Pick the Best Oil Diffuser for Your Home
Everyone is stressed! 55% of Americans are stressed during the day, according to a Gallup poll. That stat, plus an increase population of employees working from home, means creating a peaceful home environment is more important than ever.
Essential oils have been the talk of the town for quite some time, and for good reason. They have been shown to help those dealing with stress, depression and anxiety. Essential oils are a natural way of incorporating aromatherapy into a person’s life easily and affordably.
Rather than slather essential oils directly on a person, which could be dangerous if not diluted correctly, using an oil diffuser is quick and easy way to bring aromatherapy into your life.
We can help you create an at-home oasis with the help of a new diffuser. Investing in a diffuser that runs quietly, has a variety of time settings, and has space coverage will help you to feel calm and stress free at home.
We selected the best oil diffusers you can buy online. Read further, learn the features, and get ready to create a peaceful home to help reduce your stress.
Best Oil Diffusers
Our Top Pick — Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser & Essential Oil Set
If you’re new to oil diffusers, you probably don’t have a ton of essential oils lying around at home, waiting to be added to a diffuser. The Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser & Essential Oil Set takes the guess work about what oils you should include in your collection, by including the top ten choices of oils along with the diffuser. It’s the complete package.
In addition to including a starter pack of essential oils, the Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser also has ambient lighting that you can set up with seven different modes and two different settings, which will help to create a serene space in your home. If you’d rather keep your space dark, you can also choose to not turn on the lighting option.
While the diffuser is designed to look like it’s made from a light stained wood, it’s actually BPA free plastic, making it easy to clean but still pleasant to look at.
The capacity for this diffuser is 300 ml and you can choose from four different timer settings. No worries if you forget to turn it off, it also has an auto shut off feature!
The Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser is a great way for you to start using essential oils in your home or workspace so you can enjoy their many health and wellness benefits.
Pros
- Includes a 10 pack of popular essential oils
- Multiple light and color settings
- Made from BPA plastic for easy cleaning
- 4 different timer features
- Automatic shut off feature
Cons
- No battery operational option, must be plugged into an electrical outlet
Best Bang for your Buck — Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser & Essential Oil Set
If you already have a collection of essential oils, there’s no need to purchase a diffuser that includes them. That will likely mean you’ll find options that are more affordable, like the InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser that is available for less than twenty dollars!
This smaller sized diffuser can fit in tiny spots, like a desk or bookshelf, allowing it to help spread calming scents without taking up much room. It also releases room-temperature mist, with no heat generated, so it’s safe to use near electronics.
There are two misting modes with the InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser, allowing it to be used with intermittent mist, which lasts for up to 8 hours or continuous mist, which will last for about 4 hours. Once the water runs out in the diffuser the machine automatically shuts off.
You can choose to have soft light on when using your InnoGear, or keep the light off. Some have remarked that the on/off and mode lights cannot be turned off, which might be a distraction if you’re hoping to keep your space 100% dark.
Pros
- Easy to clean plastic material
- Room temperature mist
- Multiple timer settings, with intermittent mist lasting up to 8 hours
- Lighting feature that can be activated or turned off
- Automatic shut off feature
Cons
- No battery operational option, must be plugged into an electrical outlet
- Smaller diffuser for smaller space coverage
- Only on color for light feature
Best All-Rounder Essential Oil Diffuser — ASAKUKI Premium Essential Oil Diffuser
Yes, we know, the name of this diffuser is a bit of a mouthful, but it’s worth it! This large water capacity diffuser can also be used as a cool-mist humidifier and it has a fun of features to consider when purchasing for your home.
For a little more than twenty dollars, you can have an essential oil diffuser that can run for up to 16 hours, which means all the time we’re spending at home now can be as calm and peaceful as possible. You can choose from two levels of mist functions and different timer options.
If you run out of essential oil, no worries, the diffuser is also a cool mist humidifier, which can help with dry air, which can improve skin quality, provide sinus relief, and reduce irritation.
No matter if you’re using the ASAKUKI as an oil diffuser or as a humidifier, there are seven main LED colors which can change gradually, and can also be set to either dark or light mode. If different light colors aren’t your thing, you can also choose to not have any lights on at all.
Made with medical grade plastic that’s easy to clean, this high capacity diffuser and humidifier is a great fit for your home.
Pros
- Large capacity water reservoir (500ml)
- Can be used as an essential oil diffuser or cool mist humidifier
- Easy to clean plastic material
- Room temperature mist
- Multiple timer settings, with longest setting lasting up to 16 hours
- Seven different LED colors with a light or dark mode
- Ability to not have lights on
- Automatic shut off feature
- Quiet when running
Cons
- No battery operational option, must be plugged into an electrical outlet
- Cord is located at bottom of product, meaning it must be plugged in before being filled
Best for Tech Lovers — ASAKUKI Smart Wi-Fi Essential Oil Diffuser
Wouldn’t it be nice to control the features of an essential oil diffuser without having to get up? Now, you can, with a smart diffuser! Just connect to WiFi, and you can operate the ASAKUKI Smart Essential Oil Diffuser using an app on your phone. Don’t feel like using an app? You can also connect the ASAKUKI Smart Essential Oil Diffuser to your Amazon Alexa, meaning you can just tell it to turn on or off!
In addition to being a “smart” diffuser, this product also has many of the same features you read about in the not-smart, but still awesome ASAKUKI diffuser that holds the number three spot on this list. That includes a large capacity, for long use times.
There are varying timing options and lighting options, which allow you to have control over how long the ASAKUKI Smart Essential Oil Diffuser runs. You can also elect to not have lights on while still running the diffuser. As with the other ASAKUKI, this can be used as a cool mist humidifier should you want to add moisture and its associated benefits to your home without adding the scent of essential oils.
This diffuser features a fun square design that’s different from many diffusers on the market. Normally, you’ll find globes, or diffusers that resemble a vase. What works best in your space is ultimately up to you, but if you don’t love the looks of other diffusers, the ASAKUKI Smart Essential Oil Diffuser is a fun and different option.
Pros
- Smart Technology – can be connected to an app or Amazon Alexa for use
- Large capacity water reservoir (700ml)
- Can be used as an essential oil diffuser or cool mist humidifier
- Easy to clean plastic material
- Room temperature mist
- Multiple timer settings, with longest setting lasting up to 16 hours
- Seven different LED colors with a light or dark mode
- Ability to not have lights on
- Automatic shut off feature
- Quiet when running
Cons
- No battery operational option, must be plugged into an electrical outlet
Things To Lookout For
Consider the following factors before selecting an essential oil diffuser that’s right for you:
Size Of The Essential Oil Diffuser
The functionality of an essential oil diffuser doesn’t change with the size of the product, but it’s something to consider.
The smaller the diffuser, the shorter the run time before you’ll need to re-fill the water reservoir. For some people, running their essential oil diffuser for a couple hours is enough to spread the scent to their desire, for others, they might want to have the diffuser run continuously throughout the day or night. Also, the smaller the size of the essential oil diffuser, the less “reach” it might have for the scent distribution. When purchasing, you should look at the size of the diffuser along with the strength of the mist and if the strength can be adjusted.
Quiet While Running
An essential oil diffuser is often used to help create a calm and relaxing environment. That probably means you don’t want a machine that makes a racket while generating mist. So, unless the noise is intentional (like a built in noise machine, which we saw, but noticed a huge price jump, and didn’t include in this list) you probably want a quietly running essential oil diffuser. Most diffusers claim to be quiet, but reviews will tell you if that claim is accurate.
Different Mist Strength Options
The stronger the mist strength, the stronger the scent if you elect to use an essential oil in your diffuser. So, if you’re sensitive to scents, or you simply don’t want a smell that’s strong sometimes, being able to choose the strength of the mist will be something to consider when selecting a product.
Timing Features
Most essential oil diffusers have an auto off feature when the reservoir runs out of water. That said, if you don’t want to run the diffuser continuously until it simply runs out of water, being able to pre-set times for the machine to run will allow you the peace of mind that it’s running when you want. There’s a wide variety of timing features, ranging from a couple windows (3 or 6 hours, for example) or a ton of options in other models.
Lighting Modes and Colors
Some people sleep serenely when a gentle blue light glows in the corner. Other people might absolutely hate any and all light when they’re trying to sleep. The variety of lighting options in essential oil diffusers is wide spread. Some diffusers come in a certain color (blue, for example) so, only choice would be light on, or light off, which would glow in the color of the diffuser itself. Many other essential oil diffusers have LED lights, meaning there could be multiple color options and intensities. Some stay the color that you choose, others meld from one color to another. Knowing what will help you and your space be as peaceful as possible might impact which essential oil diffuser is the best fit for your needs.
Cleaning The Essential Oil Diffuser
Recommendations for frequency of cleaning varies by product, but wiping the inside of the essential oil diffuser with a damp cloth after each use can help to reduce any clogging and ensure it runs well and is able to create and diffuse mist.
The type and quality of essential oil a person uses can also impact the way a diffuser runs and the length of use. It is recommended that 100% pure essential oils are used in diffusers.
Therefore, buy a unit that has fewer but removable parts —pull them apart to convenient and efficiently clean the essential oil diffuser.
Price & Warranty
An essential oil diffuser can cost you as little as $25, which can help to create a calm environment, but likely for a smaller sized space. There will also be limited features for the less expensive models.
As features increase, and the quality of the product is enhanced, the pricing can also increase. The fancier models can cost up to $50 dollars
Remember, buying a good essential oil diffuser is a fixed cost; you still have to pay for the variable cost of essential oils. As stated, 100% pure essential oils is recommended, which can range in price.
Also, check the warranty for your essential oil diffuser before you buy it and make sure it’s valid.
Bells & Whistles
Apart from the considerations mentioned above, look for some extra features that can enhance your essential oil diffuser user experience. These would also help you in reaching a buying decision.
Here are some of the much advancement seen on newer essential oil diffusers.
- Smart Connectivity – The diffuser is able to connect with WiFi and a downloadable app or other smart home technology like an Amazon Echo. This allows you to control settings through the use of an app or a voice command
- Auto-Shutoff — It’s no biggie if you forget to shut off your essential oil diffuser before leaving the house if you have a machine with an auto-shutoff feature, which turns off when the water reservoir is empty
- Mist Strength — Being able to select how strong the mist strength is in your essential oil diffuser means you also have control over how intense the scent is based on preference
- Lighting Options — Being able to choose the type of light your essential oil diffuser emits, the intensity of that light, and the color of the light are all features to consider
- Audible or light-based alerts to inform that the essential oil diffuser has finished its timed cycle, or has run out of water and needs to be re-filled.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is The Lifespan Of An Essential Oil Diffuser?
A high quality essential oil diffuser should last for at least a couple of years, but at the end of the day, it depends on how extraneously you use it. Some high-quality appliances can last for years – whereas others may not even last the warranty period.
Are Essential Oil Diffusers Easy To Clean?
Yes, they are — turn off and unplug your essential oil diffuser. Gently wipe out the water reservoir with a damp, clean cloth. Follow the product instructions for cleaning other pieces of the diffuser.
Is Using an Essential Oil Diffuser Safe?
The auto off feature for most essential oil diffusers mean they are safe to use without risks to the machine or the home. That said, specific types of essential oils might not be the best option to use in a home with pets. Users should review any potential side effects for pets in their home before using specific types of essential oils.
What Type of Water Should I Use in My Essential Oil Diffuser?
To reduce the risk of corrosion, it is recommended that you use unfiltered tap water. Be sure to read the specifications listed in the directions of your essential oil diffuser to learn additional information about water type for use.
How Much Essential Oil Should I Use?
It depends on the water capacity of the essential oil diffuser along with the intensity of the scent you’re hoping to achieve. Read recommended instructions thoroughly and remember, you can always add a few more drops, but you can’t take drops away once they’re used, meaning it’s best to start on the lower end of the spectrum and gradually add drops of essential oil until you reach the desired scent intensity. Also note, certain essential oils might be more intense in scent than others, so usage amount might vary by essential oil.
Photo credit: Africa Studio/Shutterstock