My family started using diffusers 2 years ago to freshen up our home, because rearranging the furniture was too much heavy lifting for my husband (I love you, honey). Our dog Oreo loves taking naps near them and my girls no longer have morning sinus issues – these diffusers pair perfectly with essential oils to help keep germs at bay and make it feel like we’re breathing out in nature inside our very own home.
To help with your selection, I sorted out 5 popular diffusers in the market and scored them based on capacity, mist output, design, build, and price —
1. Zoe by Pilgrim
My #1 Favourite: Pilgrim’s Zoe Ultrasonic diffuser. A rare combo of beauty and function, this diffuser is an air-cleaning, germ-busting, anxiety-calming must-have for any home. Media outlets are also quick to pick up on Zoe’s charms, seeing the diffuser pop up on Brit & Co., Architectural Digest, and the LA Times. They know it, I know it – Zoe simply beats the competition.
Design:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Material & Build Quality:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Capacity & Mist Output:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price & Value:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Total: 19/20
Design: This versatile diffuser blends elegantly with my home decor – no easy feat. Don’t just take my word for it! My guests always compliment my design sensibilities.
It comes with a built-in meditation light that’s helpful for zeroing in on a steady breathing pattern for my morning yoga sessions. Or, if you’d like, you can just use it as a cute bedside lamp, since you have independent control of the light intensity. Bonus points: instructions are hidden beneath the cover and keeps the aesthetic clean.
Material & Build Quality: The BPA-free plastic water tank is encased in an elegant oak wood base, topped off by a handmade glass cover that has me staring longer than I should…what was I saying again?
The cable that comes with it is definitely longer than other diffusers at 70.1 inches/1.8 meters, which is like getting extra legroom on a flight and I FINALLY get to place a diffuser on my favorite bookshelf. Don’t worry about knocking it over either, Zoe’s built like a tank and won’t budge that easily.
Capacity & Mist Output: And my FAVOURITE part – a 500ml/ 16.9 fl oz. tank, Zoe comes with a customisable mist setting that spews blissful aromas for up to 12 hours. Or you can choose to pair it with some essential oils (I use Pilgrim’s very own GC-MS tested Purify collection) and the air in the house will feel crisp and aromatic the entire day.
Better yet, a remote ties it all together with much-appreciated convenience that allows me to kick back and enjoy aromatherapy without having to move from my couch and forget where I left off in a good book.
Price & Value: At $159 [UPDATE – $135.15 for a limited time! Use code QUICKSALE for 15% off your first purchase], Zoe isn’t the cheapest, but it’s definitely a worthwhile investment into home improvement and wellness. Additionally, the company offers a 12-month warranty and a return policy that’s nearly as good as Costco’s (As a mom, you have to know this is no small comparison, people).
If that wasn’t enough, they also offer FREE SHIPPING & 30-DAY RETURNS. Kudos to Pilgrim – they took my relaxation seriously from the very first click because I hate having to deal with fussy orders.
UPDATE – Pilgrim’s offering a LIMITED TIME discount for 1ST-TIME customers. Get 15% OFF with code QUICKSALE
2. Lumo by doTERRA
Design:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Material & Build Quality:
⭐⭐⭐
Capacity & Mist Output:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price & Value:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Total: 16/20
Design: Lumo doesn’t stand out much but it’s clean minimal looks lend elegance to any space. However, you can’t put it everywhere because the extension cord’s shorter than my kid’s temper – I can’t even put it on my favorite coffee table! Additionally, the light “wooden” base turns out to be plastic with coating. It cheapens the premium experience that the doTERRA brand promises.
Material & Build Quality: The top cover isn’t very sturdy, and the plastic base doesn’t inspire too much confidence in the structure. However, the internal cover is tall – no leaks! – and gives much needed support for the cover.
Capacity & Mist Output: Lumo could run 10 hours intermittently and is best for smaller areas like the bedroom. There is also the option to run 2 or 5 hours continuously, but I noticed that it gurgles more after continuous use. Otherwise, output is consistent with good aroma.
Capacity & Mist Output: Lumo could run 10 hours intermittently and is best for smaller areas like the bedroom. There is also the option to run 2 or 5 hours continuously, but I noticed that it gurgles more after continuous use. Otherwise, output is consistent with good aroma.
Pricing & Value: For $93, you get decent design, but as we know with MLM brands like doTERRA, the hurdles we jump and the insane prices we pay go to feeding this cycle of middlemen and markups. Besides, other alternatives exist now that, because they sell directly to you, costs less.
3. Aria by Young Living
Young Living is a very popular essential oils brand, but they also have a line of diffusers. The Aria is one of their high-end offerings and delivers extra features I don’t see elsewhere, but considering the brand attached to it, Aria comes at a hefty price.
Design:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Material & Build Quality:
⭐⭐⭐
Capacity & Mist Output:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Price & Value:
⭐⭐
Total: 14/20
Design: Aria’s glass top has a refreshing new look, a departure from ceramic and plastic that I see so often. It’s clean and charming, resembling a space observatory. My kids love playing with the lights and playing music on it.
Material & Build Quality: Unfortunately, the glass top trades off safety for style. I am paranoid when it comes to my daughters’ safety, so this is not ok. Other than that, the remote control sometimes does not respond and is a bit unwieldy.
Capacity & Mist Output: At 260ml, the Aria runs for 12 hours on intermittent mode which fills up bigger rooms, but you can also set it at 1/2/3 hours on continuous output. Output is steady and generous, but aroma concentration seems to decline and there’s a new gurgling noise after 1 month.
Pricing & Value: The Aria stole my heart with its design but let me down with the $ 304.93 tag. As we all know, YL is an MLM company, which means they sell through many middlemen. The mark up on these products go to paying for this structure, so I personally think it’s not worth the money, not when affordable alternatives with similar levels of quality exist.
4. ZUJOE
Design:
⭐⭐
Material & Build Quality:
⭐⭐
Capacity & Mist Output:
⭐⭐⭐
Price & Value:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Total: 11/20
Design: This diffuser looks good as a Halloween prop, like a cute little potion flask, but it looks cheap. The silhouette may be elegant in itself, but the plastic wood grain cover becomes more and more obvious the closer you get.
Material & Build Quality: The device feels flimsy, so you will have to be careful when you handle it. It’s also important to note that the top doesn’t give an indication of being secured to the base. It just sort of fits and that’s not reassuring – be wary of spilling.
Capacity & Mist Output: The device definitely works but aromatherapy delivery was mediocre at best. It will take a bit to notice when the room is finally filled with your choice of aroma, but don’t count on the longevity of this device. Otherwise, the tank has a high capacity of 500ml which ran me 12 hours on low intensity.
Price & Value: The tag reads $33.99, so it’s one of the most affordable diffusers on this list. At first glance, this seems like a good price if you’re only interested in getting a cheap diffuser and don’t mind design flaws. But mind you, this may only be a temporary fix, since I’ve noticed my unit has started to sputter and scents are not as strong after 2 weeks.
5. Gather by Ellia
Design:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Material & Build Quality:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Capacity & Mist Output:
⭐⭐⭐
Price & Value:
⭐⭐⭐
Total: 11/20
Design: A perforated cover makes the Gather stand out, and the basket weave design is so cute for a rustic look. It also complements the 7 colored light, and overall makes for good company in meditation.
Material & Build Quality: Gather is an elegant combination of a wooden top and ceramic cover. That being said, this device deserves its spot in a small group of non-plastic premium-built diffusers.
Capacity & Mist Output: 200ml is large and it runs close to 20 hours, but scents are weak. It’s good for meditation when the diffuser’s close, but not for filling up a room. As for the remote, it’s the biggest pain to use.
Price & Value: This diffuser doesn’t come cheap at $108, but it’s generous in what it offers – unique design, decent construction, and a large tank. However, the remote is so hard to use, and isn’t built well either
11 Comments
Thank you so much for this review – I’ve been a looking for a diffuser to match with my essential oils for quite some time now.
I’ve recently bought the Zoe before seeing your blog and I’m so happy I made the right choice like you. I absolutely love the Zoe diffuser and it’s perfect for me! <3
I know! It’s fantastic and I haven’t stopped using it since the day I bought it! What oils do you use with your Zoe Diffuser? 🙂
How long does the mist last for the Zoe diffuser?
It has a customisable mist setting from 6h continuous and 12h intermittent! 🙂
I personally use the intermittent setting so it lasts longer and the smell retains better in the room.
A good read.
I’ve been a long time diffuser and essential oils user and I must add that having a remote to control your diffuser is one of the best things ever!
Yes the simplicity of changing the settings of your diffuser when you’re lying on your bed is one of the best feelings in the world 🙂 haha XX
I saw that you mentioned about using Essential Oils called Purify Collection. Was wondering if you can tell me where you got those from?
Yes of course Alicia! I pair my Zoe Diffuser with Pilgrim’s own Essential Oil collections.
You can find them here – https://pilgrimcollection.com/products/purify-essential-oils-collection
I personally love the Purify Collection! Just smelling it makes the air feel fresh and clean. I use it morning and night for my girls and it helps with their sinus problems.
They said it’s out of stock.