The Best Essential Oil Diffuser

Updated on 21 February 2023

After 21 hours of research, comparing 32 essential oil diffusers and testing 8 of them, we have determined that the Stadler Jasmine currently offers the best value for money.

This comparison is certified 100% impartial and follows our selection process.

Our choice, Best mid-range

Stadler Jasmine

Rather elegant thanks to its matte plastic soft-touch coating, this diffuser in spray with its refined design is appreciated for its 2 diffusion modes and its ease of use. It is ideal for small spaces.

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Stadler Jasmine

During our tests, we appreciated this diffuser in spray for its ease of use and cleaning. Its pleasant and discreet design is perfectly suited to small rooms. It diffuses your oils either at intervals or continuously, and has a reassuring automatic shutdown. Efficient, simple and practical, it does stop after 10 minutes and restarts 20 minutes later in interval mode. Its 100 ml tank gives it an operating time of about 24 hours and it shuts off automatically when it runs out of water. It is quiet, as we only heard a slight splash of water. However, we do not recommend it for use in a bedroom, as its LEDs are a little too bright. Finally, note that the brand has made it available in 5 different colours (white, brown, red, black, grey).

 

 

Best budget

Air Wick Essential Mist

Ideal for all rooms, this diffuser seduces with its delicately diffused scent, its prolonged use, its three frequency levels but also and especially its affordable price.

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Air Wick Essential Mist

This model diffuses waves of mists with a soft and pleasant smell that may seem minimal, but it is enough not to bother you. During our tests, we found its programming system practical and it was possible to choose between 3 diffusion speeds: 4 seconds of diffusion for 17 minutes of stop, 5 seconds of diffusion for 12 minutes of stop 6 seconds of diffusion for 10 minutes of stop. The diffuser comes with one or more refills, depending on the model chosen, and there are a variety of scents (vanilla, rose, jasmine/peony, melon/vanilla, pineapple/mint…). However, these refills are specific to the brand and leave less freedom than a classic diffuser. On the minimum frequency, a bottle can last up to 45 days. You should also note that after 8 hours, it switches off automatically and restarts by itself the next day (16 hours later). When using it, some testers found the smell a little too chemical and others did not really recognise the advertised fragrance (lemon thyme and rosemary).  

 

Best high-end

Ellia Gather

A real decorative object, this ultrasonic diffuser is equipped with various soft lights, but also with various noises or music to be the perfect ally for meditation and/or relaxation.

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Ellia Gather

This ultrasonic diffuser stands out for its original and elegant design. Made of wood and ceramic (on the outside), it is of high quality. On the other hand, it is a little heavier and imposing, but can easily be used as a decorative object. During our tests, we found it easy to use, especially with its remote control. It can play 6 different music/noises (including wave noises) at 5 different volume levels and has 3 light levels with different colours. We also used it continuously or intermittently (30 seconds – 30 seconds). We noted that, despite stated on the description on Amazon, there are no essential oils in the box. Furthermore, it does not include a timer, forcing you to turn it off yourself or wait until its tank is empty (10 hours for continuous use with a full tank). All this makes its value for money less interesting, especially for a diffuser in spray.

 

High-end alternative

Aroflora Daolia

This nebulizing diffuser impresses with its comprehensive functionalities and its classic and elegant design. Its power variation and adjustable cap ensure customisable operation.

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This model is ideal for larger spaces (up to no less than 100 square metres). Adjustable via a wired remote control (certainly intended to ensure that the design of the device is not affected by the presence of buttons), it can be used on several power levels, to be adjusted according to your needs. It is equipped with a timer that allows you to diffuse in 15-minute cycles (three 15-minute diffusions, with a 30-minute break in between) and an automatic shutdown at the end of the session. Elegant with its wood and glass design, it must be handled with care. Its simplicity of use and its rather discreet operation are also convincing.

 

Our selection

Our choice, Best mid-rangeBest budgetBest high-endHigh-end alternative
Stadler Jasmine Air Wick Essential Mist Ellia Gather Aroflora Daolia
Rather elegant thanks to its matte plastic soft-touch coating, this diffuser in spray with its refined design is appreciated for its 2 diffusion modes and its ease of use. It is ideal for small spaces. Ideal for all rooms, this diffuser seduces with its delicately diffused scent, its prolonged use, its three frequency levels but also and especially its affordable price. A real decorative object, this ultrasonic diffuser is equipped with various soft lights, but also with various noises or music to be the perfect ally for meditation and/or relaxation. This nebulizing diffuser impresses with its comprehensive functionalities and its classic and elegant design. Its power variation and adjustable cap ensure customisable operation.
£ 45.00 on Amazon £ 12.00 on Amazon £ 68.64 on Amazon £ 68.97 on Amazon

 

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How did we do the testing?

To test the essential oil diffusers, we paid attention to the design of each of the models when we unpacked them (aesthetics, material quality, clearly identifiable buttons, length of the wire, etc.). Then, we checked the practicality of their filling (presence of a measuring glass, maximum capacity indicated).

This allowed us to start the actual tests. We checked that all the modes and other functionalities indicated worked well (continuous, intermittent, lights, music, variations of these last two parameters) and we timed the operating time of the intermittent mode. Moreover, we paid particular attention to the height of the mist produced and the noise emitted by each diffuser. Finally, we checked the difficulty of cleaning.

 

How to choose your essential oil diffuser?

Whether you want to benefit from the therapeutic properties of essential oils, purify your home or simply enjoy a pleasantly scented atmosphere, aromatherapy is a great ally for your daily well-being.

Diffuseurs d'huiles essentielles

However, choosing a diffuser that will suit your needs and desires can be quite a challenge, especially if you have never used one before.

First of all, it is important to know that there are different types of diffusers:

  • The nebulizing diffuser: it is the most effective, as it diffuses pure essential oil particles and is suitable for rooms up to 100 square meters. The Venturi air pump system with glassware handles the oils cold, which allows them to retain all the properties and benefits. It is in fact a depression of the air thanks to which the oil goes up by capillarity and comes out in very fine particles thanks to the pressure. It is therefore more comfortable and therapeutic. Nebulizers also use very little essential oil. They are often elegant, but must be used with care, as the glass components can be quite fragile. Moreover, changing oils is easy but inconvenient and time-consuming when it comes to cleaning and maintenance. They are the favourites of aromatherapy specialists.

Diffuseur d'huiles essentielles

  • The ultrasonic diffuser or diffuser in spray: it works by means of a vibrating plate at the base of a water tank, which generates ultrasound and energy that suspends the oils and water. A water mist then diffuses the essential oil particles locally into the air. In addition, the ultrasonic suspension of the water particles gives them an ionised character at a level that can only be found at the foot of a waterfall. It is more effective in creating a scented than in meeting real therapeutic needs. It can therefore be used in smaller or medium-sized rooms. Negative oxygen (ionised) is good for the health and is more absorbed by the skin. Its advantages are that it is silent, less fragile (as it is often made of plastic) and offered at an attractive price. This type of model is particularly recommended for beginners.
  • The gentle heat diffuser: as the name suggests, it gently heats the drops of essential oil on its ceramic coating. The temperature must not exceed 40°C, otherwise the oils may burn and not only lose their properties, but may also become dangerous. You should therefore make sure that the model you select is absolutely reliable. As it is not very safe if you choose the wrong model, we prefer not to recommend it as a precaution.
  • The evaporative diffuser: this type of device works cold and diffuses the essential oils using a fan. The oils are often placed on blotting paper. This type of diffuser is not very powerful and is only effective in very small spaces.

Diffuseur d'huiles essentielles

Note that it is strongly not recommended to use diffusers such as candles or pebbles: they heat the essential oils way too much, thus releasing degraded molecules that should not be inhaled. You should never place your oils near a source of intense heat, and never burn them.

Then, here are some characteristics that may help you make your choice:

  • LED light: the vast majority of diffusers offer a changing LED light. This LED light has up to seven colours, corresponding in this case to the seven chakras. For your comfort, it is best to choose a model that is adjustable, allowing you to use a fixed colour or to switch off the light according to your mood. Some are even equipped with a nightlight mode.

Diffuseur d'huiles essentielles

  • Additional options: your diffuser must first and foremost diffuse the essential oils evenly. The diffusers in spray often contain far too little water to really humidify your home. However, the automatic shutdown function can be very useful: it protects both your device and yourself.
  • Precautions for use: it is advised no to exceed a diffusion time of more than 20 minutes, and not to put the diffuser on while you are sleeping: you can rather diffuse your oils before bedtime if you want to benefit from their fragrance to fall asleep. Do not forget that animals are very sensitive to it, and do not always react well to it: give them the opportunity to leave the room where there is the diffuser.

Diffuseur d'huiles essentielles

  • Essential oils: although essential oils are 100% natural, they are also highly concentrated and should be handled with care. You should also know that all oils are not intended to be diffused: thus, the diffusion of oils rich in phenols, which are very powerful and potentially irritating for the respiratory tract, should be avoided.

 

Other essential oil diffusers we recommend 

Pranarôm Bulle (£61.18 upon publication): a noisy nebulizing model. This is the only classic nebulizing model we tested. It diffused the essential oils in concentrated form, which is very interesting, even for large rooms. However, we found that for its price, it lacked a bit of functionalities as it only includes intermittent operation for 30 or 60 minutes. Moreover, its glass ball is very fragile and it is particularly noisy (making a disturbing buzzing sound).

Beurer LA 40 (£51.52 upon publication): a diffuser in spray with a more qualitative design. The brand specialised in health and beauty appliances offers a rather classic ultrasonic diffuser, except for a more elegant and qualitative design in bamboo and porcelain. It offers a cycle diffusion with timer, an automatic shutdown in case of empty tank, and a colourful ambient light function. It is ideal for diffusion in smaller rooms (up to 20 square meters). However, during our tests, the water in the base was lukewarm after 1 hour of use, which is not so good for keeping all the properties of the essential oils.

 

Other essential oil diffusers we tested  

Amazon Basics ‎EP60121UK-G1-2 (£18.99 upon publication): Unfortunately, this is a model with an English pug, which was not specified by Amazon. We did not test it, but we wanted to warn you anyway.

Puressentiel Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser Clip & Diffuse (£31.21 upon publication): Operating without water and plugging directly into an outlet, this model is easy to install. However, it is not very practical, spraying your hand when you turn it on, having no shutdown timer and diffusing/consuming the essential oil too quickly. 

Pranarôm UGO (£25.20 upon publication): It must also be plugged directly into an outlet. Just like the similar model from Puressentiel, it consumes a lot of oil, has no programmable stop and comes without a bottle (refills to be bought or use one of your 5, 10 or 30 ml bottles).

Medisana Bamboo AD 625 (£69.97 upon publication): This model proved to be very inconvenient to use: its operating button is underneath the appliance (impossible to activate it by simply pressing the cover), the cable plugs in from underneath and unbalances the whole thing if put in wrong, there is no timer, no automatic shutdown…

 

 

Translated by Laura Wautier

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