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If you’ve already blown your candle budget for the year, essential oil diffusers are a fantastic (and fresh) alternative.

Not only does a diffuser elevate the vibe of a room, but sniffing essential oils can do all sorts of good things for your health — like improve your mood, relieve headaches, and help you focus. But with a million diffusers to choose from, picking the right one can be tricky.

Don’t worry! We have you and your nose covered. Here are the best essential oil diffusers to make your whole place smell great.

Diffusers work way better than essential oils alone — they disperse an oil’s scent molecules throughout the air. That means you’ll get a concentrated aroma that can fill a room without being overpowering.

There are two main types of essential oil diffusers: nebulizers, which disperse tiny essential oil droplets directly into the air for a super potent scent, and ultrasonic or cool mist diffusers, which send scent droplets into the air via water vapor.

Not sure which is best for you? It just depends on the features you want.

Here are some things to look out for:

  • humidifier component
  • concentrated scent
  • filter type
  • heat
  • lights

We focused on nebulizers and cool mist diffusers since they’re the most popular types. We also included models that boast cool features for any budget 😎. And of course, we picked only products that have excellent customer reviews.

Pricing guide

You can find plenty of fab essential oil diffusers for under $40.

Here’s a pricing guide to help you make the best choice:

  • $ = under $20
  • $$ = $20–$40
  • $$$ = $41–$75
  • $$$$ = over $75

FYI: Nebulizers tend to be on the pricier side.

Best overall diffuser

Price: $$$$

If you’re all about intense scents and luxury, here’s a diffuser for you. This top-notch nebulizer pump delivers pure, ultraconcentrated aromas.

It cycles on and off continuously for 2 hours (and shuts off automatically). We also love the rainbow LED effect 🌈.

Cons: You have to turn off the light manually.

Best budget nebulizing diffuser

Price: $$

This affordable nebulizer gives off a concentrated aroma for up to 3 hours. It also has a killer fog feature and LED lighting.

Cons: Some users complain that it’s not super durable, so it might not be the best investment.

Best ultrasonic diffuser

Price: $$

This model delivers scents for up to 12 hours (wow!) with an optional misting feature. It also has multiple timer options and an auto shutoff. Plus, it can be used as just a humidifier if you want to opt out of scents sometimes.

Cons: It beeps when it turns off, which can kill the relax sesh.

Best budget ultrasonic diffuser

Price: $$

This model has many of the same features as its slightly more expensive big sister. But it’s designed for smaller spaces and runs for less time — 3 to 4 hours continuously or 6 hours intermittently. It’s also a breeze to clean.

Cons: Some folks said it fizzled out after long-term use.

Best ultraquiet diffuser

Price: $

This mist diffuser can run nonstop for 3 to 4 hours or on and off for up to 8 hours. It also has an automatic shutoff and eight LED lights to chose from. But the best feature? It barely makes a peep.

Cons: Theindicator light always stays on, even when you turn the LED light function off.

Best smart diffuser

Price: $$

This ultrasonic diffuser comes with an app so you can control the mist, timer, and lighting features right from your phone. And since the tank holds 500 milliliters, it can run for up to 16 hours.

Cons: It can sync up with Alexa, but only for turning the machine on or off.

Best candle diffuser

Price: $

This low tech option uses a tiny candle instead of electricity to diffuse your essential oil. It’s simple to use and pretty to look at, and it’ll give you all the hygge feels.

Cons: You have to keep an eye on this thing, since you’re dealing with an actual flame 🔥.

Best fan diffuser

Price: $$

Fan diffusers circulate essential oil droplets through the air, producing a gentler, less concentrated aroma. This little buddy is small enough to fit on your nightstand, and you don’t need to plug it in.

Cons: It’s not the best if you want an intense scent.

Best portable diffuser

Price: $

Talk about small but mighty! This rechargeable wooden cube fits right in the palm of your hand and delivers a powerful scent. Just add two or three drops of essential oil to the included scent pad, turn it on, and take a whiff.

It’s perfect for your desk, your car dashboard, or even a closet.

Cons: It comes with eight scent pads, but you’ll need to replace them.

Best electric oil warmer diffuser

Price: $

This oil warmer works sorta like a candle diffuser, but it relies on electricity, which gives you a longer-lasting heat source and scent. In addition to oils, you can use scented waxes in this one.

Cons: There’s no auto shutoff.

Best nonelectric ceramic diffuser

Price: $

This baby diffuses without heat or electricity. It’s a great choice if other diffusers might not be super safe, like if you have curious kiddos or pets. We also love the low-key vibe.

Cons: It won’t give you a strong scent or mist like heated or electric diffusers.

Least likely to get gunky

Price: $$

Keeping some diffusers fresh AF can be annoying — not so with this guy! The water reservoir is treated with Silver Clean Protection, which fights mold and bacteria growth.

Cons: Some users complain that it leaks.

Diffuser that’s a minimalist’s dream

Price: $$$$

If you’re not a fan of plastic, LED lights, or hippie-dippie-looking pipes, this simple ultrasonic diffuser is the one for you. The calming matte stone comes in white, terra cotta, charcoal, and black. It’s so sleek you’ll barely notice it.

Cons: A few reviewers have noted that it died after long-term use.

Prettiest diffuser

Price: $$$

This ultrasonic diffuser is on the nicer-to-look-at side. It also has some sweet eye-catching details. Turn on the LED light for a stellar star pattern all over the room.

Cons: It’ll run for 2 hours max before it shuts off.

Diffuser-white noise combo

Price: $$

True serenity sometimes means blocking out your housemates. This cool mist humidifier comes with six soothing sounds so you can legit escape into your own world… at least for a little while.

Cons: Some of the LED light colors are very bright, so this might not be the best pick if you want to run it at night.

Best necklace diffuser

Price: $$

Necklace diffusers are totes a cool idea, but most don’t actually look cool. This design is a rare exception. It comes in classic colors like pale yellow, salmon, blue, and black. Just add a drop or two of oil to the stone and the scent will last up to 2 days.

Cons: The scent is pretty subtle.

Best bracelet diffuser

Price: $

This jewelry pick has the same concept as the necklace but in bracelet form. No one would ever know it’s an essential oil diffuser by looking at it, which is kinda the point.

Cons: As with the necklace, the scent isn’t hella strong.

Whether you’re looking for a high tech option or something simple, this list will help you find the best oil diffuser for every smelly need. It might take some browsing, but you’ll def find the diffuser of your nose’s dreams 👃.