Diffusing essential oils in your home reduces stress and anxiety - but which diffuser is the best?

04 November 2025 9:35am GMT

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It’s believed the first scent diffusers were used by the ancient Greeks, who found that reeds dipped in essential oils would diffuse their scent throughout their homes and temples. Today, the best diffusers still use essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus and rose, which are commonly used in scented candles for their calming or uplifting properties.

There are several types, including fan diffusers and ultrasonic diffusers, which you can read about in the FAQ section at the bottom of this feature, but for this guide I’m going to focus on the three most popular kinds: reed diffusers; electric diffusers; and nebulising diffusers.

I’ve tried and tested 15 of this year’s best diffusers and you can read my full reviews below, as well as advice from a fragrance expert on how to use them. But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five:

The best diffusers: At a glance

• **Best Buy diffuser: **The White Company Electronic Diffuser
• **Best Value diffuser: **Oliver Bonas Essential Oil Electric Aroma Diffuser
• **Best reed diffuser: **Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Diffuser
• Best budget reed diffuser: Stoneglow Seasalt and Oakmoss Diffuser
• **Best reed diffuser for large rooms: **Diptyque Baies Reed Diffuser

How to choose a diffuser

“A good diffuser should have a wide scent throw – the ability to disperse the fragrance across the room evenly,” explains Hayley Forster, fragrance consultant and member of the British Society of Perfumers. Below, she talks us through the pros and cons of the main diffuser types.

• Reed diffusers use rattan, bamboo or paper reeds placed into a bottle containing scented oil. The reeds soak up the oil and disperse the scent into the air. Reed diffusers require no electricity or heat, making them a safe option, but they may not be as effective in larger spaces.
• **Electric **or fan diffusers use the movement of air to disperse essential oils. A pad soaked in oil is placed in the fan’s path so the air blows the scent out. These work well in larger spaces, but the scent can be less concentrated than with other types.
• Nebulising diffusers use an atomiser to create fine, airborne particles of essential oils. They are often considered the most powerful type of diffusers because they can quickly fill a room.

Forster says diffusers should also look good and last a long time between refills. With electric diffusers, noise levels and safety are also important.

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How we test diffusers

Trying and testing diffusers from Rituals, Stoneglow and The White Company

I’ve spent months testing these diffusers in my bedroom, where I was looking for relaxing scents, as well as my kitchen and bathroom, where I was looking for neutralising scents. Some of the brands I selected based on my previous experience with their diffusers, while others I tried at the recommendation of BSP member Hayley Forster.

I scored each diffuser against the same criteria:

• **Scent quality: **I considered the depth of the fragrance, how far it travelled around the room, and how pleasant it was.
• **Ease of upkeep: **I monitored how often I had to refill the water tank or add extra drops of essential oils. I also considered how easy it was to clean the diffuser.
• **Timer settings: **I used all of the settings on each diffuser to push out fragrance over several hours, considering how potent the stream of oil was.
• **Noise levels: **This was especially important when I was testing in my bedroom. A good diffuser should be quiet, if not silent, so as not to disturb you.
• **Value for money: **I assessed the performance of the diffuser against the price, comparing it with other models in a similar price bracket.

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The best diffusers of 2025

1. Best Buy Diffuser: The White Company Electronic Diffuser

**Score: **10/10

**We like: **It couldn’t be easier to use

**We don’t like: **One too many drops gives me a headache

£70

Price at

The White Company

Electric diffusers tend to be an investment to buy, but are cheap to run thereafter. All it takes is water and a few drops of essential oil and you’re away.

This electronic diffuser by The White Company has something of a cult following thanks to its simple ceramic design which could be mistaken for a vase when not in use. It couldn’t be simpler to use. Simply remove the ceramic top to reveal the water tank, which needs filling up to the max line along with a few drops of your choice of essential oil.

The diffuser is whisper-quiet, meaning I’m not disturbed if I have it on while working or sleeping and it diffuses at a rate that means I only need to refill the water every few days.

Even a couple of drops of oil into the water creates a lovely aroma in the room I’m scenting – just be sure to really only add a few drops. The diffuser works so well that I find I get a headache if I use too much fragrance oil. Different fragrances from The White Company have slightly different strengths, so it’s worth playing around with the potency you prefer.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Electric
• **Materials: **Ceramic cover with a plastic water tank
• **Timer settings: **two hours, four hours or eight hours

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2. Best Value Diffuser: Oliver Bonas Essential Oil Electric Aroma Diffuser

**Score: **10/10

**We like: **The colour settings set this diffuser apart

**We don’t like: **The shorter timer settings

£45

Price at

Oliver Bonas

The Oliver Bonas diffuser is a favourite among friends and family who can’t quite justify the outlay of £70 on The White Company diffuser above, but still want the flexibility of timer settings inside a good-looking ceramic ornament.

The Oliver Bonas diffuser comes in a choice of three colours, sage, grey or blue, but I particularly love this sage colour which just goes with everything. The added bonus is the addition of coloured lights at the base, perfect for creating ambience in the evenings, or even as a dim night light. You can choose between six hues.

It’s got excellent longevity and scent throw, which is why I’ve made it our best value for money choice.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Electric
• **Materials: **Ceramic cover with a plastic water tank
• Timer settings: 30 minutes, one hour, two hours or three hours

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3. Best Reed Diffuser: Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Diffuser

**Score: **10/10

**We like: **The warming scent which fills a house

**We don’t like: **You have to keep buying refills

£74

Price at

Selfridges

I had to try Jo Malone’s cult classic Pomegranate Noir. It’s a spicy but fruity fragrance combining red fruits, Casablanca lily and smoky wood. While it’s balanced enough to suit all year round, it’s such a warming scent that I can’t help but think it would be the perfect accompaniment to cosy autumn nights under a blanket.

This Jo Malone diffuser is subtle enough to sit in small rooms but you can still smell it as soon as you open the front door. I’ve gotten so used to the familiar mellow scent that I have a feeling I’ll be buying a replacement when my current one runs out.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Reed
• **Materials: **Glass jar with black rattan reeds
• **Volume: **165ml

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4. Best Budget Reed Diffuser: Stoneglow Seasalt and Oakmoss Diffuser

**Score: **10/10

**We like: **This diffuser is small but mighty, easily filling a whole room

**We don’t like: **The limited volume

£23.99

Price at

Amazon

For £23.99 and only 120ml of liquid, you’d be forgiven for assuming Stoneglow diffusers might struggle to compete with the big perfume houses on this list. In fact, Stoneglow’s diffusers have some of the best scent throw of any I have tested.

I tried the Sea Salt and Oakmoss for this review. It’s a beautifully neutral fragrance, toeing the line between fresh and musky. I’ve received stoneglow diffusers as gifts in the past and always been impressed by the brand. If you prefer a neutral scent over anything floral, you’ll love this.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Reed
• **Materials: **Glass jar with rattan reeds
• **Volume: **120ml

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5. Best Reed Diffuser For Large Rooms: Diptyque Baies Reed Diffuser

**Score: **10/10

**We like: **It comes in a beautiful glass jar which can be reused as a wildflower vase

**We don’t like: **You have to be careful with the glass jar

£75

Price at

Diptyque

Opening this Diptyque diffuser is an experience in itself. Inside the beautifully presented box is a ribbed glass jar, rattan reeds, a 200ml bottle of baies fragrance and a tiny funnel.

The scent is a combination of fresh berries and roses. The oval jar is specially designed to create a prismatic effect, meaning the reeds appear multiplied and the liquid catches the light. In a dreary, rainy winter, this Diptyque fragrance has kept me uplifted. When it needs replacing, you’ll only need to rebuy the refill rather than the whole box.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Reed
• **Materials: **Glass jar with rattan reeds
• **Volume: **200ml

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6. Best Sustainable Reed Diffuser: Pott Candles The Orangery Scent in Speckle Diffuser Pott

**Score: **10/10

**We like: **The citric notes neutralise cooking smells

**We don’t like: **You have to be careful with the ceramic pot

£67

Price at

Pleat

I love Pott’s ceramic candles so I knew I had to try one of their ceramic diffusers, and it didn’t disappoint. I tried Orangery Scent in the Speckle Diffuser Pot, which smells like orange blossom, rosemary and basil with a base of cedarwood, oak moss and woods. It’s subtle enough for anywhere in the house, but I especially love it in the kitchen, where the citric notes neutralise cooking smells. You can also buy the diffuser pot and choose your fragrance from a choice of scents including jasmine, fig, lavender and orangery.

Another option is the monthly subscription (£26), where you either choose your favourite scent, or pick the discovery option to receive a different scent each month. I love the customisable element of Pott Candles, with the ability to choose the colour of the ceramic jar and your own scent. Each pot is handmade meaning they’re all slightly different.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Reed
• **Materials: **Ceramic pot with a beechwood ring and rattan reeds
• **Volume: **150ml

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7. Best Smelling Reed Diffuser: Skandinavisk ØY Scent Diffuser

**Score: **10/10

**We like: **The fact that Skandinavisk deliberately uses words us Brits can’t pronounce adds to the mystique

**We don’t like: **You have to be careful with the glass jar

£49

Price at

John Lewis

Ever since visiting Iceland last year I’ve become obsessed with the Scandi way of life. You may have heard of the Danish word ‘hygge’ which means cosy, comfortable and content - it depicts a much slower pace than living in London. Skandivanisk encapsulates this feeling with its diffusers.

I tried the ØY scent diffuser, which is the Norwegian word for island. The scent is crabapple, dog rose, water moss and green leaves. It’s a very clean scent which reminds me of the beach on a cold day.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Reed
• **Materials: **Glass jar
• **Volume: **200ml

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8. Best Cordless Diffuser: Neom Wellbeing Pod Mini

**Score: **9/10

**We like: **It fits in a car drinks holder

**We don’t like: **It’s slightly noisy

£55

Price at

Boots

Electric diffusers are great, but they can only be placed in certain areas of the house, by a plug. That’s not the case with Neom’s Wellbeing Pod Mini, which uses slightly different technology.

The Neom Wellbeing Pod Mini is a nebulising diffuser meaning it doesn’t require water. Instead of using heat and moisture, it uses pressurised air to release tiny particles at a time. This one is rechargeable via a provided USB lead, but lasts for around 50 hours on its own.

I love that I can grab it and use it in any room of the house and even my car. I’m currently enjoying it at my desk while it releases Neom’s Focus the Mind Essential Oil Blend into the air. It releases scent at 60 second intervals, depending on the intensity setting. Just be aware that it is slightly noisy in use.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Nebulising
• **Materials: **Plastic
• **Timer settings: **Three intensity settings

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9. Best Diffuser To Give As A Present: Acqua di Parma Grazie Room Diffuser

**Score: **9/10

**We like: **The simple yellow jar which brightens up any corner

**We don’t like: **The scent throw isn’t as strong

£88

Price at

Selfridges

Acqua di Parma is all about Italian elegance and simplicity. This is reflected in the simple yellow bottles in which the diffusers are presented, with minimal branding. I tried the Grazie fragrance, which is the Italian word for thank you.

The scent notes are bergamot, rose, ylang-ylang and salt which create a delicate, intriguing, feminine fragrance. The scent throw isn’t as strong as others I’ve tried, instead it adds a subtle aroma to the room. This is definitely one for summer.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Reed
• **Materials: **Glass jar with rattan reeds
• **Volume: **180ml

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10. Best Diffuser That Lasts A Long Time: Molton Brown Orange and Bergamot Aroma Reeds Diffuser

**Score: **9/10

**We like: **The balance between citrus and musk

**We don’t like: **You have to be careful with the glass jar

£40

Price at

John Lewis

Molton Brown diffusers exude timeless elegance with their simple glass jars and ebony reeds. I tried the Orange and Bergamot scent which is made up of orange, neroli and musk.

Its citrus tang is fresh without being too sharp, balanced out by a gentle musk, making it a great scent for all year round. This diffuser lasts for months and the glass jar can be endlessly refilled.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Reed
• **Materials: **Glass jar with rattan reeds
• **Volume: **150ml

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11. Best Calming Diffuser: Cowshed Relax Calming Diffuser

Cowshed: perfect for a sense of country calm if you live in a big city

**Score: **8/10

**We like: **The simple combination of scent notes

**We don’t like: **The scent throw isn’t as strong

£32

Price at

Cowshed

If you’ve ever stepped foot inside a Soho House and wondered what the scent was, I’ll put you out of your misery. It’s the Cowshed Calming scent. For those who haven’t visited, the scent is a blend of eucalyptus and lavender, two essential oils with relaxing associations.

It doesn’t have the most impressive scent throw, but I enjoyed keeping it on my bedside table while testing so I could take in the scent as I fell asleep.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Reed
• **Materials: **Glass jar with rattan reeds
• **Volume: **100ml

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12. Best Diffuser For Summer: Aery Living Fig Leaf Diffuser

Aery Living: lasts for up to four months

**Score: **8/10

**We like: **The fresh, woody smells

**We don’t like: **The scent isn’t particularly strong

£37

Price at

Aery Living

Independent company Aery Living is fast becoming a household name, now they are sold by the likes of John Lewis. This diffuser comes in a matte finished glass jar with a wooden stopper and 100 per cent rattan reeds.

The scent itself is a blend of woody essential oils: fig, orange, coconut, violet leaf, cedarwood, vetiver and amber. This isn’t a particularly intense scent, so it’s probably best suited to smaller rooms or bathrooms, but it adds a gentle freshness wherever it goes.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Reed
• **Materials: **Glass jar with rattan reeds
• **Volume: **200ml

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13. Best Scent Diffuser For Sleep: Rituals Sleep Aroma Diffuser

Rituals: emits the scent of lavender and sandalwood for 10 minutes at a time

**Score: **8/10

**We like: **Comparatively low price for an electric diffuser

**We don’t like: **Only works with Rituals cartridges

£235

Price at

Rituals

Rituals’ Sleep Aroma Diffuser is designed to be switched on just before bed. For 10 minutes, it releases a cloud of lavender and sandalwood, which are sleep-promoting fragrances, to encourage tranquillity.

This is a nebulising diffuser, taking a cartridge inside the base rather than water. I sometimes work in my bedroom, so a reed diffuser designed for sleep is no good during the day. I like that you only have to smell this one just before nodding off. It’s also silent, meaning I’m not distracted as I fall asleep. The only downside is that it only works with the specific Rituals cartridges.

This model is currently out of stock, but you can browse other Rituals diffusers.

Key specifications

• **Type: **Nebulising
• **Materials: **Plastic
• Timer settings: On/off button

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Diffuser FAQs