The best electric diffusers for 2025, tested for scent and style

Best electric diffuser overall

Also available from Sephora and Harrods

• Waterless

• 10ml fragrance oil capacity (with two slots available)

• No light

• Power source: Battery-operated

From the moment you unbox the Aromatherapy Associates Atomiser Connect, it’s clear this is a diffuser designed with luxury in mind. The weighty ceramic casing has a beautifully minimalist feel, while the discreet buttons at the back keep the design elegantly uncluttered. It’s a piece that looks as good as it performs, sitting comfortably in both modern and classic interiors.

Completely waterless, the Atomiser Connect uses pure essential oils for a clean, authentic scent experience. It holds two fragrance pods, allowing you to switch effortlessly between aromas depending on your mood - an indulgent feature that feels genuinely practical and sets this apart from all of the others on test. Once fully charged, the diffuser can be used wirelessly, giving you the freedom to move it from room to room with ease.

It can be controlled directly from the pod or, for ultimate convenience, via the Aromatherapy Associates app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Through the app, you can remotely adjust diffusion intensity, light colour and set personalised schedules for automatic activation and deactivation. There’s even a spa-inspired guided breathing function designed to accompany the scent diffusion, enhancing the overall sense of wellbeing.

Set-up takes a little time and benefits from following the instructions carefully, but once complete, the process is effortless. Thoughtful details such as spare tubes to prevent oil contamination and a remover cap for essential oil bottles reflect the brand’s meticulous attention to quality. Even the packaging feels premium, adding to the pleasure of unboxing.

Stylish, smart and soothing in equal measure, the Atomiser Connect offers a truly elevated aromatherapy experience

Best portable electric diffuser

Also available from Look Fantastic and Amazon

• Waterless

• 10ml fragrance oil capacity

• No light

• Power source: Battery-operated

We were pleasantly surprised by just how clever the Wellbeing Pod Mini+ turned out to be. Small enough to slip into a bag, it’s one of those gadgets that quietly fits around your life, equally at home on a bedside table, desk or in the car. Available in black, white and rose gold, its compact, sculptural design feels modern and discreet.

Designed to fit neatly into a car cup holder (though it’s worth noting not all will accommodate it), the Mini+ offers both Home and Car modes, each with customisable intensity levels so you can adjust the scent to suit your surroundings. It’s completely waterless - you simply screw in any 10ml essential oil blend - and it transforms the oils into a fine vapour that releases gentle bursts of fragrance rather than a continuous stream.

The touch controls are a real highlight, giving it a sleek, seamless feel that stands out from standard button designs. There’s also an optional warm light, which casts a soft glow and instantly creates a calming atmosphere. Once fully charged via USB, it delivers up to 125 hours of natural fragrance, depending on your chosen intensity, and it automatically switches off if tilted - a thoughtful safety feature. The inclusion of a spare diffusion straw and nozzle makes changing scents effortless and mess-free.

Portable, beautifully made and wonderfully easy to use, the Wellbeing Pod Mini+ is ideal for anyone who loves fragrance but prefers something compact and versatile.

Best electric diffuser for gifting

• Water-based

• 45ml tank capacity

• White light

• Power source: Battery-operated

I’ve always thought that when it comes to home fragrance, The White Company rarely puts a foot wrong - and this portable diffuser only reinforces that belief. I’ve long been devoted to their Seychelles scent, but the Nourish fragrance oil that I opted to test with this diffuser may have just stolen the top spot for me.

Compact and beautifully simple, the design has the same understated elegance the brand is known for. At first glance, it looks a little like a sleek mini speaker, and it’s just as easy to use. Unlike some of the more complicated models I tested, this one has fewer parts to handle: simply twist off the top, fill the reservoir with water up to the red marker, replace the lid and press the single button on the front. Within seconds, a fine stream of scented vapour begins to rise - a feature I love, as it adds a gentle, almost spa-like atmosphere to any room.

As it’s a water-based diffuser, it also acts as a subtle humidifier, bringing a touch of moisture to the air. The battery life is claimed at up to three hours of continuous use (though the manual mentions four), and while it doesn’t last as long as the NEOM Portable Diffuser, I find it perfectly suited for shorter sessions. The small water container does mean it needs topping up more often, but this feels like a fair trade for such portability. A thoughtful safety feature prevents the diffuser from operating if overfilled, which offers peace of mind.

I’ve loved how easy it is to move this diffuser around the house, from my desk while working, to the bathroom for a relaxing soak, to my bedside table in the evening. When set to five-minute intervals, it can run for up to eight hours, making it a perfect companion for winding down at the end of the day.

Sleek, lightweight and delightfully simple to use, The White Company’s Portable Diffuser delivers on both form and fragrance. It’s effortlessly elegant and, for me, one of the most user-friendly models I tested.

Best stylish electric diffuser

• Water-based

• 100ml tank capacity

• Mood lighting

• Power source: Mains-operated

Of all the diffusers I tested, the Oliver Bonas model is easily one of the most visually striking. The sage green ribbed design I tried looks more like a decorative ornament than a gadget, the kind of piece you’d happily have on display, even when not in use. It’s also available in several colours and finishes, each with the same sculptural, ceramic charm that feels perfectly in keeping with Oliver Bonas’s playful yet elegant aesthetic.

Using it is simple. You twist off the ceramic cover, fill the inner chamber with around 90-100ml of water, and add a few drops of your chosen fragrance oil. It doesn’t specify that you need to use the brand’s own oils, though I tested it with their Pomegranate and Amber blend, which gave a rich, warm scent. Sadly, that oil appears to have been discontinued, but the brand’s new fragrance oil gift set - with blends such as Basil and Rose - make for a lovely alternative.

As a water-based diffuser, it produces that beautiful, visible stream of scented vapour that instantly adds atmosphere to a room, much like a mini spa. The soft sound of the mist and the optional colour-changing mood light enhance the calming effect, creating a gentle sensory moment. It’s mains-operated rather than portable, but that feels right for its more decorative role, something to plug in and enjoy in a living room or bedroom rather than move about.

The controls are pleasingly straightforward: one button to turn it on and adjust the timer and one to set the lighting. Overall, it’s a diffuser that places as much emphasis on aesthetic appeal as function, perfect for anyone who wants a stylish, mood-boosting accent that scents the room while looking beautiful doing so.

Best luxury electric diffuser

• Waterless

• 30ml fragrance cartridge

• No light

• Power source: Mains-operated

• Controlled via an app

The Rituals Perfume Genie 3.0 is unlike any other diffuser I tested, in both design and performance. With its gleaming gold finish and sculptural shape, it looks more like a piece of modern art or perhaps Aladdin’s lamp (hence the name, I imagine) than a typical home fragrance device. Crafted from high-quality metal, it feels luxurious and weighty, setting it apart immediately from the ceramic or plastic models I tried.

Setting it up takes a little time, but the process is remarkably intuitive. You begin by scanning the QR code on the box, which directs you straight to the Rituals Genie app. From there, the app guides you step by step - connecting the Genie to your Wi-Fi, selecting where you’ll place it, and even asking what atmosphere you’d like to create, from “relaxed” to “energised.” You can also input your room size in square metres, allowing the diffuser to tailor the fragrance output perfectly.

Once connected, the level of smart functionality is genuinely impressive. You can create custom scent schedules or choose from templates like Focus Time, Evening Chill, or After Cooking, which turn the diffuser on and off automatically throughout the day with different considered scent levels. The app also advises on the ideal placement within the room for optimum scent dispersion. I even found myself turning it on remotely while waiting for a theatre performance in London, and by the time I returned home to the Cotswolds, the house smelled wonderful. It is worth noting, that there are no buttons on the diffuser itself, all controls are through the app.

You can also connect the Genie to your Amazon smart speaker (such as the Echo Dot) or Google speaker and control it entirely by voice, a touch that feels as modern as it is indulgent. The scent release is almost instant, emerging quietly through a slim, letterbox-style opening at the base rather than a visible vapour plume. It emits only a gentle hum, similar to a soft fan, and the fragrance lingers beautifully.

I tested the Sakura fragrance, which filled my home with a fresh, uplifting scent within minutes. The refill cartridges are cylindrical and click easily into place, and the app conveniently tracks your fragrance level, alerting you when it’s time for a top-up - which can even be ordered directly through the app. At over £40 per bottle, the refills are an investment, but they last a surprisingly long time.

Although mains-operated and not portable, the Perfume Genie 3.0 is a masterclass in smart scenting. Elegant, intelligent, and highly efficient, it combines technology and design in a way that feels genuinely ahead of its time in comparison to other models, it is a luxurious addition to any modern home.

Best budget electric diffuser

Also available from Yankee Candle and Tesco

• Water-based

• 100ml tank capacity

• Mood lighting

• Power source: Mains-operated

The Yankee Candle Black Cherry Diffuser is the most affordable model I tested, and while it might not have the luxury feel of some of the pricier designs, it offers solid performance for the price. With its simple plastic casing, it’s very much an entry-level diffuser: unfussy, functional and easy to use.

To operate, you fill the small 100ml reservoir with water, add around five to seven drops of fragrance oil, and use the single button on the front to cycle through the different settings. You can choose between a high-intensity continuous mist for four hours, or a lower-intensity intermittent mode that runs for up to eight hours. There’s also the option to enjoy its bright, colour-changing light - which fades gently between hues - or to pause it on your favourite shade, or turn it off altogether.

As a water-based diffuser, I expected to see a noticeable stream of mist, but the vapour here was surprisingly subtle. The scent throw was similarly gentle, which may depend partly on the oil used. The diffuser comes with Yankee Candle’s Black Cherry fragrance oil - a sweet, fruity scent that’s synthetic rather than natural - and while pleasant in small doses, I’d be inclined to switch it out for a purer essential oil for everyday use.

That said, this diffuser performs admirably for its price point. It’s simple, reliable and offers a good introduction to home fragrancing for anyone curious about diffusers without wanting to invest in a premium model.

Best LED candle electric diffuser

Also available from Next

• Waterless

• 20ml fragrance oil capacity

• Faux LED flickering flame

• Power source: Battery-operated

At first glance, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the Lights4fun TruGlow AIR for a real candle. With its softly flickering LED flame and smooth ivory casing, it exudes the gentle warmth of candlelight, only this time, it also fills the air with fragrance. It’s a clever hybrid of design and function, offering both ambience and aroma in one sleek, portable piece.

Rather than requiring water or a tangle of cords, this diffuser runs on a rechargeable battery and uses click-in fragrance bottles, keeping things delightfully fuss-free. A remote control allows you to adjust the settings from across the room, whether you want to activate the candle’s warm glow, release scent for up to two hours, or set a six-hour timer for a longer burn-like experience.

The fragrance disperses subtly, without the visible vapour you might expect from water diffusers, instead releasing short bursts of scent that gently perfume the air. I tested the Dark Amber & Sandalwood fragrance oil, which created a soft, cocooning atmosphere, perfect for an evening wind-down or to complement a cosy corner.

While the misting isn’t continuous and the scent strength is gentler than some of the more powerful models, its design-led aesthetic and portability make it one of the most versatile pieces I tried. It feels less like a gadget and more like an object of calm, one that blends seamlessly into a considered home setting.

Best electric diffuser for modern interiors

• Water-based

• 80ml tank capacity

• White light

• Power source: Mains-operated

The Kasper diffuser immediately stands out with its bold, sculptural design. Its origami-like geometric form gives it a contemporary, artful presence, making it feel as much like a decorative object as a functional diffuser. It’s substantial enough to become a focal point on a sideboard or console, yet understated enough to blend into a variety of interiors.

This model comes with a remote control, which makes adjusting settings effortless. The light can be softened to fade in and out for a gentle glow, set to a solid colour, or switched off entirely depending on the mood you want to create. Diffusion intensity is similarly flexible, with high and low modes to suit different spaces or preferences. A dedicated button allows for intermittent misting - 20 seconds on, 20 seconds off - which is ideal for a gentle, continuous scent without over-saturating the air.

While the Kasper is undeniably striking and well thought out in terms of features, I found it slightly less captivating in use compared with some of the other diffusers I tested. The sculptural design is impressive, but the scent diffusion felt a little less pronounced, which may not make it the first choice for those prioritising fragrance over form.

Overall, it’s still a charming and stylish piece, perfect for those who want a decorative statement with the added bonus of aroma, but perhaps not quite as indulgent as some of the other models.