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• What Are Essential Oil Diffusers
• Types of Oil Diffusers
• Top 10 Oil Diffusers

Essential oils have been around since the dawn of time, and today are one of the easiest and most pleasant ways to improve your overall wellness. Early Egyptians, Persians, and Greeks discovered many uses for essential oils, including for rituals and healing, as did people in other parts of the world. Back then, healers would prepare essential oils by infusing flowers, roots, and leaves in fatty oils, and apply the oily results directly to their skin or clothing.

While applying the oils on your body and belongings can work, the aroma and effects of the essential oils tend to wear off quickly, and the oils may leave a greasy residue. Fortunately, engineers have since learned how to deliver essential oils into the air, providing a long-lasting and convenient way of enjoying the benefits of essential oils.

What are essential oil diffusers?

Diffusers have revolutionized the way we use essential oils. Today’s diffusers make using essential oils easier and more convenient. Some diffusers convert essential oils into gas, while others use ultrasonic vibrations to break up the oils and disperse them like a mist into the air. With so many sizes and color options, there’s bound to be one that fits your needs.

What does an essential oil diffuser do?

Essential oils are broken down into smaller molecules by an oil diffuser, which then disperses these particles into the air. The smaller molecules permeate the air, filling it with delightful aromas – these tiny molecules also aid in the delivery of essential oils’ beneficial effects. Diffusers of today disperse molecules at a comfortable concentration that is easy to breathe and does not overpower the room. Back to top.

Do you need an essential oil diffuser?

No! You don’t need a diffuser to use essential oils. Here’s how to use essential oils without a diffuser.

Types of Oil Diffusers

Retailers offer four main types of oil diffusers. Each works in a slightly different way to diffuse essential oil molecules into the air, giving consumers a variety of choices based on the intensity of the desired effect and the specific limitations of their space.

Nebulizing Diffusers

Nebulizing diffusers use pressurized air to create a fine mist of oil. They feature a vacuum that pulls oil to the surface of a distribution tube to introduce a burst of aroma into the air. Nebulizing diffusers do not need heat or water, so they are low maintenance.

Ultrasonic or Humidifying Diffusers

Most popular are humidifying diffusers or ultrasonic diffusers. They use ultrasonic vibrations to break up oil molecules, thereby creating a fine, aromatic mist. To use an ultrasonic diffuser, simply dilute the essential oil with water. Because they use water to create the mist, ultrasonic diffusers work like cold humidifiers to add moisture to the air, which is particularly helpful during the cold, dry weather of winter. They are very easy to clean, allowing the user opportunities to use a wide variety of essential oils to support good health with confidence.

Evaporative Diffusers

Evaporative diffusers feature a small fan that helps turn oil into gas, which helps the oil evaporate into the air. On the downside, the oil loses some of its potency as it evaporates. Evaporative diffusers are a good choice for consumers who use essential oils only occasionally but want a fast, easy way to enjoy an aromatic sensation.

Heat or Electric Diffusers

Heat diffusers use heat instead of a fan to turn essential oils into a gas. Heating oil in this way can change its chemical properties to make the oil more or less intense, depending on the specific properties of the oil. Heat diffusers are quieter than diffusers that use fans. A number of different types of heat diffuses are available, including electric heat diffusers, candle diffusers, and lamp ring diffusers.

Manufacturers are now adding cool features, such as ambient lighting and sound. Automatic shut-off features improve safety, especially for consumers who use their diffusers for extended periods or in bedrooms or other living spaces where the users may fall asleep.

Engineers are creating diffusers that look as good as they work. Ceramic diffusers give the space a wellness vibe, for example, while diffusers with bamboo or marble-like finish add a dash of sophistication and elegance. USB diffusers plug into computers and laptops to infuse a pleasant aroma throughout the workspace. There are also diffusers that fit neatly into a cup holder, plug into a wall outlet, or sit unobtrusively on a desk or shelf. Some even work well for travel. Back to top.

So, which are the best essential oil diffusers? Here are our top ten picks.

The 10 Best Essential Oil Diffusers Available Today

 

1. Black Onyx Spa Room Diffuser

Black Onyx Spa Room Diffuser is perfect for medium-sized rooms measuring up to 300 square feet. It offers continuous or intermittent mist, and features a safety shutoff when the diffuser runs out of water; the light shuts off too. The Black Onyx Spa Room Diffuser has a gorgeous design that acts as the perfect accent piece for almost every room.

Price: $49.95

2. Spa Vapor Plus Diffuser

Spa Vapor Plus Diffuser is an affordable and reliable high-output diffuser that will be your go-to aromatherapy diffuser for years to come – it is also our pick for providing longer-lasting aromatherapy compared with other diffusers.

This product uses AIR technology that suspends oil particles in the air twice as long as other diffusers. With BPA-free, medical-grade materials, consumers never have to worry about leaching. The unit has multiple light options that let you choose among 7 attractive colors; you can opt for alternating colors, one steady color, or no light at all. To ensure your safety, the engineers also added an auto shut-off that turns the unit off when all the water is used.

Price: $36.00

3. Serene Living Bamboo Diffuser

With its bamboo finish and natural style, the Serene Living Bamboo Diffuser is an elegant way to experience the benefits of essential oils. This diffuser offers continuous or intermittent mist, or provides a burst of essential oil aroma every hour or two. This allows you great control over how many essential oils you use over the course of a day.

Price: $49.95

4. Greenspace Essential Oil Travel Diffuser

Greenspace Essential Oil Travel Diffuser offers enough continuous fragrance to fill a 200 ft space. Simply drop your favorite essential oil into the replacement pads and plug in this compact diffuser to fill a large hotel room or meeting space with a long-lasting aroma.

Price: $19.99

5. Green Air Modello Diffuser

Compact and efficient, the Green Air Modello Diffuser sits perfectly in your car’s cup holder. With a run time of up to 6 hours, this small but mighty diffuser is perfect for long car rides or for quick commutes. The Green Air Modello Diffuser adds a splash of color if you’d like. You can choose from a rotating color design, a fixed color, or no color at all.

Price: $27.95

6. Green Air – USB Breeze Diffuser

Green Air – USB Breeze Diffuser is tiny but might. This sleek USB Breeze diffuser plugs directly into any USB outlet to provide continuous diffusion of essential oils without taking up precious space on a shelf or tabletop. This ingenious product also provides an extra USB port for other devices, so you never have to sacrifice a much-needed USB port to enjoy your favorite essential oils. Its unobtrusive blue LED light lets you know it is working.

Priced below $10, the Green Air – USB Breeze is our pick for the least expensive essential oil diffuser.

Price: $9.95

7. Serene Living Aromasphere Diffuser

Serene Living Aromasphere gets our vote for the quietest – and most fun – diffuser. Just add 4 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil on of the three included oil pads and press the button. This eye-catching and compact diffuser disperses oil up to 100 square feet. Available only in an aesthetically pleasing white color.

Price: $14.95

8. Natures Remedy – Meadow Essential Oil Diffuser

Inspired by a soft spring meadow, Natures Remedy – Meadow Essential Oil Diffuser is simple and elegant, yet effective. Its graceful shape fits comfortably in with nearly every décor in your home or office. Simply plug in the diffuser’s USB cord to enjoy up to 6 hours of luxurious aroma.

Price: $42.99

9. Serene Living Breezy Diffuser

The Serene Living Breezy Diffuser is the cutest workhorse of essential oil diffusers. Don’t let its small size and color rotating LED lights fool you – this diffuser has grit and stamina, delivering your favorite oils and blends for up to six hours.

Price: $27.99

10. AromaAllure Essential Oil Diffuser

AromaAllure Essential Oil Diffuser is a portable, waterless diffuser that uses a USB cord for power. It uses a fan, so while handy, this diffuser can be louder than others.

Choosing an essential oil diffuser is a highly personal decision that depends largely on how often you use essential oils, the space you are trying to improve, and your taste in décor. Many consumers prefer having more than one diffuser to fit various spaces and their individual lifestyles.

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Written by Lauren Andrews.