Nobody wants a stinky house. An essential oil diffuser can help disperse fragrance throughout your home, and the internet is full of similar-looking picks at all sorts of price ranges. I dug into a few popular options—like our top pick, the Urpower Aroma ($30)—to try and find diffusers that’ll freshen the air without causing more trouble than they’re worth.
Be sure to check out our related buying guides, including the Best Scented Candles, the Best Bedsheets, and the Best Robot Vacuums.
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How We Tested and What’s Up Next
I tested each diffuser for at least two hours and had the help of friends and family to ascertain how strong a scent was over time. I left the room for a few minutes and walked back in, and I tried every mode and option possible. I have additional diffusers to test from Homedics, Urpower, Seasons, and more. Be on the lookout for results in a future update.
Scent Diffuser Safety and Tips
Scent diffusers primarily work in two different ways: Ultrasonic diffusers mix water and oil into a fine, lightly-scented mist, and nebulizers blow air through oil to produce a more strongly-scented mist. Nebulizers can be louder and tend to cost more, but ultrasonic diffusers require water refills and don‘t produce as strong of a scent.
Some ultrasonic diffusers recommend using distilled water, though tap water is fine. Just be aware that tap water can leave sediment or hard water deposits behind. You should clean your diffuser every three or four uses.
Essential oils can be purchased in blends or single concentrated scents. If you have pets, some essential oils pose risks and can even be poisonous. Essential oils are most dangerous if applied topically to pets—a diffuser used for a short amount of time in a well-ventilated room doesn’t pose as much risk. But it’s important to monitor them and use caution, since sensitivities can vary from pet to pet. This pamphlet has more information on specific oils that can be harmful to cats and dogs. Always consult your vet before proceeding.
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Photograph: Louryn Strampe
The Best Essential Oil Diffuser
Urpower 300ml Aroma Essential Oil (2nd Gen)
Sometimes the simplest product is the best, and that’s the case here. The Urpower Aroma scent diffuser doesn’t have too many bells and whistles, but it works and it works well. There are two buttons on its housing: one to turn on the mist and set a timer (choose between 60, 180, or 360 minutes, or just leave it on), and the other to cycle among seven different colored lights (or turn them off entirely). You fill the little tank with water and add a few drops of your chosen scented oil. The tank holds enough water to run for about six or seven hours, and the diffuser will shut off automatically once the tank is empty.
It puts out quite a bit of steam, which I personally found soothing during the dry winter while I was testing it. The scent strength and longevity depends on how many drops of oil you add to the tank. Note that the lid doesn’t lock onto the tank, so you’ll want to keep it in a stable place away from kids and pets (as you would with any other household tech).
Type Ultrasonic Additional Features Light Oil Type Bring your own Remote? No -
Photograph: Kat Merck
Best for Luxury Scents
Pura Smart Diffuser
I first learned about Pura from a friend whose house always smelled like a high-end boutique under every circumstance. Cooking project, water leak … no matter what was going on in her house at the time, I only ever smelled berries. I have two cats and a multi-sports-playing tween—I knew I needed this. Now, about 14 months into my Pura journey, I have some thoughts.
While most of my time has been with the now discontinued Pura 3, I have also since used the Pura 4 and new large-room Pura Plus, all of which have dual bays for two of Pura’s proprietary oil cartridges. The Pura 3 and 4 both plug into an outlet and can only be controlled through the accompanying app (or Alexa or Google Home). This is convenient for setting schedules and timers, switching fragrances, and changing the color of the optional night-light, but there have also been numerous occasions where I’ve wanted to stop or start or change a schedule but have been unable to because I forgot my password or the diffuser couldn’t connect to Wi-Fi. In the moment, it was infuriating. Mercifully, the stand-alone, cylindrical Pura Plus has manual control buttons on the front. The smaller Pura 4 really is best for enclosed spaces, like a long entryway or a bedroom (note that both only work with 2.4-Ghz Wi-Fi). If you have high ceilings or any kind of open floor plan, you’ll get better results from the Pura Plus. Just note that, unlike the silent Pura 4, the Plus emits an audible whooshing sound that’s actually quite loud—32 decibels, as loud as a fan on low.
Another disappointing feature is the extremely varied quality among cartridge brands. I’ve experienced undetectable scents, chip stickers that arrive detached or register the wrong fragrance (the diffusers automatically scan the chips to show the fragrances in the app), and vial tops so stuck on they required pliers. Given that the cartridges run $11 to $17 for 0.33 ounces, I’m of the opinion this shouldn’t be happening. That said, Pura is known for its clean, upscale oils that are safe for pets and families, and on this it delivers. There’s an extensive selection of seasonal and year-round cartridges from companies like Nest, Anthropologie, and Capri Blue, and I’ve loved all but maybe one of the dozen or so I’ve tried. Because of the small size and price of the cartridges, Pura might not be the best choice if you want to smell diffuser all day, every day, as you’ll end up spending a small fortune. However, if you love unique luxury scents and only need them occasionally and/or on demand, Pura is the way to go. —Kat Merck
Type Nebulizer Additional Features Smart features, night-light Oil Type Proprietary Remote? No
