Most of us would agree there’s nothing better than opening your front door to a lovely scent, especially after a long, stressful day. Enter: the best electric diffusers. With the power to lift our mood through scent diffusion, essential oil diffusers can turn our homes into a luxurious, spa-like atmosphere with just the click of a button.
While scented candles and reed diffusers are gorgeous, you’re dealing with a wick to trim, smoke consuming the air and limited scent control. With electric diffusers – or nebulising diffusers, as they’re often otherwise referred to – you can fill your home with calming, restorative or energising scents while eradicating the extra fuss and potential risks.
So, how exactly do they work? These essential oil diffusers emit a continuous stream of mist containing drops of essential oil at a high air pressure into your room, filling a space of any size with a beautiful scent and allowing you to reap the potential benefits of aromatherapy.
What’s more? They’re often fairly affordable to run, can be left unattended thanks to automated time settings, and many of them double up as other appliances like mood lights, speakers or stylish pieces of home decor. Sound good? We think so too. Ahead, you’ll find everything you could possibly need to know, including answers to all your FAQs.
SKIP TO: Electric diffusers, aromatherapy and their benefits | The best aromatherapy oils for your diffuser | How we tested | Diffuser FAQs | Is it OK to use a diffuser every day? | Are electric diffusers expensive to run? | Our full reviews.
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What are the benefits of electric diffusers?
Essential oil diffusers use ultrasonic pulses to blend drops of essential oil with water before circulating a fragranced, cool mist around your room. Electric diffusers have the power to fill your space with subtly-scented purified air that helps you feel relaxed or perhaps more focused – depending on which essential oil you choose (more on that later). But that’s not all. Investing in an essential oil diffuser also allows you to take advantage of the benefits of aromatherapy.
According to Robert Tisserand, an Essential Oil Educator and Aromatherapy Expert from California, “Clinical studies have shown that aromatherapy by inhalation can have real benefits for people with, for example, anxiety, [problems with] mental focus, depressive symptoms, and menstrual pain.”
Further research has supported this, showing that essential oils can interact with the brain and nervous system to positively impact your health and mood. That said, Jo Kellett – essential oils expert at Tisserand – added that essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin, even with their numerous benefits. Indeed, Jo explained, “Essential oils need to be diluted before being applied to the skin in either a base oil, lotion, or cream, for example. They are concentrated essences that can, if used neat, cause a severe skin reaction, or over time build up a sensitivity to that essential oil.” Enter: the essential oil aroma diffuser.
