Best reed diffusers: expert tests of scents for every room

Choose your scent wisely. Selecting a reed diffuser means finding a scent that complements your space and the mood you are trying to create. We recommend matching a reed diffuser to the season. It's worth noting that rich scents like wood and spices are great for winter and fall, whereas fresher scents like mint, apple, and citrus will cool a space. Use these fragrances in the spring and summer.

You should also consider where you're placing your reed diffuser. The majority of people like to place a reed diffuser in a living room, where they spend lots of their time, or an entryway to flood all of their rooms with a subtle fragrance. Otherwise, a reed diffuser works well in a bathroom for a constant aroma, and to balance odors. However, where a heavy, oud-forward scent works well to make a living room cosy, you'll want a lighter scent for a bathroom. 

Unlike candles, the majority of reed diffusers can simply be refilled once the fragrance has finished, to help save the environment and to save you a little money. Be sure to check that the reed diffuser you've picked can be refilled, otherwise, if you like it, you'll have to buy the entire vessel time after time, instead of just a bottle of the fragrance. 

On average, a person will need to replace reed diffusers sticks every six months. Specific circumstances might call for substituting them sooner, or they might exceed six months. But in most cases, that is the duration you should be thinking and a good rule of thumb to follow. 

It would be a smart idea to check, before buying, that the reed diffuser you would like to buy comes with refills available. This will mean that you need only buy the vessel once, and then you can refill it forever with your favorite fragrance. You'll be helping to save the planet – and a little money.

You don't have to turn diffuser sticks around, but if you want a more intense fragrance, you can turn them every week. Just remember, turning the sticks more frequently will use up the oil faster, and you don't need to do if if your room is small.

It depends on the size of your room and how strong you want the scent to be. Using more reeds will produce a stronger scent, but you will use your fragrance oils much quicker than necessary. I would recommend six to eight, especially if your room doesn't have high ceilings.

The best place to have your diffuser is in the center of the room, so that you have an even spread of fragrance. However, this isn't always easy. Make sure to have it a few feet off the ground, near airflow, and on a stable surface. I wouldn't recommend having it on a bedside table or dining table, since this is very close to where you will breathe and eat. The fragrance oils might become overpowering or sickly in a position like this.

I like to have a diffuser in each room to set a different tone. However, if you need to pick one room, I would recommend placing it in the one you use the most. Whether that's a living room or office, you'll appreciate it more if you're around it more often.

Pet smells can be strong, so you need deep, rich, and woody fragrances to balance them. I would recommend Rituals or Nest for these types of fragrances. If they don't suit you, Trudon's Ernesto Le Diffuseur, at Bergdorf's has been making really strong room fragrances which you could spray onto upholstery to cover up pet smells.

There are lots of ways that you can keep your essential oils going for longer. To start, don't use as many reeds to start with and don't flip them as much. When you are satisfied with the scent in your room, remove the reeds and place a stopper on your oil. That way, you won't be using unnecessary oil. Also, make sure to place your diffuser somewhere where the scent is maximised, so that you don't use up any unnecessary oils.