We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The 11 best electric diffusers for making your home smell incred
Essential oils at the ready, peeps.
Second to being complimented on your swishy new bob or cute outfit, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as being told how good your home smells. For some, that means burning candles endlessly (guilty), but for those trying to find other alternatives, allow us to introduce you to our fave scent booster: an electric diffuser.
Our top electric diffuser picks
- Best overall electric diffuser - The White Company Textured Ceramic Electronic Diffuser
- Best value electric diffuser - TiffBox Ceramic Essential Oil Diffuser
- Best small diffuser - Marks & Spencer Apothecary Electric Diffuser
- Best diffuser for long-lasting fragrance -Neom Organics Wellbeing Pod
What is an electric diffuser?
Similarly to reed diffusers, electric diffusers infuse the air around you with essential oil blends, releasing a gorge scent into the air around you and having some pretty calming benefits, too. Unlike a reed diffuser, which uses, well, reeds to spread the smell, electric diffusers require you to fill up the water tank, add some essential oils and plug it into the wall. Depending on the diffuser, it will defuse the oil into the air periodically, or on a constant stream. Pretty neat.
How is an electric diffuser different to a reed diffuser?
In short: versatility. Unlike a reed diffuser, you're not stuck with the same scent for weeks and can really switch it up with the essential oils you use. Try a citrus scent like lemon or grapefruit for a burst of energy or soothing oils lavender or chamomile to help you drift off to sleep. Electric diffusers don’t tend to come with essential oils, so make sure you stock up on those before you bag one.
How long do electric diffusers last?
That’s totally dependent on how much you use it and varies from product to product. However, most will be able to run for a good few hours, with one of our favourites The White Company Textured Ceramic Electronic diffuser having the option to run for 16 hours straight (she’s got hella stamina!). One of the best benefits? The scent will still linger in the air long after it’s turned off.
Here's our pick of the 11 best electric diffusers....
The White Company Portable Rechargeable Electronic Diffuser
Nope, this isn’t a portable speaker, it’s a portable diffuser. Who knew they even existed, right? Whether you’re sprucing up your home office, heading off on a staycation or want to make your Glasto tent a bougie oasis, this little guy is battery-operated and can be used indoors and outdoors and has three hours continuous use and eight hours interval use in its 45ml tank.
| Dimensions | 7 x 17cm |
|---|---|
| Mist settings | 4-setting timer: 30 minutes continuous, eight hours interval time five minutes on/off, eight hours interval time 30 seconds on/off, or ON button. It will mist continuously for up to three hours, until the water tank is empty |
| Power settings | Cordless |
Porseme Porseme 280ml Large Glass Scented Oil Diffuser
We don’t like to judge a book by its cover, but this fun diffuser has got us hooked on aesthetics alone. But it’s not just a pretty face, the 280ml diffuser will run for around 7 - 10 hours in continuous mode and there are seven colour-changing light modes, keeping your space smelling great and looking fab.
| Dimensions | 15 x 28cm |
|---|---|
| Mist settings | Timer function has four settings (auto/1/2/3 hours) |
| Power settings | Mains connected |
The White Company Textured Ceramic Electronic Diffuser
This stylish electronic diffuser comes with three time settings, so you can choose how long the diffuser releases scent for: two hours, eight hours, or 16 hours. It works with any The White Company fragrance oil, so choose from scents like Seychelles, Pomegranate and Lime & Bay.
| Dimensions | 16 x 11cm |
|---|---|
| Mist settings | 2, 8 and 16 hours |
| Power settings | Mains connected |
We love the chic and simple design of this electric diffuser. There are seven light colour change options and four misting options - continuous, intermittent, one hour or two hours. It'll also switch off automatically when it detects there's little water left.
| Dimensions | 19 x 9 x 9 cm |
|---|---|
| Mist settings | 1, 2, 3 or 4 hours |
| Power settings | Mains connected |
If you're looking for a small diffuser that will fit into practically any space or interior design settings, this M&S one is ideal. It's recently had a design revamp and also includes a light option if you want to more ambience to your room. Oh and it also comes with a Calm aroma oil, so you don't have to buy it separately. And can we just say the M&S Apothecary range of scents are genuinely spa like and really calming.
| Dimensions | 14.5 x 9.6 x 15.5cm |
|---|---|
| Mist settings | Mists continually for up to 6 hours |
| Power settings | Mains connected |
Neom know what they're doing when it comes to creating dreamy scents that fill your home. This electric diffuser is an updated version of the original diffuser which was first released in 2018.
It uses up-cycled material for the Heavea wooden base and a full tank can last for up to seven hours, that's the work day covered then! The light of the diffuser can also be controlled and dimmed depending on your preference.
| Mist settings | Continual mist up to seven hours, or 1, 2, 3, 4 hours |
|---|---|
| Power settings | Mains connected |
There's something instantly calming about the round orb like shape of this diffuser from Neal's Yard Remedies and feels more of a feature for the home. The ambient light also ups the relaxation factor of the diffuser. It also rather interestingly comes with a built in breath coach that helps guide you through three different mood
breath work meditations.
| Mist settings | Up to 6 hours of continuous mist |
|---|
With four different time settings and six different colour light settings (plus in the sage colour of the season), this stylish diffuser is perfect for any home.
| Dimensions | 15.5 x 9cm |
|---|---|
| Mist settings | 30 minutes or 1, 2, 3 hour |
Oliver Bonas Ceramic Pink Ombre Essential Oil Electric Aroma Diffuser
Precious about your home decor and don’t want a white orb floating on your coffee table? This ombre sunset pick is ya girl. Designed to soothe and calm, it has multiple colour light settings and four different time modes. Who says diffusers can’t be purposeful and pretty?
| Dimensions | 9 x16cm |
|---|---|
| Mist settings | Four time settings: 30 minutes, an hour, two hours or three |
For something more cheap and cheerful, this essential oil diffuser comes with seven LED light colours, a fragrant oil vaporiser and timer options, so you can choose how often it diffuses.
| Dimensions | 12.5 x 12.5 x 9.5 cm |
|---|---|
| Mist settings | Continually mist up to 5 hours, or 1, 2, or 3 hours |
| Power | Mains operated |
Aromatherapy Associates The Atomiser Pure Essential Oil Ceramic Diffuser
There's a reason why this Aromatherapy Associates ceramic diffuser has so many good reviews. The atomiser doesn't actually use a water tank, instead emitting a fine mist direct from the oil bottles themselves. It’s easy to switch between scents and without a water tank you don't have to worry about refilling it.
| Dimensions | N/A |
|---|---|
| Mist settings | Multiple optimised run times |
| Power settings | Cordless |
Dusty Baxter-Wright is an award-winning journalist and the Entertainment and Lifestyle Director at Cosmopolitan, having previously worked at Sugarscape. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work covering pop culture, careers, interiors and travel, and oversees the site’s Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. As a journalist for the best part of a decade, she has interviewed everyone from Louis Theroux and Channing Tatum to Margot Robbie and Ncuti Gatwa, while she has also spoken on Times Radio and BBC Radio. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram here.
Daniella Scott is Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. As part of her role, Danny covers all things entertainment, from true crime to scandalous drama (if there’s a con involved, she’s probably already binged it) and celebrity interviews, including Nicola Coughlan. Danny’s also across lifestyle, travel, interiors and food and drink, in both digital and print. So when she’s not trawling Instagram for the next best Ikea hack, she’s trying out cocktail recipes or pretending she has a driving license researching the UK’s best road trips.
Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK’s Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from TV and film, to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating quizzes, covering exciting new food releases and sharing the latest interior must-haves. In her role she’s interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of The Kardashians. After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into fashion journalism, writing for the Daily Express, before working as Features Editor at The Tab, where she spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on LinkedIn.
6 ways to use powder blue in your home
M&S' chrome lamp is an instant interiors upgrade
M&S' pink and red cushion will brighten your home
Your bed needs ASDA's blue and brown trending duvet set
