a unique design. The Ultrasonic Cool Mist Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser has a 100ml water capacity, making it an excellent choice for small spaces. This diffuser also features a unique tree design with a woodgrain base that brings elements of nature into your home.
When it comes to simplicity and ease of use, this diffuser takes the cake. Simply plug it in, fill the reservoir with water and your selected oils and turn it on. Once the water is gone, the diffuser will shut off on its own. No timers, no complicated buttons, just a simple, one-touch system for operation. This diffuser is nearly fool-proof. You may also be interested in some of the top candles from our list. Be sure to browse them.
Compact for small spaces
Unique tree silhouette design
One-touch operation
- BrandEQUSUPRO
- Weight9.52 ounces
7Anjou Dark Woodgrain Essential Oil Diffuser
The Anjou Dark Woodgrain Essential Oil Diffuser blends style and innovative technology for an excellent in-home aromatherapy experience. This diffuser features a patent-pending oil flow system that differs from other diffusers. Usually, you add essential oils to the water in the water basin and turn on your diffuser. In this new system, you fill a separate chamber in the water basin with 30 to 40 drops of oil. The oil trickles into the water basin to provide consistent aromatherapy through new technology.
Aside from new technology, this diffuser has plenty more to offer. This product provides quiet operation below 30 dB, so it does not disturb you while you work or sleep. This diffuser also features two intensity modes, high and low, as well as three timed settings — 1, 4, and 8 hours. Lastly, this set comes with a collapsible refilling cup to make using your diffuser easier and saves storage space.
Take a look at these top-rated incense we found for you, as well.
Quiet 30-dB operation
3 timer options
2 light settings
- BrandAnjou
- ModelAJ-AD012
- Weight1.25 pounds
8InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser with Oils
Our next product is also from Innogear, and is consistently one of the top-rated essential oil diffusers. There are eight color modes on the InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser with Oils. We rather like the dark woodgrain design printed on the entirety of this diffuser, it will nestle in perfectly in most home décor. Two simple buttons control this diffuser. One button controls the light, and the other controls the mist, which offers intermittent, continuous, or off settings.
Additionally, this set comes with six FDA-approved essential oils, including lavender, sweet orange, lemongrass, peppermint, tea tree, and eucalyptus. Our favorite features of this set are the ease of use and the included essential oils that allow you to get started right out of the box.
For some amazing products that will help you improve the quality of your sleep, check out our selection of the best white noise machines.
Dark woodgrain design
8 light settings
2 mist modes
- BrandInnoGear
- ModelAD291D
- Weight1.8 pounds
9Jack & Rose Essential Oil Diffuser
Our next product is perfect for the minimalist or modern home. The Jack & Rose Essential Oil Diffuser is a 500ml essential oil diffuser that sports a very different yet modern look from the other diffusers on this list. The faux-marble top rose gold detailing and legs and turquois bodywork together elegantly for a striking look that nestles right into any modern home and décor. We adore the elegance in this diffuser, no boho woodgrains to be found here; it is all-chic.
Aside from its killer looks, this diffuser also sports LED lights with seven color options and a 500ml water capacity. This diffuser is excellent for a large room with a coverage area of 480 square feet and three timed options of 1, 3, and 6 hours or a continuous mist option. There is a small bit of assembly required with this diffuser, which is the only downside we can find. When this diffuser arrives at your home, you will need to attach the three legs, that is all, and you will be on your way to a beautiful smelling home.
Be sure to read our guide on the best-selling air purifiers for large rooms and pick your favorite.
Marblesque, golden, and turquoise design
Continuous misting mode
3 timer options
- BrandJack & Rose
- ModelSY-XXJ001
- Weight1.5 pounds
10Everlasting Comfort Essential Oil Diffuser
The Everlasting Comfort Essential Oil Diffuser offers an elegant, fluted, dark woodgrain design, plenty of features, and a 400ml capacity making it a wonderful addition to any home, office, or workspace. We love the fluted design that funnels both mist and colorful light through the top of the device. The device features seven colors for all kinds of moods. This aromatherapy diffuser also offers two intensity settings in high and low and four timed settings in 1, 3, and 6-hour settings and a continuous run setting complete with an auto-off feature.
We love this diffuser because it includes a cleaning kit, helping you keep your diffuser looking fresh and clean for years to come. Additionally, all electrical components of this device are ETL certified for safety. The Everlasting Comfort Essential Oil Diffuser makes an excellent addition to any home, just like some of these quality odor eliminators.
7 light settings
4 timer options
Auto-shutoff for safety
- BrandEverlasting Comfort
- ModelODD
- Weight1.54 pounds
11VicTsing 150ml Essential Oil Diffuser
The VicTsing Essential Oil Diffuser is a small essential oil diffuser with a 150ml water capacity and loaded with features for a decadent in-home aromatherapy experience. With this diffuser, you can set a timer for 3 hours, let it run as usual, or utilize the sleep mode, one of the unique features of this device. This device’s sleep mode shuts off the light, reduces the sound, and slows the mist output so that the diffuser creates a cozy, restful environment for you all night long.
In addition to the sleep mode, this diffuser offers eight mood lights, which generally rotate, but you can select a single color. This diffuser is an excellent choice for singular rooms, workspaces, and small spaces due to its capacity. This product is great for bedrooms in particular because of its sleep mode.
For more amazing products to help you relax, check out our comprehensive guide to the best bath bombs.
Compact for small spaces
Sleep mode
8 light settings
- BrandVicTsing
- ModelHM196E
- Weight11.68 ounces
12RENWER Essential Oil Diffuser
Our final product on the list of best essential oil diffusers is the RENWER Essential Oil Diffuser. This large diffuser boasts a 500ml capacity for up to 10 hours of mist and aromatherapy. The entire top cover of this device is translucent, so the seven light options can be seen and displayed with ease. A printed woodgrain base rounds out this simple yet beautiful diffuser and compliments its color-changing display.
You can control this diffuser from the comfort of your couch with the included remote. You can change the mist intensity, set a 1, 2, or 3-hour timer, change the color or turn it off when you are done. Ease is the name of the game with this product.
7 light settings
Remote control
3 timer options
- BrandRENWER
- ModelGM3500A
- Weight1.1 pounds
Essential Oil Diffuser Buying Guide
Why You Should Trust Us
I’ve been utilizing essential oils in skincare products and for aromatherapy purposes for nearly a decade. I have been through training and classes on their uses and benefits in various methods, including topical use, diffusing, and as an ingredient in skincare and haircare products. This background of knowledge is complemented by personal exploration and experimentation in my daily life. There are eucalyptus and lime essential oils in my diffuser right now. What is in yours?
Who This Is For
This list is for aromatherapy newbies and veterans alike. Whether you want to dive right in with a diffuser and oil set, upgrade your current diffuser, or adding a diffuser to a new space—there is something for everyone here. We dive into the nitty gritties of choosing a diffuser in our features and FAQ sections so that you can make educated decisions regardless of your experience with essential oil diffusers.
How We Picked
When selecting essential oil diffusers, we ensured that each diffuser had excellent reviews and high quality. The second item on the agenda was to ensure that the list as a whole met the needs of a wide variety of readers. This list contains diffusers that range in capacity from 100ml to 500ml, a huge variety in designs and features. We wanted to ensure that each diffuser served a particular need or person and that our list holds something for every home, office, or space that might house an essential oil diffuser.
How We Tested
When testing our selection of diffusers, we made sure to test these in multiple spaces. Testing occurred in rooms as small as 100 square feet and as large as 600 square feet to understand how they functioned in various spaces. We ran tests on timers and continuous modes and multiple scents to make sure we captured as much of the realm of usage as possible.
Features To Look For In Essential Oil Diffusers
Design – When selecting a diffuser, you will want something you find aesthetically pleasing, unless you plan to tuck it away in the corner of a room you never look at, but there is no fun in that. Diffusers come in various shapes, sizes, and color schemes. Some diffusers will even have unique designs on them. Consider the theme of the room you plan to put the diffuser in and what would look best with your existing décor.
Size – The ideal size of your diffuser will correlate to the size of your space. Some products will advertise a particular square footage that they cover. If you are placing your diffuser in a large, open plan living area, you may want to go with something on the larger size. On the other hand, if you are placing the diffuser in a bathroom, small bedroom, or tiny studio apartment,
Color – Much like choosing a design, you will want to select a diffuser in a color you like or matches your current home décor. Many diffusers have changing colors and LED lights, so you aren't stuck with a singular color, while others offer a wood grain fitting for modern and boho homes. It might help to envision where you expect your diffuser to sit in your home to understand what color may work best for you.
Features – Some diffusers offer simplicity in plug and play fashion, while others come loaded with features such as colored lighting and timers or intensity setting. When considering your essential oil diffuser, you might consider your current décor when thinking about lighting features.
If you want the diffuser's light to be the star of the show, you might opt for a more translucent diffuser that allows for more lighting patterns to dance around your home. Alternatively, if you would rather have your diffuser nestle quietly into your décor, a woodgrain or printed design may be more up your alley.
If you want to customize your essential oil diffuser's mist flow, look for one that allows you to change the flow intensity and run time.
Water Capacity – Similar to size considerations, water capacity often determines the square footage a diffuser can cover. Less water capacity means a shorter run time and smaller footprint, while a greater water capacity means the diffuser can cover more ground. The diffusers on our list vary greatly in water capacity, so there is something for every room and every home.
Operating Time – Many essential oil diffusers will have several operating time settings or, when turned on, will run until the water is gone. Many models provide both options. Health experts suggest running your diffuser for 30 minutes to 60 minutes at a time. Looking for diffusers with set timers is a worthy investment. Alternatively, one of my favorite perks of larger diffusers is that I can let them run unattended until the water is gone, and I get to come home to a calming, wonderfully-scented environment.
Material – Most diffusers are plastic. The kind of plastic tends to vary from diffuser to diffuser; using plastic allows for varied designs, durability, and water resistance. While you may find diffusers constructed of other materials, all diffusers on our list are mainly plastic.
Durability – Your diffuser will likely remain in a singular place, so durability isn't a grave concern. However, if you live in a busy home of multiple people, kids, or pets, it may be worth it to verify your diffuser can survive a few tumbles caused by unruly dogs, cats, or children. Most diffusers are constructed of plastic and hold up to a few dings and regular use. I have used quite a few diffusers in a massive range of sizes and quality in my life and have yet to destroy or break one, leading this author to believe these devices to be pretty sturdy.
Essential Oil Diffuser FAQ
Q: What is an essential oil diffuser?
A: An essential oil diffuser breaks down essential oils into small particles, using water as a carrier, and disperses them into the air for a pleasant smelling room and better ambiance. The diffuser should disperse the particles at an even rate that does not overwhelm the space nor its inhabitants.
Q: What are the benefits of essential oil diffusers?
A: Diffusing essential oils has many benefits. We all love being in a nice smelling room, right? This reason is why hotels and other hospitality services focus on smells so much. The fragrance creates an atmosphere that can make or break an experience.
While essential oil diffusers come with an upfront cost, they often cost less overall than burning through a $15 Yankee Candle every week.
Additionally, when diffused, essential oils can aid in stress relief and self-care and improve your sleep. Studies are also showing that essential oil diffuser benefits extend to decongestion, much like products such as Vick's Vapor Rub.
Lastly, early studies are also showing that peppermint oil, when diffused, can increase energy levels and curb your appetite.
Q: What is the difference between an oil diffuser and a humidifier?
A: An essential oil diffuser is for use with essential oils for aromatherapy. Humidifiers add moisture to the air via a warm mist. While these two devices may seem similar, they have different purposes. Humidifiers often have much larger water tanks than diffusers, which are needed to regulate the moisture in the air and do not provide aromatherapy.
Q: How do you use an essential oil diffuser?
A: For most essential oil diffusers, use is straightforward. Generally, you will add water and a few drops of essential oil, replace the lid, and hit the power button. Before using your new essential oil diffuser, be sure to check the instruction manual as every model varies.
Q: How long should you run an essential oil diffuser?
A: Health experts recommend diffusing for 30 to 60 minutes at a time, then leaving your diffuser off for 30 to 60 minutes before diffusing again. Some diffusers have settings to run for an allotted amount of time, while others run until they are out of water.
Q: Are diffusers bad for your lungs?
A: Diffusers are not harmful to your lungs unless you have a sensitivity to a particular oil. Essential oil diffusers have plenty of benefits depending on which oils you are diffusing. You should use caution with certain essential oils like cinnamon or clove and take precautions around pregnant women, pets, and infants.
Q: Are diffusers bad for pets?
A: Some animals are more sensitive to essential oils than others. Cats are more sensitive than dogs and birds, while fish are generally unbothered by essential oils. If your animal is particularly sensitive, consult with your veterinarian before diffusing oils around your pets. In general, the following essential oils should not be diffused around pets: cinnamon, citrus, pine, peppermint, thyme, and ylang-ylang. However, always check with your vet as each breed and each species can have additional sensitivities.
Q: What essential oils should not be diffused?
A: In general, most essential oils are okay to use when diffused. However, some oils are potentially irritating to those who are more sensitive, including cinnamon, clove, peppermint, thyme, and lemongrass. If you are pregnant, consult with your doctor before using essential oils.
Sources:
- Are Essential Oils Safe? 13 Things to Know Before Use - Healthline
- 11 Hidden Benefits of Using Oil Diffusers - Lifehack
