Also known as aromatherapy diffusers, essential oil diffusers disperse essential oils into a room, filling it with their natural aromas. Different diffusers use various methods to dispel the oils — with some being safer than others — but they all end up filling your home with amazing scents, which is why they have become such a popular trend.
But, in addition to making your surroundings smell good, some scientific studies show that essential oils can impact your mood and health because they interact with your brain and nervous system. Breathing in the concentrated oils stimulates your olfactory system, which means using essential oil diffusers can turn your home into a stress-relieving refuge.
If this sounds appealing, then adding an essential oil diffuser to your home is a must. To help you find the one that best suits your needs, here is a list of the ten most popular essential oil diffusers on the market.
Ten Most Popular Diffusers
1. URPOWER Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser
Perfect for a bedroom or an office, this diffuser and mini-humidifier is only $15.99. The water tank is small, so it only lasts for a few hours. But, it runs on 30-second intervals (30 seconds on, 30 seconds off) to make it last as long as possible. The reviews for this diffuser are overwhelmingly positive, and you can use any kind of oil you would like. Some of the most popular include lavender and peppermint.
2. Innogear Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Diffuser
If you are looking for something small and quiet, this option from Innogear is a perfect choice because it is only 5 inches high and weighs seven ounces. It will mask smoking and pet odors, while diffusing your space with a lovely fragrance and relieving stress. It also comes in seven different colors, and you can use it as a nightlight. This ultrasonic diffuser is only $15.99, but that doesn’t include any oil.
3. QUOOZ Lull Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser
This high capacity diffuser has a unique design that can fill any room with positive energy. You can bring a spa-like atmosphere to your home or office with this option for just $38.95, and it is easy to clean because there is no condensation. It is perfect for relaxation and meditation, producing a nice, thin mist.
4. Homedics Ellia Gather Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser
Is it a little pricey? Well, it is one of the most expensive on the list. But for $100, you will get much more than a simple diffuser. Made from ceramic and wood — and featuring a basket weave design — the Ellia from Homedics includes soothing lights and relaxing sounds, a remote control, and a starter kit with oils. And, it runs between 10 and 20 hours at a time, depending on what mode you select.
5. Organic Aromas Raindrop 2.0 Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser
If you want a strong smell, this diffuser will give you a concentrated fragrance in a larger space very quickly. This $99 nebulizer uses only oil and no water or heat, and it has a cycle of two minutes on, one minute off. Then, it will shut off after two hours.
6. Asakuki 500ml Premium Essential Oil Diffuser, 5 in 1 Ultrasonic Aromatherapy
With a large, easy to clean tank, two levels of quiet mist function, three timers, seven LED lights, and a humidifier function, this diffuser from Asasuki easily gives your room a fragrant, pleasant atmosphere. It retails for $25.99, and over 80 percent of the 3,300 reviews on Amazon give it five stars.
7. SpaRoom Aromafier Portable Fragrance Essential Oil Diffuser
This fan diffuser is small enough to fit in your hand, which makes it perfect for the car, on your desktop, or next to your bed. With this diffuser, you can enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy anywhere you go, and it only takes a few drops of oil for you to reap the benefits. For just $14, this diffuser also includes three microfiber absorbing pads, and it runs on a USB cord to use with a computer or universal wall adapter. Or, you can opt to power it with 2 AA batteries.
8. Smiley Daisy Oil Diffuser and Mist Humidifier
If you want to lessen your stress and rejuvenate your senses with your favorite oils like lavender or eucalyptus, the innovate Hibiscus diffuser from SmileyDaisy is an elegant choice that retails for $42.97. It has a white or wooden, walnut finish perfect for any home or office, and this ultrasonic diffuser has two settings plus a humidity choice.
9. MOGU Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Diffuser Speaker
This option from Urban Outfitters retails for $60, and it is a combination diffuser and speaker. This means you can make your space smell amazing while enjoying your favorite music via an auxiliary or Bluetooth connection. This diffuser comes with a bottle of lavender oil, and it has an automatic timer with one, three, and five-hour intervals.
10. VicTsing 300ml Cool Mist Humidifier Ultrasonic Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser
With more than 80 percent of its nearly 10,000 reviews on Amazon being five stars, this diffuser is an impressive option. Retailing for $27.99, this VicTsing diffuser has a water tank capacity of 300ml, and it also has an auto-shutoff feature when it runs out of water.
Benefits Of Essential Oils
There are hundreds of essential oils to choose from, and different cultures have used them for thousands of years for spiritual and medicinal purposes. Eucalyptus shows up in a variety of over-the-counter medications, and when you put it near your sinuses or chest, it will help with sore muscles and congestion.
You can use lavender for cuts, bruises, and skin irritation, while at the same time reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol and producing a soothing, relaxing scent. Peppermint is a great way to soothe the stomach, and tea tree oil can be used for pretty much anything.
Some oils are more useful than others, but it easy to do a little research to find out what is out there that will work for your specific needs. And remember, quality is key, and it varies greatly by brand. So, be sure you are getting quality oils so you can enjoy all of the benefits.
Different Types of Diffusers
Before we get to the most popular diffusers, it is important to know the three main types available — ultrasonic diffusers, atomizing diffusers, and fan diffusers.
- Ultrasonic diffusers use ultrasonic waves and water. There are various sizes of ultrasonic diffusers, and they are some of the most affordable and popular diffusers out there. An ultrasonic diffuser can also humidify a room when it diffuses the oils, and it does not use heat to produce the vapor.
- Nebulizers, or atomizing diffusers, break essential oils into separate, smaller molecules before dispersing them. The belief is that you can absorb the smaller molecules into the lungs more readily than other methods, and that gives them greater therapeutic value.
- There are also fan diffusers, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they use a fan to circulate air across the oils. This is a more active form of aromatherapy, and the size of a fan diffuser will determine how big of a room it can diffuse. There are also some models of fan diffusers that are battery-powered, which makes them portable.
With so many oil diffusers on the market, it can get overwhelming trying to choose the right one. You want to narrow the field by figuring out a couple of important things. First, you need to know how big the room is that you want to cover, and you want to be aware of the diffusers water capacity and operating time. Ease of use is also important to consider (including setup and clean up), as well as noise and lighting.
Whichever diffuser you choose, always remember to follow the instructions. And, soon, your home will feel like a relaxing spa that you can enjoy anytime you want.