Better Homes And Gardens Oil Diffuser

The 8 Best Essential Oil Diffusers of 2021

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The Spruce / Photo Illustration by Chloe Jeong / Retailers below

Who doesn't love the soothing scent of essential oils wafting through their home? Whether you enjoy aromatherapy or want to be welcomed home with a signature fragrance, it's easier than ever to make your home a serene, soothing retreat thanks to these essential oil diffusers.

We've researched and tested popular options to find the best essential oil diffusers that look great and work well to make your space smell wonderful.

Our Top Picks

The InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser can run for three to four hours continuously or six to eight hours on intermittent mode.

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This model features seven soothing colors that you can cycle through, as well as a large tank that can run for up to eight hours.

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Using a fan to diffuse the oils and powered by batteries, this small diffuser can be used anywhere; no water or outlets needed.

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It adds humidity to the air with its cool mist and features a color-changing LED light for ambiance.

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The Jasmine Aroma Diffuser boasts both continuous and intermittent settings, and it can run for up to 24 hours in interval mode.

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This oil diffuser covers up to 500 square feet, and its simple, stylish design will blend right in with your décor.

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It's powerful enough to diffuse scents throughout 450 square feet, and it has a large water tank for long-lasting operation.

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This portable essential oil diffuser from InnoGear is designed especially for cars and fits right into your cup holder.

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InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser Portable Ultrasonic Diffusers with Color LED Lights Changing and Waterless Auto Shut-off Function for Home Office Bedroom Room, 100 mL

You can't go wrong with the InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser. This top-rated ultrasonic model has a 100-milliliter capacity and features seven light colors.

The InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser can run for three to four hours continuously or six to eight hours on intermittent mode. Each of the seven light colors can be set to bright or dim, and the unit automatically shuts off when it runs out of water. It's easy to use and surprisingly powerful.

"The diffuser releases steam at a slight angle, and we found that this helped scent the room much quicker than diffusers that release the steam in a more upright manner."—Brie Dyas , Product Tester

URPOWER 300ml Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser Ultrasonic Air Humidifier with AUTO Shut off and 6-7 HOURS Continuous Diffusing - 7 Color Changing LED Lights and 4 Timer Settings for Home SPA Baby Room

You can experience soothing scents and gentle light with the URPOWER Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser. This model features seven soothing colors that you can cycle through, as well as a 300-milliliter water tank that can run for up to eight hours per fill. It's easy to use, and it comes with a labeled measuring cup for exact refills.

This essential oil diffuser is best for rooms up to 200 square feet, and it has four timer settings—60 minutes, 180 minutes, 360 minutes, or continuous. You can choose to have it cycle through its colors or select one fixed color, and our tester found it to be a great value for the price.

"We tested this diffuser with two drops of a citrus-based essential oil, and it made the whole room smell like we just cut up oranges."—Brie Dyas, Product Tester

AromaAllure Essential Oil Diffuser

Do you want to avoid consistently refilling a diffuser's water tank? Then opt for a waterless model, such as this one from AromaAllure. This oil diffuser uses a fan to disperse the scent from your favorite essential oils—no heat or water necessary. In fact, you don't even need a plug, so this diffuser can easily travel with you or sit on a surface without an available outlet.

This diffuser needs two AAA batteries, or you can use it with the included USB power cord. Simply add a few drops of your favorite oils to the microfiber pads, replace the wooden cap, and switch on the diffuser. This option comes with three microfiber pads for three distinct fragrance blends, but if you like to switch it up often, you can buy separate pads as well.

Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser

One of the great things about essential oil diffusers is that they're usually quite affordable, and we love the appearance of this budget-friendly Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser from Better Homes & Gardens. This model has a 100-milliliter capacity that lasts for up to four hours, and it's surprisingly stylish with its Moroccan scroll-inspired exterior.

This aroma diffuser adds humidity to the air with its cool mist, and it features a color-changing LED light for ambiance. Our tester liked the versatile light option and automatic shut-off feature. Plus, you can't beat the affordable price.

"While the instructions suggest using four drops of essential oil, we quickly found that was far too much scent for our medium-sized room. After opening the windows and letting everything air out, we started again with just a single drop."—Julie Hershman, Product Tester

jasmine-oil-diffuser

This battery-powered aroma diffuser makes a chic addition to any room. The Stadler Form Jasmine Aroma Diffuser boasts both continuous and intermittent settings, and it can run for up to 24 hours in interval mode. It's small and lightweight, and this product comes in several pretty colors.

The tank on this diffuser is 100 milliliters, and you can charge it via a USB cord. It's a great option to freshen your bedroom or office, and the design is much sleeker than other oil diffusers.

vitruvi stone diffuser

If you're looking for a stylish, reliable diffuser and don't mind spending a little extra, the Vitruvi Stone Diffuser is definitely the way to go. This beautiful model is made from porcelain, and it can run for four hours on continuous or eight hours on intermittent mode. Simply fill this diffuser with 20 to 25 drops of 100 percent pure essential oils, select your preferred time setting, and scent your space.

The diffuser is crafted from high-quality porcelain and will blend right in with your décor. It's incredibly easy to use and is ideal for rooms and office spaces up to 500 square feet. It will automatically turn off when it runs out of water, plus it's elegant and well-made.

"Though this diffuser is rated for large 500-square-foot spaces and the instructions recommend using 20 to 25 drops of essential oil, we found that was way too much. Two to three drops were all it took to disperse a subtle, relaxing scent."—Julie Hershman, Product Tester

exqline-diffuser

Small essential oil diffusers are useful in one room, but if you have an open floor plan or a large space, you might want a model like the Exqline Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser. Not only is this product powerful enough to diffuse scents over 450 square feet, but it also has a large 1500-milliliter water capacity that delivers long-lasting operation.

This essential oil diffuser doubles as a humidifier, and it can run for 10 to 20 hours per fill. It has seven light options, including bright and dim settings, and you can adjust the humidity level to suit your needs. Plus, the operation is virtually silent, making it ideal for use in your bedroom at night.

InnoGear Car Diffuser

If you've ever wished you could make your car smell a little better with the help of essential oils, you're in luck. This portable essential oil diffuser from InnoGear is designed especially for cars—it fits right into your cup holder and can be powered via a USB cord plugged into your car's auxiliary power outlet (you will need a compatible adapter, but they're inexpensive).

This oil diffuser comes in white and black, and its small 50-milliliter water tank operates in continuous or intermittent mode. It lights up in different, ambient colors, and the unit will automatically shut off when it runs out of water. Plus, it's quite affordable—a small price to pay for a better-smelling vehicle.

Final Verdict

For an oil diffuser that's easy to use and affordable, we love the InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser. This model is powerful with a 100-milliliter capacity, and it has seven light colors. Another budget-friendly option we recommend is the Better Homes & Gardens Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser. It has a stylish Moroccan scroll-inspired exterior, versatile light option, and automatic shut-off feature.

Type

There are two main types of oil diffusers: ultrasonic and nebulizing. Both versions create a fine mist, but they work a bit differently. Ultrasonic models—the cheaper option—create vibrations that break the essential oils down and distribute the individual molecules into the air. Nebulizing models distribute more potent, undiluted essential oils into the room by using pressurized air.

Capacity and time

Ultrasonic models require a mixture of water and essential oils, which allows them to run for longer—approximately 30 to 60 minutes at a time. Since nebulizing models use only essential oil, they should be run for shorter periods (about 10 minutes at a time).

Cleaning

Both types of models benefit from regular cleaning, but ultrasonic essential oil diffusers are more difficult to clean since they use both water and essential oils. Water makes the machine more susceptible to mold, and tap water can leave calcium deposits inside the machine.

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