Molly Cleary
A cosy and inviting home should look and feel good, both for you and your guests. We often focus solely on the look but the feel part is just as (if not more) important and it means your abode should engage all the senses in a positive way – and the sense of smell is one of the most powerful. So whether you’re looking to give your home a signature or a seasonal scent, the best reed diffusers are the perfect tool to employ.
The benefit of going for a reed diffuser as your main source of your best home fragrance is that once you set it up, you don’t have to worry about it. The only thing you need to do is flip the reeds once every couple of weeks to make the fragrance stronger. Reed diffusers are the best base of a home’s scent which you can then jazz up a little by burning your favourite best scented candle when you’re feeling extra special or the occasion calls for it.
I’ve worked in the home fragrance departments of both Harrods and Fortnum & Mason, both iconic luxury department stores in London. And through that experience, continued through my current job as a Content Editor for Room Decor, I’ve smelt and tried many different reed diffusers in my time from budget to luxury – at this point, I’ve lost count, but it’s well over a hundred.
So with all that I’ve learnt over the years, I’ve put together this short list of 9 of the best reed diffusers for every budget, every season and occasion, that I’d recommend to anyone.
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 they come in, all of which helps me to determine which are worth the investment.
Quick list
+ Strong fragrance
+ Luxury bottle
+ Refillable
- Easy to knock over
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 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.
Verdict: 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.
+ 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 smells of pomegranate (as you might have guessed) and it's 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.
Verdict: 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.
+ Unique scent
+ Available in several sizes
+ Strong fragrance
+ Refills available
- High price point
When I say that people go crazy for this diffuser, I mean it. Rosso Nobile is Dr. Vranjes’ bestseller – and during my time working at Harrods and Fortnum & Mason, this diffuser was also a regular bestseller of their respective home fragrance departments. It has something of an icon status in the ‘in-the-know’ circle. Inspired by the intoxicating aroma of Tuscan red wine, Dr. Vranjes managed to recreate the unique scent by mixing notes of berries with orange blossom and woody accords.
Verdict: If you’re after a scent that’s unique with a hint of sweetness that also lasts long and smells strong enough to fragrance a room, this is the one to get.
+ Excellent value
+ Keeps a space very fresh
+ Lovely scent
- Bottle is a little non-descript
This diffuser 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. I only wish that there was a little more going on with the bottle of the diffuser itself, which is a bit lacking.
Verdict: For the size of this diffuser, it's great value for money, with a luxury feel for a good price.
+ 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. And I'd recommend checking our Neom deals page for a great price.
Verdict: 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.
+ 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, this 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 soft and comforting blend of cedarwood, patchouli, cinnamon and nutmeg that’s perfect for all year round. I love the ceramic organically-shaped vessel so that when you’re finished with your diffuser you can either get a new refill or you can simply repurpose the bottle as a pretty bud vase.
Verdict: I have this reed diffuser in my own home where it alternates between my living room and the home office. It's so versatile.
+ Long-lasting
+ A strong but not overwhelming scent
- Refills not available
- Only available at L’Occitane
I recently moved to a new flat and had to downsize my possessions which included the amount of reed diffusers I had space for. But this one from L’Occitane was the first one I knew I wanted to keep. Inspired by Provence in the south of France, it blends the beautiful and very popular note of fig with oolong tea which complement one another beautifully. I’ve had this diffuser since this February and it’s still going strong.
Verdict: This is one of my favourite reed diffusers I’ve ever owned and I’d recommend it to anyone that loves the smell of fig.
+ Gorgeously packaged
+ Very refreshing scent
+ Long-lasting
- More subtle than other diffusers
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.
Verdict: It's a more subtle scent than you might be used to, but it's a total, refined winner.
+ Beautiful vessel and overall design
+ Makes a lovely present
+ Refills available
- High price point
Having just launched this August, this reed diffuser created by Jo Malone is as much about scenting your home as it is about decorating it. Encased in a sphere-shaped, tortoiseshell-effect glass vessel, the diffuser is equipped with only three streamlined, thicker reeds which also make it appear more elegant. As for the scent, it’s on the softer side, perfect if you want something inoffensive, not too in your face. But it’s beautiful nonetheless, blending comforting amber with the freshness of citrus fruit.
Verdict: This is the prettiest reed diffuser I’ve seen in a very long time. And if the look of your home is very important to you, you can’t go wrong with this sophisticated piece.
How we test
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.
Best brands for reed diffusers
- Rituals: for crowd-pleasing yet original scents
- Marks & Spencer: for budget-friendly fragrance that smells expensive
- Dr. Vranjes: for luxury diffusers with unique, long-lasting fragrance
- Jo Malone: for instantly recognisable diffusers everyone loves
- Arran Sense of Scotland: for soothing, evocative fragrance
- Neom Organics: for mood-based spa-like experience
- Aery: for aesthetically pleasing, sustainable diffusers
- Jo Loves: for luxury diffusers with beautiful design and lovely scents
- The White Company: for a wide range of long-lasting scents for all seasons
- Molton Brown: for fairly priced but refined, long-lasting home fragrance
- L’Occitane: for scents inspired by the charming south of France
- Diptyque: for the ultimate luxurious diffusers with strong scents
Why choose a reed diffuser over a candle?
I wouldn't say this is necessarily a case of choosing one over the other as scented candles and reed diffusers work well in tandem. But reed diffusers are the consistent source of scent for your home that do the everyday heavy lifting.
But you can then bring in scented candles and light one for special occasions or when you yourself feel in the mood for a more intense hit of home fragrance – as scented candles tend to provide that.
FAQs
What should I look for in a reed diffuser?
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.