While looks are obviously important, especially when it comes to your home, a cosy and memorable home engages all senses – and a beautiful scent is likely to make the biggest impact on both your mood and your guests on the offchance you’re hosting some family and friends. So if you are looking to give your home a signature or just seasonal scent, going for one of the best reed diffusers will get the job done without any fuss.
The beauty of opting for a reed diffuser as your go-to best home fragrance over something like a scented candle is its ease of use. Once you open the box, put the reeds in and set it up, all you need to do is let it do its magic and infuse your home with a lovely scent – and flip the reeds every now and then, ideally every couple of weeks as is recommended.
Having worked on the shop floor of several of London’s top department stores’ perfume and home fragrance sections, I’ve smelt my fair share of reed diffusers - a number of which easily crosses the 100 mark threshold - as it was a large part of my job. And even now, it still is as I continue to smell and test diffusers and candles as part of research to be able to recommend the best of the best to you. Not to mention the fact that I love a beautiful home scent – so whenever I come across a new brand or a fragrance I haven’t tried before, I make sure to give it a sniff, even in my free time.
With all that being said, these are the 9 diffusers the Ideal Home team and I’ve tried that I’d recommend to anyone as the best way to fragrance your home – with picks for every occasion, season and budget.
I combine my current expertise on all things home decor and my previous experience in perfume and home fragrance retail when smelling and testing various reed diffusers. I value beautiful, fresh or cosy scents, their longevity and reach, as well as the design of the bottle the they come in, all of which helps me to determine which are worth the investment.
The best reed diffusers
+ Strong fragrance
+ Luxury bottle
+ Refillable
- Easy to knock over
This wow-worthy reed diffuser is my absolute favourite diffuser after testing and comes in a gorgeous white vessel that's ribbed and compact by nature. With help from wooden sticks, it works to fragrance an entire room at home, from corner to corner. Though small in size, it's surprisingly powerful and definitely a unique scent. A blend of rice milk and cherry blossom, this oriental reed diffuser is slightly floral and perfect for year-round use. Just a note: due to its slim bottle design, I've found it can be easy to tip over. Place it far away from wandering hands or paws. Oh, and you can buy a refill bottle to top it up when necessary.
+ Affordable
+ Jo Malone dupe
+ Great for bathrooms
- Not the most luxury buy
- No refills available
Ideal Home's Deputy Ecommerce Editor, Rebecca Knight is a sworn fan when it comes to Aldi reed diffusers, which have a huge following online and in stores too. A dupe of Jo Malone's Pomegranate Noir, but at a very small fraction of the price, it's a great buy if you are on a budget or if you're buying a reed diffuser for a room you don't personally use that often – such as a spare bedroom or extra bathroom. This Aldi reed diffuser smells of pomegranate (as you might have guessed), while it comes housed in a glass vessel with a silver lid, to look the part in your home, too. Rebecca can confirm that it will scent your home for up to eight weeks which, considering the price, is fab. It comes with eight rattan sticks included in a premium-looking box to make it look and feel a lot more high quality than its price tag portrays. There's a reason Aldi shoppers go mad for this diffuser.
+ Refills available
+ Available in several sizes
+ Fragrance works for all year round
+ High-end design
- High price point
If you’re going to spend a little more than usual on a luxury reed diffuser - whether you’re treating yourself or getting one as a high-end gift - it should definitely tick these three boxes – it should look the part, smell divine and have a strong enough fragrance that it spreads throughout the room. The Culti Aramara Decor Diffuser fulfills the brief to perfection. Inspired by the brand’s Italian heritage and the founder’s belief that spaces could (and should) have signature scents, much like many people do, the diffuser’s fragrance references a Sicilian’s pastry chef’s kitchen, blending citrusy and woody notes of bitter orange, bergamot and sandalwood into a fresh yet comforting smell. Recommended for the living room, home office or even the kitchen, the diffuser’s premium vessel made with thick brown-coloured glass is complemented by a dark maple wood cap, both of which look and feel extremely luxurious.
+ Excellent value
+ Keeps a space very fresh
+ Lovely scent
- Bottle is a little non-descript
This After the Rain diffuser from Arran Sense of Scotland is as evocative as it sounds, with a scent that strikes the balance between nostalgia and freshness. It seems to have a new life every time I walk back into the room it's in, or even from outside in the corridor sometimes. For the size of this diffuser, it's great value for money, with a luxury feel for a good price. This diffuser is part of a stunning range of scents from Arran Sense of Scotland, each of which comes with its own colourway on the tin packaging. I only wish that there was a little more going on with the bottle of the diffuser itself, which is a bit lacking.
+ Luxury vessel
+ Also comes as a candle
+ Fragranced with essential oil
+ Great for year-round use
- Not the best for larger rooms
Searching for something with a sense of wellbeing to create a spa-worthy experience in the comfort of your own home? This one from Neom is luxury-looking and fresh smelling, made with natural essential oils to trigger feelings of happiness (hence the name). It's super long-lasting and you can buy refills of the fragrance which is packed with notes of white neroli, woody and powdery mimosa and zingy lemon. It's overall an uplifting scent, though you'll need to flip the reeds more often if it's in a larger room. Whilst testing this reed diffuser, I preferred to place it in the hallway or bathroom. You can also buy it in a candle form, and I'd recommend checking our Neom deals page for a great price.
+ Refillable
+ Elegant, beautiful bottle
+ Eco-friendly design
+ Bottle can be reused as a bud vase
- Bottle doesn’t display branding
Even though Aery Living is a UK-based brand, the Nordic Cedar Ceramic Reed Diffuser is inspired by the minimalist and design-forward Scandinavian aesthetic and the Danish concept of hygge, referring to feelings of comfort and cosiness at home. As a result, the scent is a warming and comforting blend of cedarwood, patchouli, cinnamon and nutmeg - a woody scent with a bit of spice - that’s perfect for the colder months of the year. And even though some people prefer to proudly display the brand’s name on the likes of diffusers and their best scented candles, others (myself included) prefer a beautifully shaped vessel like this ceramic, organically-shaped one from Aery. So that when you’re finished with your diffuser you can either get a new refill which is available for purchase or you can simply repurpose the bottle as a pretty bud vase. I personally have this reed diffuser in my own home where it alternates between my living room and the home office.
+ Long-lasting
+ Versatile scent
+ Fills a room with fragrance
- Refills not available
It’s no secret that the Ideal Home team loves the majority of The White Company’s home fragrances which spans a wide range of reed diffusers, candles and room sprays to choose from. And while it is difficult to choose just one, I love the Bergamot & Cedar Diffuser largely for its versatility. Unlike some of the brand’s purely seasonal fragrances, Bergamot & Cedar is available all year round – and it also works for any time of the year, pretty much in any room. As the name suggests, this is a blend of citrusy bergamot and woody base notes of cedarwood with some neroli flower added in. That’s why the resulting fragrance conveys both a feeling of warm cosiness and of being refreshed – the perfect balance that works so well at any time of the year. Known for its understated elegance, The White Company extends its quiet luxury style to its diffusers, housed in a clear glass vessel with a silver-coloured cap.
+ Gorgeously packaged
+ Very refreshing scent
+ Long-lasting
- More subtle than other diffusers
It doesn't really get much more luxurious than Jo Malone. From the packaging of your order to the lovely fresh smell of this diffuser, I think you're going to be truly obsessed with this one. It's pricey to shell out on initially, but I've found this diffuser has lasted literally for months. And our Deputy Editor, Rebecca Knight says that hers lasted for a whole year. It's a more subtle scent than you might be used to, but it's a total, refined winner.
+ Stunning vessel and overall design
+ Original scent
- High price point
Jo Loves is Jo Malone's newest venture, and it's no surprise that the perfume extraordinaire has created another fragrance that you'll want to own as soon as you smell it. My favourite thing about this diffuser has to be the stunning vessel design, which is so unlike any other choice out there. And the mix of notes with this fragrance is simply so alluring. It's quite the investment at almost £100, but if you're gifting it to a fragrance lover, they're sure to never forget it.
How we tested these reed diffusers
Either I myself or someone on the Ideal Home team have tested every reed diffuser you can find in this guide for up to two weeks, trying them out at home in order to get a picture of their value for money, longevity and all-important scent. We're also always in the process of testing the newest releases and fan favourites so that we can keep this guide up to date.
We're always conscious of the eco-friendly element too, as we know how important sustainability is to shoppers, as well as value for money.
Read our page for more information on how we test products at Ideal Home, and keep scrolling to find out more about our expert testers.
Molly is the Ecommerce Editor for Ideal Home, with the fortunate job of testing a varied range of home products, as well as cookware and kitchen appliances.
She has tested a range of reed diffusers in her two-bed flat in London, popping a diffuser in each room to see how they can change a space. She has one large open plan living space, as well as a (sadly) windowless bathroom, both perfect spaces for testing the reach of a reed diffuser.
FAQs
What should I look for in a reed diffuser?
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Home fragrance can be a tricky thing to get right, especially if you're looking for a way to rejuvenate lots of different rooms. Rachel Bough, head of buying at The Fragrance Shop, is an expert on how to scent your home and thinks that the right materials go a long way when it comes to diffusers.
'Choose reed diffusers where the reed is made from rattan, other materials can absorb the fragrance oil rather than dispersing it across the room.', says Rachel, and make sure to 'choose reed diffusers that come in bottles with narrow necks, the fragrance oil can evaporate through the top of those with wide bottle openings rather than through the reeds.'
And Sarah-Louise Henry, marketing manager at Aery Living, agrees and adds, 'When choosing a reed diffuser, focus on quality. Opt for natural essential oils and non-toxic oils fragrance oils. Natural rattan reeds ensure even scent diffusion without clogging. Look for sustainable, reusable designs and well-balanced fragrances that match your space. A stylish diffuser doubles as a decorative element while enhancing your home with long-lasting, clean fragrance.'
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.
What are the pros and cons of buying a reed diffuser?
Reed diffusers are popular for a reason, as they can add so much to a room without needing much input from you. Rachel Bough at The Fragrance Shop thinks the same, adding, 'A reed diffuser is very low-maintenance – all you need is that bottle and the reeds to create the fragrant scent you want transported around the room'.
She adds that 'They continuously work and simply diffuse the oil that’s in their container until it runs out. Typically, it takes a few months for the fragrance in the bottle to run out completely, meaning they can also be long-lasting. Buying one for yourself means that you can personalise your home scent to what you like and need in each room.'
As far as drawbacks go, Rachel adds that 'as a reed diffuser is a constant scent, you can't switch it off compared to an electric diffuser. If you're out of town or out for the day, that scent may go unappreciated and if it's a bold fragrance it can be quite overpowering after a long time of the house being unused. However, when you do get back, it's lovely being welcomed by a gorgeous home scent.'
On the flip side, some reed diffusers might be too weak to scent a whole room which could be seen as another downside. However, we've tried to include only the most effective diffusers in this guide so hopefully this shouldn't be an issue with any of these. 'Some diffusers may struggle in larger spaces, but our blends are designed to overcome this. Cheap oils can evaporate quickly, but our premium formulas ensure durability and value, making reed diffusers an excellent, low-maintenance choice,' says Jemma Dunphy, marketing executive at Aery Living.
Where should you not put a reed diffuser?
For reasons of safety and in order to preserve your scent, there are a few places on the no-go list when it comes to finding a home for your new diffuser. Rachel Bough at The Fragrance Shop advises against putting your diffuser 'near radiators or other sources of heat. Heat can cause the oil in the diffuser to evaporate quicker, meaning that you’ll end up replacing the oil, or buying a new reed diffuser faster than necessary.'
To ensure that you're getting the most from your diffuser, Jemma Dunphy at Aery Living also recommends avoiding 'drafty areas. Excess draft can cause the oils to evaporate too quickly, reducing the diffuser's lifespan. Additionally, placing them near open windows might make the scent less concentrated in your space.'
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.'
So, where's the best spot for a diffuser? 'Near fans or air conditioners, as this will help to spread the fragrance throughout the room. Place them also in high traffic areas such as hallways as this helps to circulate the scent without the aid of a fan. It’s also a welcome treat whenever anyone enters a room,' Rachel says.
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