13 Best Essential Oil Diffusers 2026: Tested and Reviewed

Urpower

Aroma Essential Oil (2nd Gen)

Sometimes the simplest product is the best, and that’s the case here. The best-selling Urpower Aroma diffuser doesn’t have too many bells and whistles, but it works and it works well. There are two buttons on its housing: one to turn on the mist and set a timer (choose between 60, 180, or 360 minutes, or just leave it on), and the other to cycle among seven different colored lights (or turn them off entirely). You fill the little tank with water and add a few drops of your chosen scented oil. The tank holds enough water to run for about six or seven hours, and the diffuser will shut off automatically once the tank is empty.

It puts out quite a bit of steam, which I personally found soothing during the dry winter while I was testing it. The scent strength and longevity depends on how many drops of oil you add to the tank. Note that the lid doesn’t lock onto the tank, so you’ll want to keep it in a stable place away from kids and pets (as you would with any other household tech).

WIRED

• Optional light
• Very simple to use

TIRED

• Lid doesn’t lock

I first learned about Pura from a friend whose house always smelled like a high-end boutique under every circumstance. Cooking project, water leak … no matter what was going on in her house at the time, I only ever smelled berries. I have two cats and a multi-sports-playing teen—I knew I needed this. Now, after having owned multiple Puras for over two years, I have some thoughts.

While my Pura journey began with the now-discontinued Pura 3, I have also since tested the Pura 4 and large-room Pura Plus, both of which have dual bays for two of Pura’s proprietary oil cartridges, as well as the Pura Mini. The Pura 4 and Mini both plug into an outlet and can only be controlled through the accompanying app (or Alexa or Google Home). This is convenient for setting schedules and timers, switching fragrances (or using the handy new auto-alternate feature), and changing the color of the optional night-light, but there have also been numerous occasions where I’ve wanted to stop or start or change a schedule but have been unable to because I forgot my password or the diffuser couldn’t connect to Wi-Fi. In the moment, it was infuriating. Mercifully, the stand-alone, cylindrical Pura Plus has on/off manual control buttons on the front. The smaller Pura 4 and Mini are best for enclosed spaces, like a long entryway for the former or a small bedroom for the latter (note that all Puras only work with 2.4-Ghz Wi-Fi). If you have high ceilings or any kind of open floor plan, you’ll get better results from the Pura Plus. Just note that, unlike the silent Pura 4 and Mini, the Plus emits an audible whooshing sound—32 decibels, about as loud as a fan on low.

Perhaps the best feature of the Puras, however, is the brand’s extensive library of scents from companies like Anthropologie, Nest, Capri Blue, and more. (Including luxe seasonal releases—spring offerings include Studio McGee Violet Fig, Brooklyn Candle Studio Tulum, and Otherland Chandelier, among many, many others.) The quality and duration can vary quite widely, and they’re not cheap—$11 all the way up to $34, for 0.33 ounces—but most of them smell better than cartridges from any other diffuser brand I’ve tried, and all come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Because of the small size and price of the cartridges, Pura might not be the best choice if you want to smell diffuser all day, every day, as you’ll end up spending a small fortune. However, if you love unique luxury scents and only need them occasionally and/or on demand, Pura is the way to go. —Kat Merck

WIRED

• Scents smell fantastic
• App offers convenient controls

TIRED

• Can be loud
• App and cartridges can be buggy