Ultimate Essential Oil Diffuser Buyers Guide

Essential Oil Diffuser

For those new to aromatherapy, or those looking to understand the difference between diffusers and nebulizers, in this article we’ll answer the question ‘what is a diffuser for essential oils’, take a look at the different types of diffusers and explain step-by-step how to use an essential oil diffuser.

An essential oil diffuser, or EO diffuser, disperses essential oils into the air of a surrounding area. The particles emitting from the diffuser help create a fragrant aroma for any room or space.

Essential oil diffusers are commonly used in large living spaces, cars, bedrooms and for aromatherapy.

As mentioned, there are several types of essential oil diffusers to choose from. To determine the best essential oil diffuser for you, consider factors such as your profession, living space, personal taste and lifestyle.

For example, if you’re a massage therapist or your profession involves aromatherapy, you’ll likely want a high-grade diffuser compared to someone who just wants to diffuse fragrances occasionally at home.

While some people enjoy the look of a wood aroma oil diffuser, others may prefer the appearance of a glass. Not all of them work the same however, and which one you choose should be based on your needs and desires.

For those interested in purchasing a diffuser, we’ve also compiled a list of the best essential oil diffuser in each category. For more details on the different types of diffusers for essential oils, keep reading below.

Ultrasonic Diffuser

An ultrasonic diffuser for essential oils uses water and essential oils for a mist that dispenses into the air. This is a common large room essential oil diffuser, as it delivers the essential oil into the air and disperses freely into the living space.

An ultrasonic diffuser uses water and essential oils to disperse fragrance throughout a room. Some are equipped with timer settings and LED light options.

Ultrasonics also act as a cool mist essential oil diffuser. Since water is used to disperse the aroma, the fragrance of the essential oil is less concentrated compared to a nebulizing diffuser.

However, depending on how many drops of essential oil you add to the ultrasonic essential oil diffuser, the mist can have a subtle or more pronounced smell throughout the room.

Ultrasonics also work as an essential oil diffuser humidifier which can be beneficial for the dry winter months. It may also prove helpful for those who have seasonal allergies.

Generally, essential oil ultrasonic diffusers do require more maintenance because of the water they use. Cleaning is relatively quick and easy, with water and vinegar usually needed to clean the basin.

Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser

A nebulizer essential oil diffuser is a diffuser that doesn’t need water or heat to dispense the essential oils. Instead, an atomizer for essential oils dispenses them into the air.

This creates a stronger concentration and fragrance, which is great for aromatherapy. An essential oil diffuser nebulizer can also work well when someone is sick and needs a smaller space to heal.

As nebulizing diffusers often feature a glass dome or aerator, they may also be referred to as a glass essential oil diffuser. The cost for this diffuser is typically higher than an ultrasonic, but is well worth it for those interested in the therapeutic side of aromatherapy.

USB Diffuser

A USB essential oil diffuser is a great, portable way to carry the benefits of essential oils with you wherever you go. It also tends to be a cheap essential oil diffuser compared to the nebulizer and ultrasonics.

There are generally two styles of USB diffusers available. The first, operate like ‘mini ultrasonics’ and emit a steady stream of mist to maintain a constant aroma. The second style will dispense the essential oil and mist intermittently, which may be a suitable option for those who want to add a subtle fragrance.

To use a USB diffuser, simply fill the diffuser’s bottle with an essential oil. Then plug the USB diffuser into any USB port. As an electric essential oil diffuser, it’s important to always fill the product when it’s unplugged.

Car Diffuser

For a refreshing aroma on the road, use a car essential oil diffuser to freshen up your vehicle. This portable essential oil diffuser is plugged into the power outlet of your car and dispenses the oil into the air.

Essential oil diffusers for cars are much smaller than an ultrasonic or nebulizer, but generally bigger than a USB diffuser.

Car essential oil diffusers are also a great alternative to other air fresheners, which may contain harmful chemicals or artificial fragrances. Depending on the type of essential oil car diffuser, you may need to use water or small pads to dispense the essential oil.

Portable Essential Oil Diffuser

For those who want to take the pleasant aroma of essential oils around with them, there are a number of battery operated devices, as well as essential oil diffuser necklaces and jewelry options. Small essential oil diffusers offer a great, natural alternative to expensive perfumes and air fresheners that are filled with synthetic substances.

When traveling on long road trips, battery operated diffusers paired with calming essential oils make a great option for those who may get anxious.

Other Types of Diffusers

Beyond electric essential oil diffusers, there are many other types that can be used to disperse essential oils. One of the most popular is a ceramic essential oil diffuser, which features a ceramic dome to reduce possible corrosion and enhance the longevity of the diffuser.

As one of the most affordable options, it uses a tea light to heat up water and the essential oil of your choice. While the scent doesn’t travel as far as other as with other diffusers, the candle light does create ambiance for the room you’re in.

As they do use an open flame, users should always stay in the room to observe the water line. If too much of the water dissipates, it can create smoke and quickly become a fire hazard.

How to Diffuse Essential Oils

To use an essential oil or aromatherapy oil diffuser, open the lid of the diffuser and pour room temperature water into the basin. Depending on the instructions of your specific diffuser, you will want to use clean or filtered water. Fill the basin until the water mark, making sure to not over pour.

Next, add the essential oils to the basin. Put the lid on and plug the electrical cord into the outlet. Push the on or power button to start the diffuser. You’ll likely start to see puffs of mist and notice the smell of the essential oil when the diffuser is working.

How Does an Essential Oil Diffuser Work?

Essential oil diffusers work by breaking down and dispersing small particles of the essential oils into the surrounding air. This creates an ultralight mist that maintains the essential oil’s properties.

Using an essential oil diffuser with timer settings will automatically start and stop the misting process and help maintain a consistent aroma.

How Many Drops of Essential Oil in a Diffuser?

Generally, 10 drops of an essential oil in a diffuser is enough to smell the fragrance. This is the case no matter what kind of essential oil is used. However, you can experiment with more or less to see what’s best for you.

Benefits of Essential Oil Diffuser

Essential oil diffusers help keep your home, office or personal space smelling great without the chemicals or carcinogenic compounds found in many commercial air fresheners. Some essential oil diffusers also act as humidifiers, adding moisture to the air.

Many also help purify the air by removing dust and other fine particles. Using essential oils diffusers is a great way to quickly and easily reap the benefits of each unique essential oil’s properties.

Some essential oils even contain natural decongestant and allergen-reducing properties that can help users breathe clearly.

How to Clean Essential Oil Diffuser

Another one of the benefits of an essential oil diffuser is that they’re easy to clean. Generally, you’ll want to fill your diffuser halfway with clean water and add several drops of white vinegar.

After adding the white vinegar, allow the essential oil diffuser to run for at least five minutes to ensure it’s clean. Then, rinse out the water and vinegar mixture. Make sure the diffuser is dry before using it again.

Homemade Essential Oil Diffuser

For those who are new to aromatherapy and wondering how to diffuse essential oils without a diffuser, there are several DIY essential oil diffuser options that you can easily make at home.

One of the most popular methods is creating a homemade essential oil reed diffuser that will help keep your home smelling great.

To make your own DIY essential oil reed diffuser, you’ll first need:

•  5-10 reed diffuser or bamboo sticks
•  A small glass container
•  ¼ carrier oil (fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil or sunflower oil)
•  20-35 Drops of Essential Oils
•  1 Tbsp. of Rubbing Alcohol or Vodka

Simply combine the carrier oil, desired essential oils and rubbing alcohol in a small bowl. Stir to mix the oils and pour into your glass container. Insert the sticks for an hour or two, then flip so the saturated end is now pointing upwards. Every week or so flip the sticks until the scent dissipates.

It’s good to note that essential oil reed diffusers are a great electric alternative and good for creating a subtle aroma. However, reed diffusers won’t carry as strong as a scent as diffusing essential oils in ultrasonic or nebulizing diffuser.

Best Essential Oil Diffusers Money Can Buy

Diffusion is an easy way to enjoy the aroma and unique benefits of each essential oil. Nowadays, essential oil diffusers have become an increasingly popular way to enjoy essential oils and are now frequently used in office spaces, yoga studios and other public spaces. But with so many different oil diffusers available, determining the best can be an overwhelming task.

Here at Essential Oil Experts, we’ve taken the time to develop a guide to essential oil diffusers along with an in-depth look at how to create your own essential oil recipes.

In this article, we’ve gone one step further and evaluated a number of essential oil diffusers to determine the best oil diffuser products for a wide range of user needs. From small, portable oil diffusers to beautiful wood essential oil diffuser products, discover the best aromatherapy diffusers for every lifestyle.

What Kind of Diffuser Should I Buy?

To help decide what is the best diffuser for you, consider factors such as where you’d like to use the diffuser, for how long, your desired price point and any other needs that come to mind.

As far as comparing, electric essential oil diffuser models are popular because there’s little maintenance, but may restricted in the places they can be used. As they use heat to disperse the vapor, there may also be a risk of changing the chemistry of the essential oil.

For those looking to use an essential oil diffuser professionally, ultrasonic diffusers use no heat and can also be used as a humidifier. They do require regular maintenance, and generally start at a higher price point. The choice simply depends on your needs and wants.

Essential Oil Diffuser Reviews

With thousands of different aromatherapy diffusers available today, it can be difficult to determine which is the best essential oil diffuser in each category. To help essential oil users, we’ve developed a comprehensive ranking system to review and determine the best oil diffuser products in various categories such as nebulizing diffusers, ultrasonic, home diffusers and more. Our aromatherapy diffuser reviews are based off of user experience, price, materials used, features included, and usability.

Best Nebulizing Essential Oil Diffuser

Using only cool vapor and high-quality materials, the Organic Aromas ranks as number one for nebulizing diffusers.

For those looking to harness the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy personally or professionally, nebulizers offer the highest-quality diffusion. After careful evaluation of the nebulizing diffusers for essential oils, the Organic Aromas Nebulizing Diffuser ranks as the best essential oil nebulizer on the market today.

Made entirely of all-natural, hand-blown glass and 100% whole plantation hardwood, the Organic Aromas aromatherapy diffuser incorporates only the highest quality materials to help maintain the healing properties of essential oils.

Using only heat-free vapor, the Organic Aromas cycles between 2 minutes on and 1 minute off to provide a lasting, fresh scent. With a 1 year parts and service warrantee, it also ranks as one of the top essential oil cold air diffuser products available to customers today.

With an easy touch sensor light switch and the ability to diffuse in spaces up to 800 sq. ft., the Organic Aromas a great option for yoga studios, spas, larger homes or spaces.

Best Essential Oil Ultrasonic Diffuser (Water Diffuser)

The URPOWER second edition ranked as best ultrasonic essential oil diffuser based on customer experience, features and usability.

With over 18,000 ultrasonic diffuser reviews, the URPOWER 2nd Version Essential Oil Diffuser comes in as our overall choice for best ultrasonic essential oil diffuser.

For those looking for an easy to use cool mist essential oil diffuser, the URPOWER offers up to 6 hours of vaporizing diffusion to help freshen any indoor space. Although it’s primary function is a water diffuser for essential oils, URPOWER also functions as a humidifier with adjustable mist settings, auto shut-off and 7 different colors to suit any mood.

As the second edition of the URPOWER water diffuser, the latest modest features upgrades such as more mist production, to help add moisture back to dry, indoor air. URPOWER only requires 100 mL of water at a time and comes with a useful measuring cup, great for those new to aromatherapy and diffusers.

Best Home Essential Oil Diffuser

With up to 20 hours of running time, the Square Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser is a great addition to any home.

With a large 700 mL capacity, the Square Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser is considered one the best oil diffuser for large room interiors, yoga studios, spas or office spaces.

Similar to the ultrasonic essential oil (EO) diffuser, the Square aroma oil diffuser features 7 mood-enhancing LED light settings, auto shut-off and whisper-quiet operation. As an essential oil diffuser with timer settings, users can choose between a 1, 3, 6 hour running time. With two mist options, in low mist mode the Square Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser can run for over 20 hours. For those who like to use their essential oil diffusers overnight, the low mist feature is a useful option.

Designed to be a diffuser for home or professional settings, the unique cube and wood grain appearance also makes it one of the top-rated diffusers for design and aesthetic. Like many other aromatherapy diffusers, the Square Aromatherapy is BPA free and uses high quality materials.

Best Small Essential Oil Diffuser

Bring your love of essential oils on the go with the portable MFEEL USB Essential Oil Diffuser, winner of best small essential oil diffuser category.

Small essential oil diffusers are a great way to enjoy the beneficial properties of essential oils no matter where you are. Considered the best electric essential oil diffuser for offices, the car, or on-the-go, the MFEEL USB essential oil diffuser is the perfect travel-sized companion. With an easy-to-use, two button system this diffuser and humidifier offers two mist modes, auto shut-off, and 7 changing colors.

The MFEEL can also be used as an essential oil car diffuser as it can be charged by car USB power supply, mobile phone charger, AC adaptor, USB or power bank. With up to 8 hours of use, the MFEEL is great for commuting, office spaces or at home. With its portable nature and flexible charging options, the MFEEL ranks as the best aromatherapy diffuser that can be used in multiple spaces.

Where to Buy Essential Oil Diffusers

For those looking to purchase an essential oil diffuser, Walmart, Target, and Whole Foods all carry a variety of types and brands. However, we recommend purchasing from reputable online retailers as they offer an incredibly wide selection of essential oil diffusers at affordable prices. All of the best diffuser products mentioned above can be conveniently purchased online from Amazon which offers quick shipping and rotating weekly sales.

Essential Oil Diffuser Recipes

A popular way to enjoy the benefits of essential oils is to use them with a diffuser. Individual essential oils can be diffused but more often, people combine essential oils to gain specific benefits.

Some popular recipes for blending essential oils for diffusers are:

• Essential oils for psoriasis recipe
• Essential oils for snoring recipes
• Essential oils for wrinkles recipe
• Essential oil recipe for headaches
• Essential oil recipe for bug spray
• Essential oil recipe for vertigo
• Essential oil recipes for sleep
• Essential oil blend for eczema
• Arthritis essential oil blend
• Essential oil recipe for acne
• Essential oil blend for allergies
• Homemade ant spray

Essential Oil Combinations

While essential oils can be used on their own, combining essential oils can provide a more intriguing and complex aroma. Combining essential oils requires a little research on each oil. The important aspects to consider are:

•  Aroma
•  Benefit(s) to health or home
•  Safety

Discovering the best smelling essential oil combinations can require some trial and error, and will be unique for everyone. However, if you understand the fundamentals of essential oils aromas, you can easily create essential oil blends that harmonize together.

Fragrance Notes
Every essential oil’s aroma can be classified as a top, middle, or base note. While there is no definite list, there are basic scent characteristics that can help determine an essential oil’s fragrance note.

Top note essential oils are the ones your nose detects first. They’re also the first to evaporate so their aroma is fleeting and commonly elicit light and uplifting feelings. Most citrus essential oils and those made from flowers are considered top notes.

The role of middle notes is to “connect” the top and base notes. They “balance” the aroma. They usually have a warm and gentle fragrance that you won’t notice right away.

Essential oils derived from herbs and spices commonly have middle note fragrances. As the name suggests, middle note aromas will last longer than top notes but will dissipate before base notes.

Base note fragrances are “heavy” and are often described as earthy. These essential oils are slow to evaporate and help stabilize the blended fragrance.

Generally, base note essential oils come from roots or bark and tend to elicit a sense of grounding. Aromatherapy blends for relaxation usually have a strong base note.

A few essential oils can be placed in two categories. Two examples of this are clove essential oil (middle/base) and tea tree essential oil (top/middle). When “dual category” essential oils are used in blends, they will act more like the lower note.

For example, in blends with top note essential oils such as bergamot or lime, tea tree essential oil will act more as middle note.

Aromatherapy recipes don’t have to include essential oils with each kind of note. But blends that include a top, middle, and base note essential oil are commonly described as having a more “complex” aroma.

For those new to to creating essential oil blend recipes, a useful tip is to look at which essential oils are combined in professionally blended oils. These can act as a starting point to help you learn what essential oils go well together or what aromas appeal to you.

Benefits
It’s common to blend essential oils to gain the benefits of each oil for one purpose. For example, there are essential oil recipes for skincare, digestive ailments, and sore throat, to name a few.

Before creating DIY essential oil blends, users are encouraged to research the unique properties and benefits of each essential oil, which can be easily found in our essential oil database.

For example, citrus essential oil recipes are popular with people seeking energizing or detoxifying effects.

A simple guideline for essential oils blends is to include only one or two essential oils with that specific benefit. The other essential oils in recipe should be complementary or help enhance the aroma.

Safety
Essential oils purchased from reputable suppliers should include cautions and directions to ensure proper use. These may include suggestions on how to use and if the essential oil is safe for certain populations, such as children or pregnant women.

Always read the labels of each essential oil before creating blends.

Essential Oil Spray Recipe

Certain combinations of essential oils are ideal for homemade air freshening sprays, and help naturally eliminate odors. For each of the following recipes, add the essential oils to 1 cup of room temperature water in a spray bottle.

To create a light and uplifting atmosphere, use 3 drops each of wild orange essential oil, frankincense essential oil, and peppermint essential oil.

For a deodorizing air freshener, use 5 drops tea tree essential oil and 6 drops each of lemon essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil.

To help promote focus and calm thinking, use 8-10 drops each of peppermint and rosemary essential oils.

Some of the best smelling essential oils used in popular room spray recipes are lavender essential oil, jasmine essential oil, and ylang ylang essential oil.

Essential Oil Perfume Recipes

Combining essential oils for perfume is different from creating aromatherapy blends. Instead of focusing on the health benefits of the recipe, essential oil perfume recipes focus on fragrance type and sustainability.

As outlined in the section on essential oils combinations, each essential oil has a fragrance note. In perfume, the top note provides the aromatic first impression. This is followed by the middle note and base note.

When selecting essential oils for a DIY perfume, users should work in the reverse order by selecting the base note, then the middle, and then finally the top notes.

Popular base note essential oils are: frankincense essential oil, patchouli essential oil, vanilla essential oil and cedarwood essential oil.

Common middle note essential oils are: jasmine, ylang ylang, rose essential oil, and geranium essential oil.

Top note essential oils include: lavender essential oil, orange essential oil, bergamot essential oil, grapefruit essential oil, and thyme essential oil.

Once you’ve selected your essential oils, add them to a carrier oil. Once essential oils have been safely diluted, apply the aromatic blend on pulse points such as the neck, wrist, or inner elbow.

An example of a basic perfume is 3 drops each of jasmine essential oil, clove essential oil, and vanilla essential oil added to jojoba carrier oil.

Try different combinations until you find one that creates a pleasing effect with your skin’s natural chemistry and aroma.

Best Oils for Diffuser

The best essential oils for diffuser are those that tend to linger. Generally, these have aromas that are spicy (e.g. clove or cinnamon essential oil), woodsy (frankincense, patchouli or sandalwood essential oils), or herbal (eucalyptus, peppermint, or chamomile essential oils).

Essential oils that are citrusy (e.g. bergamot, orange, or neroli essential oil) or flowery (e.g. jasmine, geranium or rose essential oil) dissipate quickly and the effect is often short-lived.

When using a reed diffuser, balance citrus or flowery essential oils with longer-lasting spicy, woody, or herbal essential oils.

Try these simple essential oil reed diffuser recipes to start:

•  Equal parts bergamot and patchouli essential oils in carrier oil
•  Equal parts jasmine, sandalwood, and eucalyptus essential oils in carrier oil