The best aromatherapy diffusers

Turning on an aroma diffuser at the end of the day is a great way to create a calming ritual, bringing a bit of peace into the home at a time when we need it the most.

You might have used an oil burner with a candle in the past to make your room smell nice and to feel the benefits of essential oils, but this is the next step.

Aromatherapy diffusers work with ultrasonic systems to turn the water into a fine mist and spread the scent of essential oil around the room.

We've hunted online and reviewed the best aromatherapy diffusers, as well as included a guide to which essential oils to buy to create the soothing serenity you need in your home.

The best aromatherapy diffusers

This aroma diffuser is, simply put, beautiful. We love the ceramic ridged texture finish that'll effortlessly fit in with your home décor and comes in colours grey, natural, and sage. The six different mood lights are subtle and relaxing to create the ambience you need. It has four different time settings; pick between 30 minutes, an hour, two hours or three, depending on what suits you.

This diffuser is soothing and contemporary with rave reviews but does come with a bit of a price tag.

Another diffuser that could pass as an ornament rather than a functioning mister. It’s really easy to control, as it has a remote, to control the mist, colour, and also the music. It’s sturdy and easy to use, simple to refill, and attractive.

There are two mist options; continuous, which will run for six hours; or intermittent (30 seconds on, 30 seconds off) that will run for 12 hours. The light can rotate between colours, or stick with just one colour, or just have the mist with no light; you can have high or low brightness, too. There are several relaxing musical tracks to listen too, easily skipping between songs with the remote control.

An expensive choice, this diffuser really makes your room feel like a spa lounge. It’s made from pure white ceramic, and pale wood, looking graceful in the corner of your living room or bedroom.

Another controlled by remote, meaning it’s easy to use, and you can run it for about 10 hours continuously. Due to the cost, this is one that you will have to love the look of to invest in, as you can get the same benefits from a diffuser half the price.

A small and simple diffuser, with one button for the light (on or off) and one button for mist. No complicated controls here. It’s small, light, and easy to use - ideal for at home as an unobtrusive diffuser, or even a great option if you’re travelling and want to take a piece of relaxation with you. You can choose continuous mist, or 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off.

This is a straightforward and reliable diffuser, not necessarily the best-looking on test, but it does the job well. The only negative is the loud beep when turning it on or off.

The NEOM Wellbeing Pod Essential Oil Diffuser is one of the most renowned aromatherapy diffusers, though it does come with a higher price tag as a result. The stylish Wellbeing Pod can help you achieve better sleep and less stress with just a push of a button and comes equipped with low energy LED lights and a night light making it perfect for both day and night. The timer has settings for continuous, one, two, and three hours so you can humidify the air around you for just as long as you desire.

NEOM recommends using only their Essential Oil Blends in the Wellbeing Pod as these contain 100 per cent natural ingredients, but luckily they have vast, high-quality range to choose from.

With a slim, sleek design, this is little diffuser is ideal for the office, travelling, at home, or wherever you want to enjoy your favourite fragrance on the go – it’s powered by USB and will give a boost of fragrance and serenity for up to four hours. It's super easy to operate; simply twist the lid to fill and go, and the one button operation gives you the option to add an ambient light halo as it diffuses.

Having tried and tested this one ourselves, we found that it completely lived up to expectations with the soothing aroma instantly scenting the room, despite its more compact size. As it is USB charged, it will only last up to the four-hour mark so you need to make sure to charge ahead of time. However, it's perfect for travelling with so you can feel relaxed wherever you may be.

A stunning diffuser, that doesn’t look like a diffuser – you could be fooled into thinking it’s just a fancy lamp (John Lewis do sell very similar lamps!).

You can cycle through seven colours or keep it on just one; and choose continuous or intermittent mist.

We like this as it looks so great, and even if you don't use it as a diffuser, it's still stunning to look at.

The diffuser looks great and is super easy to use. Simply fill the tank up with 200ml water, add in your favourite oil (we used Tisserand's Sleep Better Diffuser Oil) and you’re good to go. It has three light settings and a range of cool, relaxing colours, as well as two, four and eight hour running times.

It’s easy to control with the simple 'mist' and 'light' buttons on the front, although as it’s so lightweight, it does need to be held when you do this or you might end up pushing it off the surface. If it runs out of water, it automatically shuts off and the plastic components are made from BPA-free plastic.

Completely unique with an arty glass cover, this elegant diffuser could easily pass as an ornament on your shelf, which makes what it can do even more surprising. As well as working as an aromatherapy diffuser with four time settings and 120ml water capacity, it has a choice of seven soothing LED lights that can double as a night light and is whisper quiet - perfect for the bedroom.

We think this would make a great gift for friends or family to help them destress and relax.

Being a cube diffuser already looks futuristic, and we haven't yet touched on the features! This essential oil diffuser can be perfectly controlled via the Tuya Smart app, and is even compatible with Amazon Echo so it can operated with Alexa - hands-free and even more relaxing. You can adjust the light settings, time settings, mist density, and even schedule it to come on at set times.

With a large 700ml capacity, this is a top pick for larger living spaces with up to 16 hours of run time.

Want to recreate the spa experience at home? Then look no further than the Textured Ceramic Electronic Diffuser from The White Company. The diffuser boasts an aesthetic like none other we've seen on the market. We adore the ceramic body, which features a pretty herringbone design and white base.

The home must-have comes with three settings: two hours, eight hours, or 16 hours. Whatever fragrance you choose, this will look and smell amazing.

Which essential oils should you use?

Choosing an essential oil to use in your new aroma diffuser really depends on your mood. Here are some of the most popular essential oils:

Lavender: Calming, relaxing

Peppermint: Uplifting, invigorating

Eucalyptus: Clarifying (often used if you have a cold or blocked nose)

Tea Tree: Cleansing

Grapefruit: Uplifting, refreshing

Sweet Orange: Balancing, freshening

Patchouli: Grounding, relaxing

Bergamot: Energising, purifying

Lemongrass: Cleansing, uplifting

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