We Put Popular Essential Oil Diffusers to the Test—These Are the Best (2024)

Our Top Picks

After testing dozens of the top essential oil diffusers on the market, we can’t recommend the Asakuki 500ml Premium Essential Oil Diffuser enough. With a 500 ml tank, this has the largest water capacity of any of the options on this list, meaning you won’t have to worry about refilling it as often. In our testing, we have only needed to refill the unit every one to two days, which is typical for a larger water tank and high output. This diffuser is fairly compact, making it a great option no matter the space.

This small but mighty diffuser produced a noticeable aroma in the room we placed it in, but we found that it didn’t necessarily permeate throughout the rest of our home. The mist output itself is generous, even on the lower setting. The performance is noiseless regardless of the setting, and we were able to sleep with it running in the same room with no issues.

It has multiple modes, including intermittent and continuous settings, multiple mist intensities, and an automatic shutoff. We loved how adjustable the diffuser is, as we were able to easily switch the different modes to fit our needs.

What’s more, you can control these settings either by pressing the buttons on the diffuser or using the included remote control. We found the operation to be exceptionally intuitive and straightforward. The diffuser also comes with built-in mood lighting, with seven different colors that we enjoyed using as a nightlight.

Filling the tank was also exceptionally simple, and we appreciate that it automatically shuts off when it runs out of water. Just note the water tank is integrated into the unit and not detachable, so you’ll want to fill it using the supplied cup.

After using this diffuser for six months at home, we love how it’s very easy to maintain, as we’ve noticed no musty odors and not much scale buildup over time. We’ve cleaned this product in the sink without much effort, as any scale buildup was removed with a brush.

While this product is marketed as a two-in-one humidifier and diffuser, we found it doesn’t have much of an impact on the overall humidity in our home, so we wouldn’t recommend purchasing it for that reason alone. That being said, it has improved our daily routine and is especially effective in all other aspects of its performance.

_{Type: Ultrasonic | Material: Polypropylene | Size: 6 x 6 x 5 inches | Capacity: 500 mL | Power: Corded electric | Automatic Shutoff: Yes}

If you're skeptical about enjoying an essential oil diffuser, we recommend the Homeweeks Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser, which is the least expensive design on our list, but still a powerhouse for soothing aromas. It’s small enough to keep on your desk, yet effective enough to use in a larger room. We love the sleek aesthetic of the diffuser, which features a faux wood base (available in four colors) and a white, light-up body.

Using the diffuser was straightforward and quick—simply take the top off and add the water and essential oils. We found this diffuser to be highly effective, as the scent permeated through multiple rooms and would linger even after the diffuser stopped running. Additionally, we appreciated how silent the operation was during our tests.

In terms of mist settings, you can either choose an intermittent mist, which lasts around six hours, or continuous mist, which lasts around three hours. The diffuser also offers seven colorful lights with adjustable brightness, which can act as a nightlight and can help add to a room's overall ambiance. You can choose to automatically cycle the colors or program one at a time. The diffuser has just two buttons, one to control the light settings and one to control the mist.

This diffuser works just as well as it did when it first arrived, even after six months of continuous use. We have no complaints, as it’s still highly effective, easy to use, and compact. Cleaning the diffuser was also easy, as we just wiped the unit with a damp cloth and a bit of soap.

_{Type: Ultrasonic | Material: Polypropylene, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene | Size: 6.61 x 4.72 x 4.72 inches | Capacity: 100 mL | Power: Corded electric | Automatic Shutoff: Yes}

Convenient, effective, and versatile, the Canopy Diffuser is well worth the splurge. The minimalist design looks sleek and matches most decor styles, while its small size requires minimal space on any surface. We love that this evaporative model is waterless, which we found to be very convenient. While the operation is not necessarily quiet, we found it sounds like a light fan and almost doubles as a subtle noise machine.

This unique model offers two different diffusion methods: a diffusion well and an aroma puck. The aroma puck, which allows you to switch scents more easily in the short term, offers a milder scent. This scent was more subtle but permeated throughout the room. The diffusion well delivers a much more potent scent than others we’ve tried, making it ideal for those who want the essential oil aroma to permeate larger spaces.

Using the aroma puck proved very simple; you simply place the puck on the grate, drop two to five drops of oil onto the puck, and turn the fan on. To use the diffusion well, we detached the top of the unit, placed the essential oil bottle upside down in the well, put the top back on, and turned the fan on. Both processes were quick and effortless.

While we’ve found certain ultrasonic diffusers difficult to clean, we love that this waterless diffuser doesn’t hold bacteria or mold in hard-to-reach areas. It requires virtually no maintenance other than the occasional wipe down, too.

This model does not come with an automatic shutoff feature. However, this didn’t bother us during our tests, especially when using the diffusion well since we preferred to keep it running over long periods. Our only complaint is it’s recommended to replace both the well and pucks regularly, which adds to the overall cost.

_{Type: Evaporative | Material: Not listed | Size: 4 x 4 x 4.2 inches | Capacity: Not applicable | Power: Corded electric | Automatic Shutoff: No}

If you’re tight on space, consider the Better Homes & Gardens 3 Piece Diffuser Set. (Better Homes & Gardens is owned by The Spruce's parent company, Dotdash Meredith.) We love the small, unique style of this essential oil diffuser, which features a cylindrical cover with a decorative design. We found it looked great in any space and is less conspicuous than other options on this list.

This diffuser holds 100 mL of water, and we found it was able to run continuously for around three hours on average, automatically shutting off when there was no more water. Larger diffusers will last longer, but we were pleasantly surprised by just how far the scent permeated considering its size. When we placed the diffuser in the living room, we could smell it in the kitchen and dining rooms as well.

This diffuser features an exceptionally simple operation, with two marked buttons located on the base: one for power and the other for ambient light. While we found the operation was relatively noiseless, we noticed a slight hum and water trickle sound. That being said, we found the sound to be quite relaxing.

It’s also very easy to maintain and doesn’t get dirty very quickly compared to the larger models we’ve tried. Additionally, we found that cleaning the diffuser was very easy because of its size, and we used a microfiber cloth to wipe down the inside after each use.

When it was time for a deeper cleaning, we just removed the detachable water reservoir and cleaned it in the sink with a small brush.While this diffuser may not come with as many bells and whistles as other options on our list, we’re pleased with how well it has worked over the span of six months, especially given its compact size and reasonable price point.

_{Type: Ultrasonic | Material: Not listed | Size: 5.75 x 5.75 x 6.88 inches | Capacity: 100 mL | Power: Corded electric | Automatic Shutoff: Yes}

Boasting a truly intuitive design, we love the InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser. Because the stream diffuses from the side of the lid rather than its center, we love that you can aim the stream toward you, which is especially helpful at night to better direct the scent across your pillow.

While the diffuser wouldn’t be classified as portable, it is lightweight and easy to move around; we’ve transported it from the bedroom to the bathroom to use instead of candles or air fresheners when we had guests.

We still love this diffuser after six months of daily use, as it has maintained its effective and quiet operation over time. We’ve cleaned it around once a week, which has been super easy. We wipe it regularly, run the unit under hot water, and brush it out when needed.

While we found the diffuser’s performance to be effective, the aroma is a bit more subtle than some other options we tested. We found this may not be suitable for larger spaces, as the scent does not carry very far. However, the scent permeated quite nicely in smaller rooms and we were satisfied with the amount of aroma that was produced.

In terms of features, you have the option of programming either intermittent or continuous mist modes, and the diffuser will shut off automatically when the water runs out. The continuous mist mode lasted as long as five hours before stopping.

Using the two buttons on the base of the unit, you can also control the light and mist settings independently. There are eight light colors, which are adjustable in brightness and can either be rotated or fixed.

_{Type: Ultrasonic | Material: Polypropylene | Size: 3.9 x 5.5 inches | Capacity: 100 mL | Power: Corded electric | Automatic Shutoff: Yes}

If you prefer the fragrance of your essential oils to extend throughout a larger area, consider the Organic Aromas 2.0 Nebulizing Diffuser. This waterless oil diffuser is great for those looking for a more potent, concentrated aroma since the essential oils are not diluted as they typically would be with ultrasonic models.

To use, simply open the glass lid, drop the essential oils into the diffuser, and turn the knob. The diffuser comes with a light switch as well as a dimmer switch, which controls the scent level. This diffuser comes with a pre-programmed usage cycle, which will run for two hours intermittently (two minutes on, one minute off) before automatically turning off. The device offers color settings that can change periodically or stay one color.

This diffuser is highly effective and fills up an entire apartment over its two-hour cycle. While it’s suitable for larger spaces, we appreciate that it offers an adjustable output in case you prefer a more subtle scent or plan to use it in a smaller space.

We’ve used this diffuser continuously for six months, and it continues to impress. The flask and the lid are removable which makes the device easy to quickly wash, dry, and use again. Because of the small opening, you can’t physically scrub the inside of the device, but you can rinse it out.

Additionally, despite some concerns about not having a continuous output mode, we’re happy with the intermittent usage cycle, which allows the scents to cascade across the apartment in comfortable doses. However, you won’t be able to leave this diffuser on overnight because of the two-hour automatic shutoff.

_{Type: Nebulizer | Material: Hardwood, glass | Size: 4 x 9 inches | Capacity: Not applicable | Power: Corded electric | Automatic Shutoff: Yes}

Final Verdict