Transform your home's ambience with the best reed diffusers – recommended by master perfumers, and tested in our homes

When it comes to creating a welcoming atmosphere, using one of the best reed diffusers can truly transform your space.

Scent is the first thing many people notice first about a home, and after spending six months researching and testing the very best reed diffusers available on the market, I have picked six brilliant ones to consider for longevity and scent.

Of all the best home fragrances I've tried, these reed diffusers are not only stylish, but worth the spend. With prices ranging from $30-220 there really is something suitable for everyone.

My one-minute verdict

After testing these six reed diffusers in my home across six months, my top pick has to go to Ambre diffuser, available at Diptyque for quality, longevity, and luxurious scenting.

If you want something similar but a little less strong, try the Adlan fragrances Crowd Pleaser diffuser, and for something fresher, the Airy Fragrances Forest Breath diffuser, or the ScentAir Golden Bamboo option.

For large open spaces, like entryways and living rooms, the Pomegranate Noir diffuser available at Jo Malone is a well-loved, punchy classic, and if you prefer something sweeter, you can't go wrong with California Summers, available at Voluspa.

Read on for a full review of each.

The best reed diffusers

Diptyque Ambre

Scent: Wood, vetiver, patchouli, tonka and spice.

Is there truly anything more synonymous with making your home smell nice than Diptyque? To me, there certainly isn't, and this strong yet soft Diptyque reed diffuser is my top pick for good reason.

First of all, it looks absolutely beautiful, with a fluted glass design that can be reused again and again, and makes a stunning statement in my room, where I've been using it to make my bedroom smell good for sleep.

In my opinion, that's enough to justify the $110 Home Fragrance Diffuser Glass vessel available at Diptyque and the $110 Ambre Refill also available, though separately, at Diptyque.

I love a warm and woody scent, so it's no surprise that this resinous fragrance is right up my street. It also filled my bedroom quickly and is lasting well, still going strong after over month. I think it would be great for a living room space, too.

There's still nothing better than stepping into my room and breathing it in, so I do think, despite the higher price-point, that I would still call it good value for money. Plus, I always appreciate a refillable and reusable design, and that the fragrance refill comes in an opaque silver bottle, to stop sunlight causing it to deteriorate.

There are a whole host of other fragrances available at Diptyque, with a recent expansion in their reed diffuser line, if you're looking to make your home smell nice without candles specifically.

The Figuier (Fig Tree) Refill available at Diptyque is also lovely if you're after something a little more summery and fruity without any sweetness, and you can't go wrong with the Roses Refill available at Diptyque, either.

Plus, you can always change your scents depending on the season, reusing your gorgeous glass vessel, and even halt diffusion with the Vessel Stopper, also available at Diptyque. Now that's what makes a luxury product worth the splurge.

Strength: 5/5

Adlan Fragrances Crowd Pleaser

Scent: Sandalwood, worn leather, amber and green cardamom.

The Crowd Pleaser Diffuser available at Adlan Fragrances is the last diffuser I've been testing, but it's certainly not the least. It oozes cool.

Where to begin? The signature graphite vessel, seen in the picture above, which looks striking in it's own right? Or the sandalwood, leather, and vetiver, earthy scent, which couldn't really be more up my street if it tried.

Yes, this diffuser is an eye-watering $220, but with that price comes a unique delicacy that has settled the age-old reed diffusers vs scented candles debate in my home for good. I'm now diffusers all the way.

Like all the others I've tried and included here, this diffuser filled my medium-sized guest bedroom space quickly, but not necessarily strongly. It's difficult to explain, but it almost smells like it has boldly always been there, and that that's just the way the room has always smelled. I love it.

While I've been using this in a bedroom space, I also think it would suit a living room or entryway, but, in my opinion, keep it away from your kitchens and bathrooms.

Jo Bailey, editor of Homes & Gardens (print), also loves the The Diffuser Ernesto available at Trudon, which features similar notes of leather, blended with tobacco. 'I have this diffuser in my hallway, so I get a hit when I come in,' she says. 'It stops me from getting nose blind, and usually lasts around four months. It's expensive, so a rare treat, but it's the best smell in the world, if you're into that sort of scent.'

So, if you're after a real show-stopping treat, and love a worn leather scent like me (Le Labo's outrageously popular Santal 26 is my signature) then this ones for you. If not, they have a few others to try, in equally as alluring names: Playing With Fire, The Bitter End, and Into The Briar Patch, all available to explore at Adlan Fragrances.

Strength: 3/5, but in the best way

Airy Fragrances Forest Breath

Scent: Sandalwood, hinoki, rose and clary sage.

If you're into something a little fresher, this Forest Breath 森 Home Reed Diffuser available at Airy Fragrances really surprised me in the best way, and I've since become a loyal fan of both the Japanese brand behind it, and the musky, woody, yet floral scent.

The most notable thing about this one was how quickly it filled my large living room, and how far away it could and still can be smelled. Genuinely, I opened it up, and within half an hour I could smell it from well outside the door.

Usually, this could be something that might even put me off, but at only $55, here it purely serves to highlight what a good purchase this one is. Plus, the scent somehow travels without being heady, instead remaining crisp, calming and fresh, which is why it's ideal for using in a relaxing space like your living room or bedroom, or to make your bathroom smell like a luxury spa.

If you've ever had the pleasure of smelling Aesop's Hwyl Eau de Parfum, which I also love, it's very comparable, with both capturing the enduring beauty of a Japanese Hinoki forest.

Like the Diptyque Ambre fragrance, it's also very unisex, and reusable and refillable, which I've come to believe should be a characteristic of all the best reed diffusers, particularly as we all strive to be more sustainable at home.

There are plenty of other Japanese landscape inspired options available on Airy Fragrances, too, such as Mystic Essence 空, which captures Japan's Sakura season in full bloom, and Serene Solstice 寧, which centers around a zen garden at dusk.

Strength: 4/5

ScentAir Golden Bamboo

Scent: Mandarin, lime, apple and rose.

There are undoubtedly countless joys which come with children, or living with pets, but they can make home scenting a little more difficult. Enter: the Golden Bamboo Infused Reed Starter Set available at ScentAir, which definitely takes the crown as the most inventive and ingenious of the bunch.

Wave goodbye to teetering vessels filled with scented, oily fragrance with this pick, which instead uses liquidless, fragrance infused reeds, housed in a stunning ceramic decorative vase.

I'm not the only one at Homes & Gardens who loves this one – Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved, also has added this tried and tested favorite to her repetoire, after swapping to the non-toxic dry fragrance reeds earlier this year, commenting on how they 'smell like a luxury hotel' with a 'constant' smell. I agree.

Admittedly, I was a little doubtful – how could a reed diffuser work without anything to diffuse? But, after using one on my desk, and really appreciating the benefit of not having to worry about knocking it over and causing a huge mess, I've been loving this small yet mighty option.

It's also the second-most affordable of the bunch, coming in at only $36, holder included. There are a host of fragrances to shop on ScentAir.

The Golden Bamboo scent I went for features notes of satsuma and Tahitian lime, blended with apple, bamboo, rose, cedarwood, and white amber, but the best way I would describe it is just clean. It actually wound up being so popular in my home that my sister now has one in her bedroom, too.

Like Punteha, I love the way the dry fragrance reeds make this particular option so portable, and the way the scent is completely customizable.

For example, I started with three reeds, but after wanting a punchier non-toxic way to make my house smell nice, I added a couple more. I now keep the ones I'm not using safely in their cardboard packaging box, and will just swap them out when necessary. But, even after a couple of months, it actually hasn't been yet!

This ones perfect for anyone, or anywhere, that you don't want to risk spilling a reed diffuser, like a desk, bedside table or kitchen table, but it will look equally as good on a shelf, too.

Both me and Punteha also tried the Black Orchid Infused Reed Starter Set available at ScentAir, and agree that it's better suited to larger spaces, like open-plan living come dining areas as the scent is strong, or to add to your entryway where the door is going to be opened a lot and the air changed.

Placing a reed diffuser in this space is one of the things people with nice-smelling entryways always do.

Strength: Customizable. Add more or less sticks for scent control.

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir

Scent: Pomegranate, lily and guaiacwood.

Speaking of entryways, it would be impossible for me to put together a guide on the best reed diffusers I've tried without including the Pomegranate Noir Diffuser available at Jo Malone, loved by my colleagues and celebrities alike.

For example, Sophie Edwards, H&G's celebrity news editor, recently attended a scent masterclass at Jo Malone, where their expert recommended this diffuser as an excellent entryway fragrance secret.

She says, 'The scent is fruity and inviting, with rich, masculine undertones. When I first put it out I found the scent so strong it was almost overpowering, but after a day it mellowed out into an inviting greeting when I enter the flat. As suggested by Jo Malone's scent expert, layer it with candles as you move into the home.'

I couldn't agree more – when I first opened this diffuser I could smell it on every floor of my three-floor home, even after placing it in my powder room, right next to the entryway.

But, like Sophie, very quickly it settled down, and, even with four dogs, I've never received so many 'your home smells amazing' compliments since popping it on that bathroom shelf.

Keep this one to open spaces: entryways, large dining rooms, or hallways, to make your home smell good all the time. You're definitely getting bang for your buck with this higher-end option, as I've been testing mine since December and can still smell it as soon as I walk into my house. It's refillable too, with the Pomegranate Noir Diffuser Refill available for $90 at Jo Malone.

While I haven't tried any other home fragrance scents from Jo Malone (but am a firm lover of their perfumes) the Wild Bluebell Scent Surround Diffuser, also available at Jo Malone, is also a Homes & Gardens-approved favorite, if you prefer something a little softer.

'One of Meghan Markle's favorite scents, Jo Malone's Wild Bluebell is my favorite diffuser,' says Laura Honey, former master perfumer and eCommerce editor. 'It's delicate and light, but it's still distinctive in a room. With notes of lilly of the valley, clove and musk, unlike many other bluebell fragrances, this has earthy notes that stop it from becoming cloying and sickly. Close your eyes and you'll feel like you're in a dewy bluebell wood, rather than a bedroom.' And who wouldn't want that?

Strength: 5/5

Voluspa California Summers

Scent: Sea salt, vanilla and teakwood.

Sometimes, the right space calls for something a little sweeter. Or, you might just be someone who prefers sweeter scents in general for your home's signature scent.

For this, I've been trying and loving the California Summers Reed Diffuser available at Voluspa, which has all the rich sweetness, but with a pleasant twist of fresh coconut and sunkissed sandy beaches, reminiscent of the best kind of summer holiday. One site reviewer, who gave it a strong five stars, dubbed it 'vanilla heaven,' and they're not wrong.

I was using it at home in the guest bedroom, and can now safely say it's one of the most welcoming fragrances for a guest bedroom, particularly during the warmer months. It's now perfectly at home in my bathroom, drawing on the notes of sea salt and teakwood that offset the vanilla-ry undertones. In general, it's a super versatile scent.

With a vessel that's only six fluid ounces, you might think that the scent won't be strong, or long-lasting, but the exact is opposite. I'm always struck by the strength of it whenever I enter the room or even pass the door, but it certainly isn't sickly. I love the detail of chic cut glass design, too.

It's also free of sulfates, phthalates, pesticides and parabens, ideal for anyone who is sensitive to home fragrancing, or for spaces shared by furry friends.

I've been lucky enough to try the Baltic Amber Reed Diffuser available at Voluspa, which is more wintery, and the Mediterranean Lemon Reed Diffuser, also available at Voluspa, which screams summer. They're both great too.

Strength: 5/5

How we test reed diffusers

Wondering how we test reed diffusers here at Homes & Gardens? As mentioned, after spending my time writing about home fragrances, interviewing fragrance experts, and even attending fragrance press events and launches, I've tested each and every best reed diffuser included here in my own home for over a month each, so I'm able to provide firsthand experience, with expertise on what premium fragrances should be like.

For that reason, when testing reed diffusers, we consider factors such as the product quality, the longevity of the scents, room coverage, and if a refill is available. We regularly place them in different-sized rooms, from bathrooms to bedrooms, and open living spaces to see how the scent fills and smells in different locations. I often moved mine around before finding where I felt it worked best, which has been included in this review, too.

We also take into consideration the strength of the smell of the reed diffuser when first opened, how long the scent lasts, whether it fills the room or gets lost in the volume of it, and if there are any symptoms such as headaches when in the room with the diffuser.

3/5 indicates gentle fragrance that doesn't strongly last more than a few days.

4/5 indicates great fragrance noticeable across a room for a week or more.

5/5 indicates strong fragrances in large spaces.

We haven't included any items in this guide that would be a 1 or 2/5 but if we had, 1/5 would have indicated little to no strength of aroma that fades quickly after the reeds were turned and was not noticeable in the room, and 2/5 would be subtle scent for a short while after opening and barely noticeable throughout a room.

Of course, we acknowledge that scent is subjective, but it helps to know the type of scents you personally prefer, for example, whether you like sweet and fruity scents, or more musky and spicy options.

As there are countless home fragrances available, we also invite you to explore the other scents from the brands we've included, as we recommend them based on our experience with the quality of their products, not the scent profile alone.

FAQs

How to choose a good reed diffuser

First things first, choose your scent wisely. Selecting a reed diffuser does more than make your room smell nice, it means finding a scent that complements your space and the mood you are trying to create.

For example, we recommend matching a reed diffuser to the season – 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, particularly considering the size of your space and therefore the suitable size of a 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 common odors.

However, where a heavy, oud-forward scent works well to make a living room cozy, you'll want a lighter, fresher scent for a bathroom.

Unlike the best 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, so this might also be something you want to consider.

That way, if you like the reed diffuser you've picked, it can be refilled for a more affordable price, instead of having to buy the entire vessel time after time.

Other factors to consider are the ingredients of a diffuser, particularly if you're sensitive to certain fragrances, and the lifespan – as you don't want to spend on a diffuser that only lasts a couple of weeks. These are both things we take into account when we test reed diffusers.

Where should I put my diffuser?

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, and the fragrance oils might become overpowering or sickly in a position like this. Instead, place it on a shelf or countertop, away from where it may risk being knocked over.

Meet our experts

Laura Honey

Laura is both an appliance aficionado and trained barista, who spent years studying as a master perfumer, beginning her career working for the British luxury fragrance brand Penhaligon's.

With a multitude of experience behind her, she has tested almost every brand of home fragrance products, from luxe Loewe to wallet-friendly options.

Punteha van Terheyden

With 16 years of experience writing about all things home, Punteha has worked across a wide range of publications, including BBC Good Food, and Real Homes, where she was the editor, before joining Homes and Gardens. She also worked in a perfume store for five years, learning from master perfumers.

Jo Bailey

Jo has been the print editor at H&G since 2023, having previously worked as the news & shopping editor across both H&G and Livingetc brands. Before, she worked as an interiors stylish for over ten years, for a wealth of luxury clients such, as the Design Center Chelsea Harbour.

Sophie Edwards

Sophie is an avid pop culture fan, and, in her role on the celebrity style team at H&G, has interviewed the likes of Martha Stewart, Hilary Duff, and even members of the Queer Eye cast. With expertise in American and British design, she's a powerhouse when it comes to keeping up with all the latest interior and cultural trends.

Do you know about the benefits of fragrance layering, and how to do it? According to us, it's the key to making your home smell more luxurious and your home fragrances more long-lasting, so it's well worth trying out in your own space.