Skip The Candle And Light One Of These Essential Oil Diffusers Instead

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Essential oils diffusers are known to be, well, meh.

When you want to add a pleasant scent to your home, the go-to answer is usually a scented candle. But essential oil diffusers are another solution that deserve much more love. A few years back they were all the rage. Since then, the noise surrounding them has dwindled down, but the therapeutic effects of essential oil diffusers remain the same.

"Diffusing is an excellent way to experience essential oils," says Amy Galper, co-founder of the New York Institute of Aromatic Studies. "It stimulates our olfactory system, or sense of smell. This has a direct link to our limbic system, which affects our behavior and even production of the proteins that make up our hormones."

Best Essential Oil Diffusers

In other words, diffusing oils doesn't just smell fantastic; the method is also mighty powerful on your mental and physiological states. For example, a study in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine found that inhaling essential oils led to lower levels of perceived stress and anxiety. From eucalyptus oil to lavender to blood orange, there’s countless essential oils to choose from. All you need is the right diffuser to get started.

What to consider

Design is definitely something you want to consider (in the name of good decor). "Having pleasant aesthetics can impact your mood and motivations levels," says clinical aromatherapy educator Jennifer Pressimone. But, there are also some other important factors you should think about when shopping for an essential oil diffuser:

Lighting

Some essential oil diffusers offer soft lighting similar to the glow of a candle, while others offer color-changing LED lights. Others don’t have a lighting feature at all. If you have a preference, make sure to check the specifics on the diffuser you’re considering.

Reservoir capacity

This basically refers to how much water your diffuser can hold in order to operate continuously. Small diffusers usually hold a couple of ounces, while bigger ones can hold liters. If you’re considering adding a diffuser to a larger room or want one that requires fewer refills, you may want to consider a diffuser that holds more water and can operate longer.

Timers

Timers will allow you to run your diffuser in timed sessions, meaning you can set it to run for a couple of minutes, or hours on end. You should also look for a diffuser with an automatic shutoff function. This will instantly turn your diffuser off if the water runs out, preventing it from possibly breaking.

Area coverage

Is your diffuser for a small bedroom or for a large living room? The bigger the space, the more square feet you’ll want your diffuser to cover. Otherwise, you may not smell or feel the amazing scent benefits of your product. Pro tip: If you’re looking for a diffuser that emits a stronger scent, try a nebulizer. It’ll use heat to pump out the essential oil as a fine mist, though it may require more of the essential oil than an ultrasonic diffuser, one that operates with the use of water and mixes the oil and water so the oil is diluted.

How we chose

For the past few months, Women’s Health editors, including lifestyle and commerce editor Jasmine Gomez, have been testing and researching the most popular, top-rated essential oil diffusers. We also consulted several experts, including an aromatherapist, and, together, compiled a list of the best options for every budget and preference.

With our testing notes and shopping considerations in mind, here are the best essential oil diffusers you can buy online.

Wireless Pro Scent Diffuser

When it comes to aesthetics and function, the Aroma 360 Wireless Pro Scent Diffuser ticks all the boxes. Its waterless design is capable of diffusing scents up to 600 square feet—that's more than any other diffuser on this list. Instead of using heat to work, the tool uses cold-air diffusion to emit a dry nano-mist, which leaves no residue behind—an awesome perk if you hate mess or have pets in the home who like to lick everything. Even better the diffuser is wireless, making it entirely portable. It can be recharged for 12 hours of continuous use.

Testers say they love the sleek design of this diffuser and that it comes with a remote control that can be used to adjust scent intensity. The only thing they didn't love is that the diffuser only works with Aroma 360's oil vials, which are a bit pricey and can only be ordered from the brand's website.

Capri Blue Smart Home Plug-in Diffuser Kit

Most essential oil diffusers require you to manage the water levels of your device in order to keep it properly-functioning, but the Pura is different. It's a waterless smart device designed to make the process of diffusing fun scents easy. Though it does require a wifi connection, the Pura device connects to an app that allows you to control it remotely. The app gives you the option to adjust the scent intensity, set custom schedules, and swap between scents. Yes, the device allows you to install two scent vials, so that you can easily switch up fragrances, using just a few taps.

Our tester says she likes that this diffuser allows you to stock it with two scents, which, if you choose, can include ones from name brands like Nest. The scents are strong, so they infuse into the room pretty well. However, the vials of fragrance tend to run out quickly, which can be quite an expense depending on how often you plan on using your Pura.

Volo Marble Diffuser

If you plan on using your essential oil diffuser in different rooms, the DoTerra Volo Diffuser could be a solid option. It allows you to customize its mist output so that you can cater to rooms of different sizes, up to 300 square feet. In addition to being highly functional (it also comes with three timing settings), testers really love the design of this diffuser. It's made with a glossy, handcrafted polyresin stone top in a diamond pattern, and comes with three optional ambient light settings.

That being said, our tester also mentioned that the Volo diffuser is pretty heavy, and it takes up a lot of space. So, that's good to keep in mind if you plan on moving the diffuser often.

Gather Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser

This essential oil diffuser boasts A calming trifecta: soothing scent, sound, and sight. The device has an internal light (you can choose and change the color) and plays calming sounds, all while pumping out a stronger mist than you'll find from most diffusers. It can run for 10 hours at a time, so it's perfect to use during your seven to 10-hour sleep days. In addition to helping you create the perfect ambiance for relaxation, this diffuser also comes in an impeccable design crafted from ceramic and wood.

Our tester says she loves the design of this diffuser, raving that its neutral color allows it to blend well into most color schemes. However, the only way to turn on the diffuser is using a remote. which may not be ideal if you run out of batteries or constantly lose track of small objects. The diffuser is also on the pricier side. If you care about cost, you could probably get a very similar product for a more budget-friendly price.

Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Diffuser

This glass diffuser looks like it's expensive, but it isn't. The unique diffuser is gray when it's off, but can run through a light show of seven colors, or just stay fixed on one of them. Though it uses water to function, it's designed with a safety feature that will turn the diffuser off once the water runs out, so you can leave this one running all day or all night without worries.

Testers say the diffuser is virtually noise-free, so it's a great mood setter if you're trying to relax or gain greater focus. You can choose the color setting that shines through the hand-made glass casing, which several testers call 'beautiful.' The fragrance this diffuser emits isn't as strong as that of other diffusers, our testers found though, making it a better fit for small spaces or those with sensitive noses.

Stone Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Diffuser

You've probably heard of the Vitruvi stone diffuser, or maybe have seen an ad or two on Instagram. There's no debate—its design is gorgeous. Even better, it comes in several colors including 'terracotta' and 'eucalyptus.' The diffuser is designed with two settings that extend the life of the scent—it can run for four hours continuously, or intermittently for eight hours, where it cruises through a cycle of 30 seconds on and 30 seconds off.

The diffuser is built with a thin strip of ambient light you can keep off or turn on for a soft glow. Testers say they love how discreet the Vitruvi device is. It runs quietly, leaves no mess behind, and blends seamlessly into most home decor, they say. The two things they didn't love were that the stone texture is a little harder to clean if you need to wipe it down, and that the diffuser is made without a water cup, so you have to either bring it under the sink to fill or grab a container with water to fill it up manually.

Diffusers for Essential Oils

This diffuser is truly a steal. People rave about its design, which you can get in seven colors from indigo to this tealish green, and about how simple it is to use. Our testers say that it does exactly what it needs to without any confusing extra features, which is what you would expect for the price. There's one button to turn on its lighting feature and another to get the mist going. You can keep pressing the mist button to switch between different timing settings. Impressively, the diffuser can offer up to 20 hours of fragrance, so it's a great option to keep your home well-scented on the reg.

Testers love how budget-friendly this option is, and because of the more frugal price, they didn't have super high expectations of it. The only thing it's missing is a function to turn off the lighting completely. Because there's not, this isn't a great option for those looking for a diffuser they can use while they're sleeping.

Meet the experts

• Jennifer Pressimone is a clinical aromatherapy educator and owner of JennScents.

• Mareshah Dunning, NMD, is a staff physician at the Neil Riordan Center for Regenerative Medicine, who recently published a study on antimicrobial activity in various essential oils.

How do essential oil diffusers work?

An essential oil diffuser uses heat, sonic vibration, or steam to transform the oil's aromatic molecules into pure vapor or micro droplets that can be distributed through the air. In most cases, you add water and the oil of your choice, which allows the diffuser to double as a humidifier (bonus healthy points there).

What are the benefits of using an essential oil diffuser?

Diffusers allow you to use scent to cater to your different mood needs. They do this in several ways, including decreasing microbial load and promoting relaxation, Dunning says. "Diffusers allow you to create a healthy custom scent that is specific to what you need at a specific time of day," Pressimone adds.

They also make it easy to control the amount of oil you're using, Dunning says. "By using a diffuser, it is easier to use a smaller and more appropriate dose of essential oils, since essential oils are very potent and are toxic when ingested," she says. Plus, diffusers draw out the therapeutic benefits of essential oils for hours, giving those benefits to more than one person if there's several people in the room.

Moreover, essential oil diffusers can minimize room odors from laundry, pets, food, and bathroom odors, Pressimone says. "They can add to your room’s décor making your home feel spa-like and relaxing to elevate your 'happy place."'

Plus, they are a healthier option than candles, and less flammable, which is a plus if you have children and pets around, Pressimone says.

When should you use an essential oil diffuser?

Different essential oils offer different health and environmental benefits, says Pressimone. "It is great to diffuse essential oils that help you feel energized, alert, and motivated in the morning," she says. "You can diffuse relaxing, soothing, and calming essential oils in the evening to promote a restful sleep and sleep duration.:

How should you choose an essential oil?

When it comes to choosing an essential oil, quality matters, says Dunning, since many companies put fillers and additives into their oils to decrease cost. "Select organic oils from companies that have a good reputation and provide quality control information to its buyers, like gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy reports," she says. Pressimone agrees, adding that you should also look for details like the location the essential oil is harvested from, extraction process, and species of plant (you want it derived from one species, and not a mix of species). Details like these will allow you to determine how pure the oil is. "The purer the oil, the higher the health benefits and potency of therapeutic properties," Pressimone says.

One thing Dunning recommends keeping in mind when choosing an essential oil is that the plant part—root, bark, or leaf used to extract the essential oil—may change its therapeutic application, so you should do your research on safety, dosing, and application. "Just because essential oils are natural [doesn't mean] they can't be harmful to certain people or pets. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing," Dunning says.

Read more about our favorite scents

Read more about our favorite scents

Best Scented Candles | Best Essential Oils For Aromatherapy | Best Essential Oils For Colds | Best Perfumes For Women | Fragrances That Boost Concentration | Best Vanilla Perfumes

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