Essential oil diffusers have come a long way from those old school, classic reed diffusers. Now, there are hybrid diffusers and humidifiers, some that have lights (and change colors), and others that even sync up to your smartphone. Sometimes, technology is a beautiful thing.
A diffuser can come in handy if you're trying to maximize the benefits of aromatherapy. Some essential oils can help you sleep, like lavender or ylang-ylang. Some can help calm you, like frankincense or chamomile. And others can you give a boost of energy, like lemon or peppermint. Whichever one you need at the moment, you can use a diffuser to fill your home with the scents and let your olfactory system do its thing.
When it comes to choosing a diffuser, there are a lot of things to consider, like the size of your space, how far you want it to reach, how loud the device is, if you want it to have extra bells and whistles like a light or phone connectivity, how strong you want the fragrance to be, how easy it is to clean, and how its design will fit into your home.
To help you get started, we've rounded up a list of our favorite highly rated diffusers below.
This one is a favorite of our editors. Its subtle design makes it easy to blend in, and it comes in three different colors (black, charcoal, and white) so you can choose based on your home's style. It can run for three hours nonstop or seven hours with intervals. Plus, it has a diffusing capacity of approximately 538.19 square feet, so it works well in either a small apartment or the part of your home where you like to kick back (like your bedroom or bathroom).
With just 100 milliliters of water and a few drops of essential oil, you can create a relaxing ambiance in your bedroom. The URPower diffuser will run for six hours. You can program on and off cycles, and it has auto shutoff for extra protection.
In soft pink, this diffuser has the classic millennial aesthetic. It also comes in green, white, and black if pink's not your thing. Unlike most diffusers on this list, it's powered by USB, but it works just as well. It can run three hours continuously or six hours intermittently, and it has an auto-shutoff function.
Labeled a best seller on Amazon, the small but mighty InnoGear diffuser is an affordable and dependable find. It has three settings: intermittent (30-second mist and 30-second pause), continuous, and off. Plus, the changing colors (there are seven!) make it sort of mesmerizing to watch.
Is it just us, or does this diffuser give off some futuristic vibes? The lights change colors, too. It will run continuously for three and a half hours and seven in intermittent mode. There's an auto-shutoff function when the water is low.
A diffuser that's also a speaker? Okay, we've seen it all now. You can relax with some calming essential oils while listening to your favorite chill-out playlist by connecting via Bluetooth. It also acts as an alarm clock.
The jasmine diffuser has the longest run time of all on the list: 10 hours continuously or 24 in interval mode (cycling 10 minutes on and 20 minutes off). It's also USB-powered and has auto shutoff when empty.
This find is a nebulizer diffuser, which means it doesn't use water. It also means the scent will be strong, which is something to consider when weighing your purchase options. It's a portable option, too.
The cutout design on this diffuser casts a warm, twinkly glow when lighted up, so it can also function as a night-light of sorts. There's a timer option for 60, 90, or 120 minutes and an automatic-shutoff function.
This diffuser has a large 500ml water tank, two levels of mist functions, three timers, and is also a humidifier. What more can you ask for?
This device can function as both a diffuser and humidifer. When you want to use it as the latter, just skip the essential oils and let it run on water. It's also a night-light on steroids, so to speak, since it has 14 different lighting options. It has three different timer options (one-hour, three-hour, and continuous) and lasts for about four to six hours before the water runs out and the auto shutoff kicks in.
Both a diffuser and air purifier, the Boneco is a compact find. Simultaneously, it will generate negative ions to reduce particles in the air while emitting your essential oil fragrance. It doesn't require water, and it is powered by a USB-C cord.
Did we win you over yet with our picks? Try it out at home for self-care and relaxation.
Next up: The Ultimate Essential Oil Guide: Which Ones to Use and for What
This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used in the place of advice of your physician or other medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider first with any health-related questions.
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