Best Essential Oil Diffusers for 2024

There are literally hundreds of types of aromatherapy diffusers to choose from, ranging in price from $10 to over $100. Before you buy, consider these factors when selecting the best essential oil diffuser.

Reservoir capacity: Diffuser water capacity can range from 100 milliliters (3.4 fluid ounces) to over 1 liter (33.8 ounces) of water, but the average water reservoir holds about 300 ml. You may want a larger water reservoir capacity if you don’t want to be bothered with refilling the water as often, or if you want your diffuser to work for a long time in a large space.

Duration and timers: Do you want your aromatherapy oil diffuser to be able to set to 1, 3, or 5 hours? Do you want a continuous use option for aroma and scented mist? How long should it run? These are all important questions to consider when purchasing a diffuser.

Automatic shutdown: Even if you’re not normally a forgetful person, it’s a smart move to choose a diffuser with an automatic shut-off feature. If you forget to turn off your diffuser when it’s low on water, it could overheat and break.

Area coverage: For small spaces, like a bedroom, bathroom, nursery, or small yoga studio, you don’t need to worry too much about the square footage your diffuser covers. If you’re planning on using it in an open space or large room, look for diffusers with a large square footage range.

Relief: Many diffusers offer ambient LED lighting or act as night lights. This is a personal preference, so if you don’t want a light, make sure the aromatherapy diffuser you’re looking to buy doesn’t have one or has one that you can easily turn off.

Mist settings: Do you want a continuous, cool mist that burns for hours to diffuse drops of essential oil, or an intermittent mist?

Intensity: For a stronger scent, look into nebulizers. A nebulizer is a device that vaporizes the oil droplets without using heat, before pumping the scent into the air in a fine mist. These tend to be more expensive than standard nebulizers, but may be worth it if you find standard models aren’t as effective.

Humidity: Many essential oil diffusers also double as a cool mist humidifier. This can be a great two-in-one option if you live in a dry climate.