In my opinion, the safest and most low-maintenance way to scent your home has to be reed diffusers. The sticks absorb the scented oil from the vessel and release fragrance into the air, making them a simple way to add fragrance to any room.
I'm Real Homes' fragrance expert, and I've tested hundreds of products for our site, including reed diffusers, candles, and essential oil diffusers. So, I know exactly what to look for when it comes to finding scents that smell beautiful, last ages, and are great value for money.
From the likes of Nest New York, Rituals, and Archipelago Botanicals, here are the best home fragrances to scent your home, as approved by the Real Homes team. We've tested these for weeks in our own homes, so we've put them well and truly to the test.
Sweet and fruity scents
Size: 3.38 oz.
Scent: Citrus
Refill available? Yes
Price: $43.50
This zesty fragrance offers a welcoming and uplifting boost that's scented with neroli, mimosa, and lemon essential oils. It's refreshing, not too overbearing, and works best in smaller spaces, including the kitchen and bathroom.
Size: 2 oz
Scent: Sweet
Refillable? No
Price: $65
This diffuser has notes of Polynesian coconut, orchid, warm sugar, and sandalwood, which create a sweet scent that's rich and inviting. Our content editor Eve Smallman uses it in her home office and is greeted with a gorgeous scent every time. She commends its longevity, having kept it for two months.
Size: 7.85 oz
Scent: Fruity
Refill available? Yes
Price: $49
This tropical reed diffuser smells like an exotic fruit platter laden with mangoes, tangerines, passion fruit, and pomegranate. Its aroma reaches every corner of a room, and the bottle is recyclable and refillable.
Floral scents
Size: 5.9 oz.
Scent: Floral
Refill available? No
Price: $58
This blend of rosewater, geranium, and salted amber is perfect for enjoying in an entryway or a bedroom, and its striped frosted glass bottle looks luxe. It's cruelty-free and it comes in recyclable packaging, though bear in mind it's not refillable.
Size: 3.38 oz
Scent: Floral
Refill available? No
Price: $48.50 refill, $60 diffuser
This fragrance is fueled by sharp rhubarb, sour juniper berry, crushed tarragon, and fresh muddled rosemary. It's the perfect non-invasive scent that never smells cheap. It's housed in an elegant black glass vessel with silk reeds you'll rarely need to flip.
Size: 3.38 oz.
Scent: Floral
Refill available: Yes
Price: $29-$43.50
Subtle enough for your bedroom, I use this reed diffuser a few hours before bedtime. However, I do move it out of my room if the reeds have recently been flipped as our dog sleeps on our bedroom floor. It's scented with lavender, balanced with jasmine and rosewood, but doesn't smell like potpourri.
Spicy, smoky, and woody scents
Size: 5.1 oz.
Scent: Spicy
Refill available? Yes
Price: $44
With cinnamon, cloves, and sweet orange, this reed diffuser will make any room feel warm, cozy, and festive. Content editor Eve Smallman was amazed at how well it filled her whole home, particularly when hosting or cooking. It is pricey, but it lasted all winter. She suggests placing it in your entryway as a way to create an inviting space for the holidays.
Size: 3.5 oz.
Scent: Musky
Price: $29
For a musky, earthy aroma, this combination of leather, teak, and orange will make you crave the cold. Our content editor, Danielle Valente owns the candle equivalent (housed in the same apothecary-inspired amber glass) and recently attended a P.F Candle Co. event where she smelt the incense sticks.
Size: 5.9 oz.
Scent: Woody
Refill available? No
Price: $60
This woody and smoky fragrance offers a pleasantly mysterious scent and fills the air with notes of labdanum, patchouli, cedarwood, charred birchwood, and a hint of black truffle. It masks unpleasant odors and has a spicy, almost cologne-like aroma. It's also cruelty-free and alcohol-free, though you'll want to use it in a larger room as it's pretty heavy. A great dorm room idea for guys!
How we test reed diffusers
I have been testing home fragrances for years in my two-bedroom apartment and I always move them from room to room, and like to use them until they are half empty before making my mind up. Reed diffusers are also one of the things people with nice-smelling homes always use (including me!).
A couple of reed diffusers in this guide have been recommended by members of the Real Homes team. I warned my colleagues not to place the reed diffuser next to a heat source such as a radiator or a heater, as this can cause the oil to evaporate quicker than normal. But otherwise, I made sure that the process of how we test was as standardized as possible. For reed diffusers, this included:
- Fragrance intensity and longevity: This is how strong the fragrance is and how long it lasts. This is important as a reed diffuser needs to maintain a consistent fragrance level over time.
- Evaporation rate: This is the rate the oil evaporates through the reeds. If this is too fast, this can cause the diffuser to run out of scent prematurely, while if this is too slow, it can result in a weak fragrance.
- Reed quality: The quality of the reeds included is super important, as this is how the product absorbs and diffusers the fragrance. The ones made from high-quality materials ensure a steady and consistent release of fragrance.
- Scent throw: The distance over which the fragrance is noticeable is key for ensuring if a reed diffuser is doing its job and filling a room with scent. This is why we move diffusers around different rooms when testing.
- Price: We've looked at how good value for money the reed diffuser is for money, looking at the cost versus its performance.
What to consider when choosing a reed diffuser
1. Is it refillable?
With candles, once they’re gone — they’re gone. Not so with reed diffusers, which can be topped up with new fragrance oil. When you buy a diffuser refill, discard old reeds — they’ll be saturated with the scent from the first oil — and use new ones.
When refilling, you don't need to pour all the oil into the vessel. Instead, fill it to about two-thirds or three-quarters full. This allows for proper absorption by the reeds. Adding too much oil can oversaturate the reeds, leading to a strong smell that may be overpowering. Thicker reeds can absorb and release more fragrance, leading to stronger smell. However, the effectiveness of this can depend on the shape and size of the room.
The lifespan of your reed diffuser will vary based on factors such as the size of the bottle and the amount of oil used. Normally, an average reed diffuser can last anywhere from several weeks to a few months. However, factors like room temperature, ventilation, and the number of reeds can influence how quickly the oil evaporates.
2. Think about scents you normally like
Florals are fairly self-explanatory, though some of them get a bad rap for being too strong. Consider something from the woody or spicy families, or on the other end of the spectrum, a fresher, "greener" scent. Alternatively, if you're feeling stressed or anxious, you may benefit from picking an aromatherapeutic reed diffuser. Scents containing sage and rosemary can offer focus and clarity when dotted around the home, and lavender is known to be particularly calming if you're having trouble relaxing or sleeping. On the contrary, zingy citrusy scents can be energizing if you need a little pick-me-up. Peppermint has a similar uplifting effect.
3. Check its size
The larger the diffuser — the longer it will last. And don't forget, the more reeds in the fragrance, the quicker it will empty. Plus, the more often you flip the reeds the quicker the fragrance will need to be refilled or replaced, too. It's worth bearing this in mind when looking at the price of a reed diffuser — when will you next need to pay to refill or replace it?
4. Consider its design
Buy a reed diffuser that fits with your home decor, because it may have to be placed in the center of a room. Also, be sure to check if its vessel is recyclable after use, and if not, then you might want to ensure refills are available so you won't have to throw away the whole vessel. Most reed diffusers are eco-friendly as they are made using glass and bamboo wooden sticks.
5. Does it come as a candle or a room spray too?
If you like your home to smell the same throughout, check whether the reed diffuser you have picked comes as a candle, wax melt, air freshener, or room spray, too. This might appeal if you live in an open-plan or small apartment and don't want different scents to merge. However, some people call it scent layering!
FAQs
Are reed diffusers better than plug-ins?
Reed diffusers don't require electricity to run, whereas plug-in fragrances do. So, in terms of energy efficiency — reed diffusers are better.
How can I make my reed diffuser last longer?
Don't flip your reeds as frequently. Once a month is sufficient, and if you live in a smaller space, you won't need to flip them at all. You can also put a stopper in the reed diffuser if you're happy with the strength of the scent in the room.
If you haven't kept the stopper from your reed diffuser, you could use a shop-bought set instead, such as these Feel Fragrance Glass Diffuser Jars on Amazon.
Where to buy reed diffusers
Browse more buys online from some of Real Homes' favorite brands and retailers.
- Amazon reed diffusers
- Anthropologie reed diffusers
- Cowshed reed diffusers
- Crate & Barrel reed diffusers
- Cult Beauty reed diffusers
- Diptyque reed diffusers
- ESPA reed diffusers
- Homesick reed diffusers
- Jo Malone reed diffusers
- Kohl's reed diffusers
- LAFCO reed diffusers
- Macy's reed diffusers
- Molton Brown reed diffusers
- Neal's Yard reed diffusers
- Neiman Marcus reed diffusers
- Neom reed diffusers
- Nest New York reed diffusers
- Nordstrom reed diffusers
- P.F. Candle Co. reed diffusers
- Pottery Barn reed diffusers
- Rituals reed diffusers
- Sears reed diffusers
- Sephora reed diffusers
- Selfridges reed diffusers
- Space NK reed diffusers
- Target reed diffusers
- Voluspa reed diffusers
- Walmart reed diffusers
- Wayfair reed diffusers
- The White Company reed diffusers
- Williams-Sonoma reed diffusers
If you're into DIY, our guide on how to make a reed diffuser will help you create your very own concoction with essential oils, available from Amazon. This is a fun hobby and makes a great gifting idea if you're short of cash. You can very easily personalize your presents by buying colored glass bottles and customizing the scent, depending on the recipient.
If mist is more your thing, consider one of our best essential oil diffusers for an aroma therapeutic experience.
