The 11 Best Essential Oil Diffusers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Whether you use them for their fragrance or potential health benefits, one of the best ways to enjoy essential oils is by using a diffuser. Amy Kreydin, ARCB board-certified reflexologist, certified clinical aromatherapist, and owner of The Barefoot Dragonfly, suggests considering three main factors before you begin your search: the size of the room you want the diffuser to be in, how much upkeep you want to deal with, and whether you want an electric or a power-free option.

Adora Winquist, certified holistic aromatherapist and founder of the Soul Institute, says you should also keep in mind whether it has a built-in filter, a timer and auto shut-off, and whether it allows for cold diffusion, “so the precious and tiny medicinal molecules do not alter due to heat.”

To find the best options for your bedroom, living room, and beyond, we personally tested 24 of the most popular oil diffusers on the market, evaluating them on type, runtime, capacity, ease of use, effectiveness, and price. We also tapped Kreydin, Winquist, and organic soap maker and essential oil specialist Sabahat Amiler for their expert advice on what to look for when shopping for an essential oil diffuser.

Best Overall

Asakuki Rock Essential Oil Diffuser

Amazon

As our top pick for the best essential oil diffuser, this option from Asakuki features seven LED lights that make it perfect for evening relaxation. It has multiple misting modes and a remote control to operate everything. There are seven different colorways to choose from to match your home’s decor, and it’s reasonably priced, which is always a welcome perk.

This fairly small diffuser blends in really well on top of a dresser or a side table, and it’s so quiet that we could barely hear it when it was running on all its settings (we comfortably slept with it on). The controls are intuitive, and it beeps discretely when the settings are being adjusted. We did, however, have to refer to the manual a couple of times to figure out what all the beeps indicated.

To add oil, you have to lift off the top cover and then drop the desired amount of oil into the water in the reservoir. The water tank is integrated into the unit as opposed to having a detachable tank so you’re meant to fill it with the supplied cup to the fill line, which is easy enough to do without any spills.

Although it had some mild buildup after two months of consistent use, the diffuser was quick and easy to clean with just mild soap and water in the sink. It also has a timer so you can set it to run constantly, or for one, two, or three hours at a time. Overall, it’s easy to operate, compact, simple to fill, attractive to look at, has a remote control and a useful timer feature, and doubles as a mood/night light—what’s not to love?

Real Simple / Sarah Brekke
Real Simple / Sarah Brekke

Best Budget

InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser

Amazon

With its neutral and minimalistic design, the InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser can fit in with any decor and style, but there’s also five colors to choose from so you can get the perfect match for your space. This compact diffuser emits relaxing lights, and it adequately fills the small room it’s in with fragrance. We don’t think it would fill a large room quite as well.

This device is super quiet, even when you’re sitting right next to it (we often have to double check to make sure it’s actually on). It’s easy to add oil to—simply twist the top off, add oil and water, and screw it back on till it clicks in place. This requires zero elbow grease. We did have to squint a little to see the water fill line, though, as it is very faint.

Although it comes with clear instructions, the machine is so intuitive we didn’t really need them—there are only two buttons on it: light and mist. Once the button is pushed, there is a green light that indicates the diffuser is on and the mist starts coming out. The other button indicates the LED lights are on and will cycle through the colors when you keep pressing it. Cleaning the diffuser with water and a baby bottle brush is a breeze, too.

Real Simple / Susan Pierce
Real Simple / Susan Pierce

Best Splurge

Organic Aromas Raindrop Nebulizing Diffuser

Amazon

What Stands Out

The mist is noticeable and pleasant, the aroma spreads to multiple rooms, and the lights provide additional ambiance.

The Organic Aromas Raindrop Nebulizing Diffuser is a cool and sleek item that can add a touch of style as well as a zen and peaceful aura to any room. This is especially true when the room’s lights are off or on low as the diffuser’s own lights provide ample ambiance: It has eight color settings that can change periodically or stay a solid color. The diffuser itself is about the size of a 1-liter water bottle, although it is a little shorter, so it takes up minimal space. This super-quiet machine emits a non-disruptive and very slight purring noise, which we found relaxing.

The diffuser is easy to use, doesn’t need water, and comes in three pieces: the base, the flask, and the small stopper-style lid. The glass piece that the oil goes into is super easy to load up, thanks to the small removable lid. It was very intuitive as there’s only one button, a knob that can be turned to the right for choosing the intensity and length of time you want it to be on. The timer alternates at two minutes on and one minute off for two hours straight.

This diffuser allows the scents to cascade across different rooms of the apartment in comfortable doses—we were impressed with how far the essential oil scents managed to extend. The mist was also noticeable coming out of the top of the machine (about a foot’s worth of it), but it didn’t feel intrusive or like there was a fog machine in the room. The flask and lid are removable, which makes the device easy to quickly wash, dry, and use again. It only comes in two color options (light brown wood or black) although they’re pretty universal. After two months of daily use, it still works just as well as the day we got it.

Real Simple / Henry Hackett
Real Simple / Henry Hackett

Longest Lasting

Canopy Waterless Diffuser

Amazon

What Stands Out

There’s no water, no mist, no vapor, and no sticky mess to clean up; plus, it runs for two weeks straight.

Touted as the “world’s cleanest aroma diffuser” that needs no water and emits no mold or mist, we were very excited to get our hands on the Canopy Aroma Diffuser. This machine is a good medium size with a very clean, minimalist design. The three neutral color options—white, cream, or moonstruck (a light brown/gray)—will fit in with most decor. Although it’s on the higher end of the price spectrum, it’s not an eyesore like some of the cheaper plastic diffusers available. This one feels elevated and top notch.

There are three dim indicator lights that turn on when you power it up and adjust the three speeds of the fan. There are no other light features available. It’s a quiet machine only slightly audible due to the fan inside. There are two ways to add oil to this diffuser: The first is by dripping two to five drops onto the puck and turning the fan on for a milder aroma that lasts a shorter amount of time. This allows you to switch up the scent more often.

The second option uses a well inside the machine that you empty an entire bottle of essential oils into by simply flipping the bottle upside down and leaving it there until the last drop. Once the fan is turned on, the aroma spreads around the room wonderfully, and this method lasts about two weeks, which is quite remarkable and super convenient. There is no water, no vapor, and no sticky mess, so this machine doesn’t need to be cleaned other than a light dusting on top when doing our regular home clean.

Something to note about this diffuser is that it will not fit tall essential oil bottles. We went to our local co-op and bought a gorgeous citrus scent, but when we got home and dumped it upside down in the well, we couldn’t get the housing back on because it was too large. Thankfully, we can still use the scent on the puck, but we really wanted that stronger, longer-lasting diffusion. You should also purchase a new well every time you want to use a new scent, as it becomes pretty saturated by the oil. It’s $20 for a three-pack, which seems fair, though it is an added cost.

Real Simple / Taylor Rock
Real Simple / Taylor Rock

Best Large

BZseed Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser Humidifier

Amazon

For its low price, the BZseed Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser Humidifier has a nice design and comes in four wooden colors. The cord is white, however, so doesn’t match the machine and stands out if not hidden somehow. The diffuser has indicator lights in the buttons and in a ring around the device with several color settings. The light can be dimmed, but not entirely shut off. It isn’t too bright, though, and could serve as a nightlight. It makes a soft gurgling or trickling sound that’s noticeable but not loud or unpleasant.

This diffuser supposedly has two different intensity settings, but they sounded the same with an equal output of mist. The buttons look identical, so we had to check the manual (and experiment a little) to figure out what they do, but it didn’t take long to get the hang of it. One button controls the light, and the other sets the mist level and timer. We could smell the essential oils from the diffuser from about 10 feet away, regardless of the room we were in, and the scent even drifts to other areas of the apartment. Better yet, it provides a bit of humidity, so we like to keep it on to counteract the drying effects of our radiators.

The diffuser produces quite a bit of thick mist in an inch-wide stream that then spills down the sides of the diffuser and extends visibly for less than a foot. When full of water, the diffuser can run for about six hours. Adding oil is a breeze as the top lifts off and the water/oil bowl inside is very wide (practically as wide as the whole diffuser), so spilling shouldn’t be an issue. This also made cleaning the diffuser simple. We rinsed it with warm water and a bit of vinegar and used a cotton swab to clean in the cracks and corners.

Real Simple / Brendan Harkness
Real Simple / Brendan Harkness

Best Small

Homeweeks Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

Amazon

The impressively low-priced Homeweeks Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser is so small you can easily move it from room to room or even take it with you on trips, as its under 7-inch size will take up minimal space in a suitcase. It has a simple yet sleek aesthetic with a wooden base and a white/transparent top part that can change into any one of seven bold and muted colors to create the exact room atmosphere you desire. There’s also the option of having the lights off while the diffuser is running.

The diffuser is practically silent, and adding the water and oils was incredibly easy—take the top off, add the water and a few drops of oils, then put the top back on. That’s all there is to it, and it took under a minute with no huge risk of spillage. There are two control buttons on the machine for the lights and the mist, the operating buttons let you choose between several timing options, and there’s an auto shut-off if the water runs out. After two months of consistent use, it still works good as new.

The scent extends impressively far and can be enjoyed throughout the room the diffuser is in, and the scent lingers long after the diffuser stops. The mist is very light and you can only really see it if you’re standing within 3 to 5 feet of the machine. Cleaning the diffuser consisted of simply wiping it with a damp cloth with a little bit of soap, then wiping it with a dry cloth.

Real Simple / Tatiana Kennedy

Best Nebulizing

Eco Modern Essentials Nebulizing Diffuser

ECO Modern Essentials

The design of the 5-inch tall Eco Nebulizing Diffuser is modern, sleek, and simple. The outer shell is made of silver metal, and the top is white, so it feels very clean and fresh. It doesn’t come in any other color options but is so small that you can hide it behind other decor items if you’re concerned about it not blending in.

There is only one button (on/off), and it’s super easy to use. You simply slide the lid off the base and screw a small bottle of essential oil into the designated spot. It comes with an empty refillable bottle you can top off or just buy new ones to use instead. It runs for two hours and then automatically shuts itself off, so it’s very simple to operate. We especially love turning it on right before we step out so we can come home to fresh smells. The scent is detectable all over a large room with tall ceilings from at least 10 to 15 feet away (and we can even still smell it long after it shut offs). The mist is truly invisible, as claimed.

The noise is audible but pretty quiet, and we don’t tend to hear it after it’s been on for a while. Every 50 seconds, the machine dispenses scent for 10 seconds, which sounds like a small pump. Since there is no water or sticky mess, cleaning consists simply of dusting it every so often. The diffuser has a ring around the bottom that glows when it’s on, and you can’t turn that off, so could potentially disturb lighter sleepers if it’s on during the night. The scent is very strong, so it wouldn’t be practical to keep it right next to you while you sleep. If you kept it across the room, the light shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Real Simple / Jessica Eno
Real Simple / Jessica Eno

Best Portable

Soicare Cordless Oil Diffuser

Amazon

At under 7 inches, the SOICARE Cordless Rechargeable Diffuser is compact enough to pack in a suitcase and take with you to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy on the go. The machine is rechargeable, so there’s no wire and you can literally take it with you wherever you are, no nearby power outlet necessary. Its cordless capabilities have been convenient for moving it into different rooms, though the scent is only detectable in smaller areas and the battery doesn’t hold a charge as long as we’d like it to.

The diffuser is fairly basic and easy to use with no extra special features. It has three light settings and emits a slight humming noise while running that’s unobtrusive. There are no intensity settings, only different run times (one to three hours). The inner well is fairly wide and large enough to add water and oil without making a mess, but for some reason you can only fit 80 milliliters of water inside, which means refilling more often.

As the diffuser is relatively small, you have to be right next to it in order to really experience the scent, otherwise it’s rather faint—for example, the scent would get lost in a medium-sized open plan space. The diffuser can run for a maximum of about five hours if you’re not using the timer, and there’s an auto shut-off when it runs out of water. It has a wonderfully minimalistic aesthetic that looks like a fancy ridged vase. It only comes in white but manages to blend in well with any home decor.

Real Simple / Rachel Thalhuber
Real Simple / Rachel Thalhuber

Best Plug-In

Pura Smart Home Fragrance Device

Amazon

The cute and very discrete Pura 3 Home Fragrance Diffuser is compatible with a smartphone or tablet via an app that allows for easy operation and enables you to set schedules (our favorite feature) and work the lights. It takes up minimal space as it simply sits in an outlet, although it might be hard to plug an extra item next to it in a double socket.

This doesn’t make any noise whatsoever. The package comes with two scents that fit in the device at the same time, and there are plenty more scents available to choose from. No water is required, and all that’s needed is to take out the diffuser’s cover and pop in the scent bottles before putting the cover back on. The diffuser was effortless to use, and there was no need to clean it. When the scent bottle is finished, you simply throw it away and replace.

At 10 to 15 feet away, the scent was pleasant without being overpowering. The LED light is adjustable in all colors and can be dimmed or set brighter as desired. The controls are all on the app, and while it’s easy to use and understand, connecting and syncing it up takes a little time in the beginning. The app’s connection sometimes gets a little wonky, as well, and we have to reset the device and reschedule the times to get it working again. It might not be the best option for those who aren’t particularly tech savvy. Also, the fragrances are a bit expensive, coming in at around $30 for two bottles.

Real Simple / Sheila Tong
Real Simple / Sheila Tong

Best for the Car

InnoGear Car Diffuser

Amazon

Whether in the car, at a hotel, or even in an office cubicle, the small InnoGear diffuser allows you to diffuse oils wherever you go. Its small build (just 5 inches in height and weighing only 0.29 pounds) means it will take up minimal space in your tote bag or luggage. This to-go diffuser doesn’t get hot to the touch, provides a cool mist, and is made from BPA-free plastic. Over the last two months of use, we’ve really enjoyed the diffuser’s calming aromas.

It even includes two misting modes—continuous and intermittent that can run for up to three hours—and several colors for the LED light, which is soothing enough to be used as a night light. While the design isn’t anything to write home about, it’s the best shape for fitting in a car’s cup holder (it’s only a little larger than a soda can) and is designed to operate via the car’s USB port. There is only one mist intensity and an option to either turn off the lights, have it set on a certain color, or cycle through them.

The noise is subtle and not something you can really hear when the car is running. This little device is ideal for road trips—just fill with water and pop in a couple drops of lavender oil before you get in the car, then plug it in, and you’re good to go. It easily wipes clean with a paper towel, and you can also give the water container a good rinse whenever you fill it up to keep mold away. Just note that if you live in a climate where temperatures dip below freezing, the water in the tank will freeze and hinder it useless until it melts again.

Real Simple / Rachel Marek
Real Simple / Rachel Marek

Best Salt Lamp

Pure Enrichment Crystal Himalayan Salt Rock Lamp & Oil Diffuser

Pure Enrichment PureGlow Crystal Himalayan Salt Rock Lamp & Ultrasonic Oil Diffuser

Williama Sonoma

Offering all the benefits of a salt lamp and an essential oil diffuser in one stylish device, this PureGlow Crystal machine by Pure Enrichment is ideal for those who want to get more out of their device than just oil diffusing. Combining aromatherapy with halotherapy—a salt treatment involving inhaling air with tiny salt particles—this innovative device provides a unique and soothing experience. Unlike some other models, it’s actually also really nice to look at, so there’s no need to hide it away in a corner.

This two-in-one diffuser includes 100% pure, handcrafted, pink Himalayan salt rocks, a heated base to heat up the rocks and activate the salt therapy, and a water tank for you to add your favorite essential oils to. This patented-technology diffuser has a sleek and minimalistic white design and five ambient light settings so you can adjust its brightness. We found the light’s glow to be extremely calming and not harsh at all. It does beep when the water runs out, which sometimes happens in the middle of the night, but it’s faint enough that it doesn’t wake us up.

It’s super quiet, and quite frankly, we forgot it was on. The only issue we found was that the machine was fairly big and wouldn’t really be suitable for a smaller side table or bedside cabinet. There are multiple covers that you need to remove in order to drop the oils into the tank, but this was simple enough to do (although a little more time consuming than some other options), and only a few drops were needed to fill the room with a wonderful aroma. It’s easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Real Simple / Maggie Sperduti-Matesevac
Real Simple / Maggie Sperduti-Matesevac

Final Verdict

Our top diffuser recommendation is the Asakuki Rock Essential Oil Diffuser. This inexpensive machine features seven LED lights, multiple misting modes, timer options with auto shut-off, and a handy remote control. It looks nice, is easy to operate, and just as easy to clean. For a budget-friendly option, we recommend the InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser, which offers lovely ambient lighting.

Our Testing Process

We tested 23 of the most popular and best-selling essential oil diffusers on the market over a period of a few weeks to come up with our list of the best 12. We noted how easy it was to set up, add water and oils to, and operate each device. We tested all the different settings and observed how long each could run in one sitting, the different mist and intensity settings, how much noise they emitted, and how far the scents could be detected.

For diffusers with lights, we took into consideration how strong or weak they were and whether they were dimmable or able to be turned off. We cleaned the diffusers and noted how easy or difficult it was to do so. For portable models, we took them out for a spin and tested how easy they were to transport.

We are continuing to test each item on this list to see how they hold up to long-term use. We’ve added our two-month insights to the current roundup and will check in again once we receive our six-month remarks.

Real Simple / Brendan Harkness

How to Shop for Essential Oil Diffusers Like a Pro

Type

In addition to essential oil diffuser combos, i.e., lamp/diffuser, humidifier/diffuser, there are four main types of diffusers. These differ based on the way that they disperse the essential oils into the air.

Ultrasonic: These types of diffusers use ultrasonic vibration to create microscopic oil particles that are dispersed into the air. Since no heat is used, the oils last longer, smell stronger, and have no chance of burning. These are not advised for already humid rooms as the water mist will only add to the humidity problem.
Nebulizing: Though nebulizers usually have a bit of a learning curve, they are popular with many aromatherapy enthusiasts as no water is required and the stream emitted from them is comprised of pure essential oils. To create the fine mist, this machine uses a high velocity, pressurized air stream that is released through a jet nozzle. Winquist suggests that, whenever possible, this is the type of essential oil diffuser that shoppers should be opting for.
Heat: With heat elements that evaporate the oils and release them into the air, heat diffusers should be used with caution and on low settings as they could end up burning the oils. Some heat diffusing units use a mix of oil and water, but others just take the oil straight. These models are typically economical but, judging from the lack of good heat-operated diffusers on the market and the plethora of ultrasonic technology units, they are starting to be phased out and replaced with their ultrasonic counterparts.
Evaporative: These diffusers work by placing the essential oils on an absorbent pad in front of a fan in order to get the scent around. Like heat diffusers, evaporative models tend to be inexpensive and quiet, but they have, for the most part, been replaced with safer and more advanced ultrasonic options.

Tank Size and Runtime

The tank of an ultrasonic, heat, or evaporative essential oil diffuser is the container that holds the water. Nebulizers do not need water to operate and therefore have no tank. The tank size is only relevant in relation to how long the machine can run without having to be refilled. A smaller tank’s water contents will evaporate quicker than a large-capacity one; however, this is also a matter of whether it’s on a high or low setting. The tank size also does not determine how much area a diffuser can cover—this is instead dependent on the diffuser’s power.

“A 30-milliliter (1-ounce) tank size will accommodate approximately 1,000 square feet,” Winquist says. “It is best to time your diffusing 10 minutes on and 25 off to avoid the nervous system overload through the olfactory system and to converse your essential oil. This is a field of plant medicine where more is not necessarily more effective.”

Style

Diffusers come in several different materials, colors, and designs, which, Winquist suggests, is more of an aesthetic area of subjective taste. The most common material for a diffuser is plastic (most are BPA-free), and these also tend to be the most economical options on the market. However, ceramic, marble, rattan, and glass diffusers are also available. Some models feature funky lighting with adjustable settings, and/or interesting shapes and stylish exteriors designed to be displayed. Most diffusers are discrete and small in size (up to around 8 inches in height) and made to sit on a shelf or a table, but much larger freestanding or table-style diffusers with legs are also available. These are usually best for larger spaces and are typically more expensive.

Features

The most common essential oil diffuser features are lights, timers, auto shut-off, remote control operation, and smartphone compatibility. Some have audible beeps that sound as you’re switching through the settings, and some have a small alarm to let you know that they’ve finished or when it’s time to replace the water.

You won’t really find multiple buttons on these little machines; they tend to have just one on/off button that also doubles up as the timer setting. An extra button may be for the light feature. Diffusers with lights may have several color options as well as intensity settings, and these may even be dimmable.

“The most important feature is a timer equipped with an auto shut-off,” says Winquist. “All other nuances are more for aesthetic purposes or efficiency in the case of a remote.”

Real Simple / Tatiana Kennedy

More Essential Oil Diffusers to Consider

Vitruvi Stone Ceramic Diffuser: This is a popular high-end diffuser (with a matching price) that uses ultrasonic vibrations to diffuse the essential oils so that they keep their integrity for longer. While most diffusers on the market have a very plasticky look and feel to them, this model looks like a small artisanal terracotta vase. It’s made from porcelain with a sandy, textural ceramic finish and features a warm light that can be used whether the diffuser is on or not. You can choose between a four- or eight-hour timer, as well. We found the top a little hard to take off and on at first, but this got easier as time went by. We also noticed that it only holds a shot glass worth of water, but this lasts the fill four hours as stated.

Urpower Essential Oil Diffuser: This ultrasonic model holds 300 milliliters of water and lasts for up to seven hours. There are four mist timer modes, seven LED colors, just two buttons to control the light and the mist, and a timer that can be set to 60 minutes, 180 minutes, 300 minutes, or continuous mode. The design is pretty basic, but it takes up minimal space and doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. We found it to be a little bit noisier than some of the other machines we tested, but it was super easy to clean with a simple wipe down and a rinse of the tank. It gives off a wonderful scent and lasts for a long time, making it an excellent value for its low price.

Better Homes & Gardens 3-Piece Diffuser Set: This compact diffuser has a cute design and a great price, and it comes with two essential oil bottles. It doesn’t stand out in the room or appear out of place; in fact, it looks a little like a candle holder because the rotating light even flickers (you can set this to the color of your choice or allow them to cycle). The diffuser doesn’t have an indicator light when it’s on, but you can hear it running (this is just a slight hum and is not very loud at all). The light looks nice, and it’s not very bright, so you could sleep with it on in a dark room. It’s a pretty basic diffuser, and it doesn’t have intensity settings, but the aroma extends about 10 feet. It’s easy to fill up, use, and clean, and it automatically shuts off when the water runs out.

Real Simple / Elise Wang

Questions You Might Ask

What are the benefits of a diffuser?

“Diffusers are a great way to change the energy of a room, usher us into a new season, and assist in establishing that boundary between the external busy world and the one we create in our home to nurture and restore us before we go back out again,” Kreydin says.

Aside from making your home smell nice, oils can be used for certain purposes—for example, lavender oil can help relieve stress and insomnia. “Diffusing essential oils is a versatile way to allow the chemical constituents of the aromatic to purify the air and offer the many benefits of the single-note oil or synergistic blend,” Winquist says. She goes on to explain that essential oils are biochemically active, containing sometimes hundreds of chemical constituents that contribute to their aromatic profile as well as their physiological benefits.

“For example, one of the main chemical constituents of lavender, linalool, contributes to the nervine nature of this tremendously versatile and calming oil,” she says. “From an alchemical perspective, aromatics represent the spirit, or the quintessence of the plant. Their energetic nature offers us a profound ability to open, access, and actualize our highest nature and potential for a vibrant life rich in all facets of health and harmony.”

Essential oils work in a multitude of ways, but the most immediate and sustainable way is inhalation, “because of the proximity of the nose to the brain, specifically the limbic system, which regulates so much of our physiology, including mood, memory, and emotion,” Winquist says. “Uniquely, in part due to their molecular size, essential oils pass through the blood-brain barrier, providing important phyto-nutrients throughout our body. Benefits can range from boosting immunity, calming anxiousness, uplifting emotions, fighting inflammation, and more.”

The right essential oils (quality as well as variety) in the correct formulation have the ability to, according to Winquist, literally shift our mood, our thoughts, our conscious awareness, and, therefore our overall physiological response. “This makes essential oils perhaps one of the most effective ways to balance stress response and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” she says.

How much you’re able to benefit from an essential oil diffuser also depends on the quality of the essential oils, according to Amiler. “Make sure you buy 100% essential oils and not synthetic oils or perfume mixtures,” she says. “Though there are many cheap options on the market, it’s worth spending that little bit extra on pure and organic oils that will provide maximum benefit.”

Finally, considering that most diffusers also act as lamps (with multiple color options and brightness settings), these little devices can also provide a relaxing atmosphere for better sleep or everyday relaxation.

How do you clean essential oil diffusers?

To ensure you keep your essential oil diffuser in tip-top shape after every use, there are a few simple steps you can take to clean it about once a month. Some diffusers come with their own specific cleaning instructions, so always be sure to read the manual.

To start cleaning an essential oil diffuser, ensure it is unplugged, and then fill it halfway to the maximum fill mark with a mix of water and 10 drops of pure white vinegar. Then run the diffuser for about five minutes for the liquid mixture to clean within the diffuser. When it’s finished, drain it completely, and touch up any corners or hard-to-reach spots with a cotton swab dipped in white vinegar.

“Most diffusers can be cleaned with a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball or swab,” Kreydin says. “Highly viscous essential oils may need a little extra elbow grease as they love to hang around!”

Some diffusers, for instance high-quality nebulizers, come with filters that Winquist says prevent viruses, bacteria, pollen, dust, etc. “Typically a high-quality filter should last at least one year before replacement and will not require cleaning,” she says.

Are essential oil diffusers safe to use around kids and pets?

When it comes to children, you should limit the use of aromatherapy to children over the age of three and only use oils that have been studied and deemed safe for them, including lavender, peppermint, citrus, such as sweet orange or mandarin, and ginger. That said, you should always talk to your doctor before you use any essential oils around your children.

If you have pets, there are several essential oils you should never diffuse. Depending on which type of animal you have, these could include tea tree oil, wintergreen, eucalyptus, and peppermint, and many other popular aromas. Check the Pet Poison Helpline for complete info—it has specific recommendations for both dogs and cats.

“Context is key,” Winquist says. “For use around children and pets, it is best to diffuse five minutes on and approximately 20 minutes off to avoid nervous system overload. The most important element to consider is the purity of your essential oils. Know your source and build your own lexicon of purity through study and practice.” Again, please consult your doctor to confirm what’s best for your family.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Kat de Naoum, who has over 10 years of commerce writing experience. Kat is also the commerce editor-at-large at Thomas-Xometry, the leading U.S. online platform for supplier discovery and product sourcing. For this roundup, we tested 24 different oil diffusers over the course of several weeks. Kat also spoke to Adora Winquist, certified holistic aromatherapist, founder of the Soul Institute; Amy Kreydin, ARCB board certified reflexologist and certified clinical aromatherapist, owner of The Barefoot Dragonfly; and Sabahat Amiler, organic soap maker and essential oil specialist.

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The 11 Best Essential Oil Diffusers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Asakuki Rock Essential Oil Diffuser

Best Budget

InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser

Best Splurge

Organic Aromas Raindrop Nebulizing Diffuser

Longest Lasting

Canopy Waterless Diffuser

Best Large

BZseed Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser Humidifier

Best Small

Homeweeks Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

Best Nebulizing

Eco Modern Essentials Nebulizing Diffuser

Best Portable

Soicare Cordless Oil Diffuser

Best Plug-In

Pura Smart Home Fragrance Device

Best for the Car

InnoGear Car Diffuser

Best Salt Lamp

Pure Enrichment Crystal Himalayan Salt Rock Lamp & Oil Diffuser

Final Verdict

Our Testing Process

How to Shop for Essential Oil Diffusers Like a Pro

Type

Tank Size and Runtime

Style

Features

More Essential Oil Diffusers to Consider

Questions You Might Ask

What are the benefits of a diffuser?

How do you clean essential oil diffusers?

Are essential oil diffusers safe to use around kids and pets?

Take Our Word for It

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