The Best 5 Essential Oil Diffusers

For an easy way to make your house smell lovely and fragrant, it's a great idea to invest in an essential oil diffuser. Diffusers work by dispersing essential oils into the air, which in turn cleans and purifies the air and positively impacts your mood and health. Essential oils are full of naturally beneficial, healthy ingredients, too; depending on what type of oil you use, you could feel more relaxed and at ease, or more energized. Using a diffuser is easy as pie: You only need a little water and a couple drops of your favorite oil blend to turn your home or office into a spa-like, sweet-smelling paradise. Of course, not all essential oil diffusers are created equal; here, we've rounded up our faves by quality, price, and design.

InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

Elegant design and multi-functionality combined

The InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser is beloved for its stylish design and cutting-edge features.

Best Overall

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Whether we’re talking about the sleek wood-grain exterior, the impressive functionality, or the light color options, the choice is clear: When it comes to oil diffusers, the InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser is the cream of the crop. Conveniently, this beloved diffuser has four different time-output settings, a whisper-quirt function, and seven light colors to choose from, so you can easily customize your experience. Plus, the design is straight-up gorgeous; the InnoGear diffuser will add a pop of style to any shelf or nightstand.

Pros:

Sleek design that goes well with any decor.
Has seven lighting colors and four timer settings.
Holds up to 200ml of water, so it’s not too big or small.

Cons:

It does need to be cleaned from time to time, or oil will build up.

VicTsing Upgraded Mini-Oil Diffuser

Perfect for sleep time

Catch some much-needed shuteye in peace with this super-silent VicTsing diffuser.

Best for Silence

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For those who value their peace and quiet, the VicTsing Upgraded Mini-Oil Diffuser is a must-have. It’s equipped with a uniquely designed, noise-reducing cover, and its water-dripping and running noise can be easily controlled, resulting in near-silent operation. That’s not to say that it isn’t powerful; on the contrary, this VicTsing diffuser produces a steady mist output that reaches 25 to 40 ml/hour. Bedtime never smelled so good.

Pros:

For being such a small device, this diffuser is highly effective; it produces a powerful mist while remaining almost silent, thanks to its ultra-quiet design.
Has eight color lights and easy, one-button operation.

Cons:

Doesn’t last through the entire night.

Vitruvi Stone Diffuser

Go ahead, treat yourself

No, it's not cheap, but this Vitruvi diffuser does everything it's supposed to do, and then some.

Best Splurge

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Who says you can’t have equal parts style and function in the same diffuser? With the Vitruvi Stone Diffuser, you get lovely craftsmanship and high-quality features, all in the same package: a gleaming porcelain shell, 90ml capacity, a very subtle indicator light on the back (so it won’t bother you while you sleep). This diffuser also uses ultrasonic vibrations without heat, so the oils retain their full integrity. Although it doesn’t come cheap, you certainly get what you pay for with the Vitruvi Stone Diffuser.

Pros:

Gorgeous ceramic shell and cool design; seriously, this diffuser more closely resembles a small sculpture or other piece of artwork than an actual diffuser.
Very easy to operate.
Has two different time settings: 3-hour continuous and 7-hour intervals.
Essential oils stay well-preserved, since this diffuser uses ultrasonic vibrations without heat.

Cons:

The price tag, which is quite steep, might not be right for all budgets.

Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser & Essential Oils Set

All your fave oils, in one package

Conveniently, this Pure Daily Care diffuser comes with ten different essential oils for your misting pleasure.

Best Essential Oils Kit

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If you’d prefer to get a curated bundle of essential oils along with your diffuser, look no further than the Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser and Essential Oils set. Not only does this coveted diffuser boast a 300ml capacity, use state-of-the-art wave diffusion technology, and include several ambient light modes with two intensity settings, but it comes with a set of 10 essential plant oils: lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint and more.

Pros:

Wonderful value, since it comes with 10 oils.
Has a bigger-than-normal capacity.
Includes several light modes and timer settings for a fully customizable experience.

Cons:

It’s fairly large, so if you’re looking for a diffuser with a compact design, this probably isn’t it.

BAIESHIJI Essential Oil Diffuser

And the award for coolest design goes to...

Looking more like an adorably chic piece of home decor than an oil diffuser, this BAIESHIJI diffuser is artful and efficient.

Best Design

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Is it a super-cool piece of home decor, a super-efficient essential oil diffuser, or both? The latter answer is the right one: With its intricately patterned metal carving design, the BAIESHIJI Oil Diffuser is chic, chic, chic. It’s also super simple to operate and doesn’t emit a ton of noise, so you can turn it on while you sleep; plus, it has several different light settings.

Pros:

Classy design.
Ultrasonic vibration creates a superfine mist.
Whisper-quiet design, so you can rest easy at night.
Offers seven different light colors.

Cons:

It’s a tad on the heavy side.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does an essential oil diffuser work?

Essential oil diffusers disperse beneficial essential oils into the air, which are then inhaled and absorbed by the body, thereby stimulating the olfactory system in the brain.

What are the benefits of using an essential oil diffuser?

Apart from emitting a pleasant scent, using your diffuser can have a positive aromatherapy impact on your mood and health and promote overall wellness.

Which types of essential oils will work best in my diffuser?

Depending on your mood or the time of day, you can use different types of oils to get different results. For instance, if it’s bedtime, try using a lavender or chamomile blend to help reduce anxiety and calm your mind and body. Peppermint oil is good for headaches and pains, while cypress oil is said to be grounding when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed.