We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
After a year like 2021, we all need comfort, self-care and calm more than ever before. Which is where essential oil diffusers come in. Much more than just a chic way to make your home smell amazing, diffusers can be a key part of your self-care routine. 'Essential oil diffusers are a necessary part of self-care as they aid the overall practice,' says founder of wellness platform thy.self, Chloe Pierre. 'Used in conjunction with other techniques including massage, meditation and even cleaning, they help to create a safe, cosy and loving environment and are often the final touch in overall ambience and atmosphere.'
How do essential oil diffusers work?
Whether you've gone for a traditional reed diffuser (that absorbs essential oils and releases them into the air), an oil burner or a techy vaporiser, there's a type of diffuser to suit everyone's vibe. 'The essential oil molecules are trapped within the steam which enables the essential oils to circulate into the air filling your space with the aroma of your chosen blend,' explains Jo Kellett, Tisserand Aromatherapy Essential Oils Expert.
What are the benefits of essential oil diffusers?
Aside from smelling great, essential oil diffusers can bring a wealth of other benefits. 'Not only can you reap the benefits of the therapeutic properties of essential oils at home, and the beautiful fragrance, but another great benefit is that diffusers can help with sleep,' says aromatherapist Simone Stevens. 'Diffusing the right oils with relaxing properties can help you fall asleep quicker and sleep more deeply and soundly. Electronic diffusers also have a gentle hum that for some people can be quite soothing. They also often have an auto shut-off feature or timer, so they will switch off once you have fallen asleep.'
Shop The Best Essential Oil Diffusers
Aromatherapy Associates The Atomiser
If minimalism is your chosen aesthetic, look no further than the uber-chic Atomiser from Aromatherapy Associates. Not only does this fill the room with your chosen essential oil aroma within minutes, it doesn't require you to fill it with water every time you want to use it either.
Lovers of aromatic fragrances will fall head over heels for this Black Peppercorn oil diffuser, a warm spicy blend permeated with the freshness of lemon, vetiver and basil. If you've ever wanted Cher's 'Mum, I am a rich man' quote encapsulated into a scent, it's this one.
Coming in at the top of our list for eco-conscious diffusers is Floral Street's Spring Bouquet, housed in a recycled and recyclable diffuser bottle. With notes of rhubarb, bay, and pink cassis, this fresh blend imbues the air with the aroma of a breezy May afternoon.
Feel like you've run the gamut of home fragrances and still not found the one to satiate your olfactory desires? Let us introduce you to possibly the sexiest room diffuser we've ever smelled: Beauty Pie's Pomegranate & Baies Rose Fragrant Reed Diffuser. With an immediate and assertive scent throw of baies rose, spicy cinnamon, clove and cashmere wood, this ruby-hued bottle will transform your room from everyday to expensive.
You probably know by now that aromatherapy can play a role in shifting our moods, so choosing the right scent for your room should be treated with care. For the bedroom, Neom's Perfect Night's Sleep diffuser is, well, perfect for setting the mood for sleep, thanks to an unwinding blend of lavender, sweet basil and jasmine.
Give your living room a rich festive feel with Jo Malone London's Myrrh & Tonka diffuser. The monochrome black bottle and reeds look seriously chic as well.
When it comes to scenting a room it doesn't get swankier than Tom Dixon. More of an art piece than your regular essential oil diffuser, this sculptural nickel vessel really is fit for royalty. Recreate a summer afternoon with the earl grey tea, lemon and mint infused scent.
An art piece in itself, Diptyque's hourglass diffuser may be on the more extravagant end of the diffuser scale, but the fragrance quality is worth the cost. Simply turn the hourglass over to start an hour's worth of green fig leaf scent filling the air.
NEOM's sci-fi style diffuser slowly releases a fine mist of essential oil vapour into the air at the touch of a button. Choose between four NEOM scents and switch them up depending on your mood.
You'd be forgiven for mistaking Bamford's rustic essential oil diffuser for a home accessory available in the swanky spa gift shop. With rustic willow reeds in place of the more generic bleached sticks, this natural diffuser releases notes of wood, budding leaves, patchouli and fir balsam.
Scandi cool kids L:A Bruket know how to make a diffuser look good. Their apothecary style brown glass bottle uses a sustainable vegetable solubiliser to slowly release the scent of cedarwood and nutmeg into your (now very cosy) living room.
One for the interiors minimalists out there, eym.'s diffuser is filled with a grounding blend of essential oils to help soothe and comfort you when you're feeling unsettled. Which, after the year we've all had, feels more necessary than ever.
If Bella Freud did diffusers... Oh wait. This gold ceramic beauty takes the iconic 1970 scent of black musk, patchouli and oak moss and gently releases it via six elegant black reeds.
If a real Christmas tree is out of the question then why not recreate the festive scent with Jo Loves' adorable black and white sphere diffuser? The first diffuser from the famous perfume house, we can't wait to fill each and every room with them once the range inevitably expands.
Winning the award for most beautiful essential oil diffuser is Susanne Kaufmann's Balancing Room Diffuser. Inspired by the original Susanne Kaufmann spa in Austria, this blend of natural essential oils, including ylang-ylang and patchouli, is formulated to relax both your mind and body.
15 Of The Best Beauty Travel Sets For Summer
ELLE Edits: Best LED Face Masks For 2025
The 7 Best Salty Perfumes For Summer And Beyond
Here's Why You Should Probably Join Beauty Pie
