It’s the same principle as perfumes. Typically, the pricier ones have rarer or more expensive ingredients. Some fragrances are made from the oils of a rare and delicate flower petal, for instance, while others are made from synthetic ingredients that are easy and cheap to source. With candles, once they’re gone, they’re gone. Not so with reed diffusers, which can be topped up with new fragrance oil when it runs out. Just make sure that when you buy a diffuser refill you discard your old reeds and buy new ones as they’ll be saturated with all the scent they’ve soaked up from the first round of oil and won’t soak up any more. Choosing the fragrance your reed diffuser gives off is easy, but it’s an important consideration. Some fragrance oils are stronger than others, offering more potent scents. While some people may want a strong fragrance, others may want something lighter and more subtle. So, how do you choose? Think about the space you’ll be using your reed diffuser in and how you’d like to feel. Scents set the mood–for example, a soothing fragrance like lavender can calm the mind and help instill relaxation. Alternatively, citrus can be refreshing, bright, and energizing.

Sunny spots can also spell trouble for the life span of your diffuser, as 'this will cause the oil in the diffuser to evaporate', according to Rachel. 'It might look nice sitting on your windowsill, basking in the sunlight, but you’ll only end up having to replace your reed diffuser faster.'

Different reed diffusers offer different lifespans, or lengths of time they emit fragrance. While these diffusers are pretty hands-off in terms of maintenance and use, they do eventually weaken in fragrance and use up all of their scented essential oils. In general, to extend the lifespan, you’ll want to flip the reeds over once each week. After about three months, the fragrance will have dissipated completely. However, depending on the size of the diffuser bottle, how much oil it contains, and the size or length of your reeds, you may be able to get another month or few weeks out of your particular diffuser. Using diffusers with different notes across your home is one of our top tips to make your home smell excellent and can also make a huge difference to your mood. Small but impactful tips include opting for fresh smells in your bathroom, and avoiding anything too severe in your bedroom so as not to disturb your sleep. Reed diffusers work well in rooms that you want to keep scented nicely and often have bad odors that need removing, such as the kitchen or the bathroom. We like using reed diffusers in all rooms of the house though, switching between fragrances to set a different tone in each space. Should I flip reeds in a reed diffuser?

However, there isn’t a wide range of fragrance options; if you aren’t a fan of Capri Blue’s Volcano or two other scents, there’s not much else to choose from. Additionally, some customers note that if you have a smaller bedroom, the scent can be pretty strong. Overall, though, if it’s a familiar fragrance you want to bring right into your home, this potent diffuser delivers. If you don’t know what you like, choosing a fragrance can be the hardest part of shopping for a diffuser, but looking for individual scent families is a good place to start. Florals are fairly self-explanatory, though some of them might get a bad rap for being too strong. For a more unexpected home fragrance, consider something from the woody or spicy families, or on the other end of the spectrum, a fresher, "greener" scent.Want to know why I invest in the best reed diffusers? Well, I'm a firm believer that the way your apartment/home/dorm smells is just as important as how it looks. Hence why I am obsessed with home fragrance — I'm Real Homes' resident expert, after all. We tried 18 reed diffusers in various rooms for a minimum of two days, to find the chicest, most beautifully-fragranced options with a scent throw that'll permeate even the largest of rooms. But be mindful to handle the diffuser bottles with care — the oils can stain clothing and furniture if spilled. How often should I flip the diffuser's reeds? verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Additionally, we love that the fragrance blend itself is made without chemical additives. Each variety is free of phthalates, pesticides, parabens, and sulfates, and as an added bonus they’re never tested on animals. Just keep in mind that the fragrances do vary; some are stronger than others, so it may take a little trial and error to find one that’s ideal for your preferences.

Flipping reeds in a reed diffuser is important to do if you want a strong fragrance in your home. You can do this every week to revitalize the scent in a room. How many reeds should I put in my diffuser? Using your pipette and a measuring jug, we advise using between 10% to 25% fragrance oil depending on the IFRA. Therefore for a litre of reed diffuser base, we suggest to add 150 - 250 ml of fragrance or essential oil. This top-shelf kit is available in 21 fragrances. There's lemon-mint, apricot tea, Sicilian tangerine, grapefruit, birchwood pine, lemongrass-ginger, and Mediterranean fig—to name just a few. Many of the scents align with Nest's scented candles, soaps, and linen sprays, so you can use corresponding products throughout your home as needed. There's a lot to love about this reed-diffusing set. We only wish the price were a bit more accessible. When it comes to home fragrance, one of the most popular scents is Capri Blue’s Volcano – a deeply blue-hued glass candle that emits a wonderful tropical smell. Capri Blue has taken its much-loved fragrance beyond a traditional candle, though, and turned it into an easy-to-use reed oil diffuser that you can use without lighting a flame (or worrying about leaving it lit for hours!) Fans of Capri Blue note that this reed diffuser smells just like the original candle, and there are even additional fragrances to choose from if you’d like something a little different. With a strongly-scented hand-poured oil blend, you’ll be able to fill bedrooms both large and small with its great smell. This diffuser is particularly great for those looking to brighten up their bedroom with a scent that’s energizing and enticing. We like Floral Street’s reed diffuser for small spaces only; the smaller size of the glass bottle means this diffuser holds less oil, which makes it less potent (and even imperceptible) in large rooms or open areas. It also runs more expensive, but due to the high-quality oil and cruelty-free nature, it’s a worthwhile investment for those who want to prioritize top-tier and sustainable ingredients.

Delivery and return policies

Larger diffusers with longer reeds, as well as more reeds per bottle, tend to offer longer scent lifespans and deliver a stronger scent throughout your space. The bigger the bottle, the more fragrance oil a reed diffuser can hold and disperse. Similarly, the more reeds you use–and the longer they are–the more reach the fragrance will have.

Otherwise, a couple of reed diffusers in this guide have been recommended by other members of the Real Homes team. FAQs Should I wait until Cyber Monday to buy a reed diffuser? If you want a reed diffuser that’ll deliver continuous fragrance without leaving you worrying about refill on the regular, we love Voluspa’s Reed Diffuser. Available in a wide selection of different scents, you can customize how your space smells with options that are crisp and airy, like a blend of Eucalyptus and White Sage, or vibrant and fruity, like Sijo Persimmon. Best of all, each of Voluspa’s oil fragrance blends is designed to last anywhere from four to six months in total, giving you as much as a month or more in lifespan compared to the typical reed diffuser.

Reed diffusers use essential oils to give your home a fresh, fragrant scent all day long

The aromas of essential oils have so much potential to influence your emotions and overall well-being for the better," Forehand says. From calming florals and romantic musks to energizing citrus and earthy blends, there's something for everyone.