The 10 Best Car Oil Diffusers
Editor's Notes
June 04, 2020:
Owing to widespread availability issues, this set of rankings needed to be largely rebuilt during this round of updates, with the only previous selections remaining being the TT-Star Locket, Zaq Tour and Navy Penguin Cool Mist. The choices we removed were the Bymie Wood Grain, Erica’s Co Ultrasonic, BellaSentials Charm, Apalus Air Force, Youlanda Portable, Sun-C200 Wooden and Cloele Detachable, options that were replaced with a host of excellent new models including the Lion Palace i1-Black — which features a seven-color nightlight, the Ominihome Cordless – a powerful compact unit that can service areas as large as 645 square feet, and the Gulaki Multifunction KF4301099 – a useful unit with an on-board charging hub that includes two USB ports and a 12-volt DC socket.
Many models in this category are remarkably similar, but there are some differentiators separating them, including which additional features they include. Here’s some to look for:
Humidifiers: While passive units like the TT-Star Locket catalyze diffusion by hi-jacking the airflow of your vehicle’s ventilation system, and waterless options like the Ominihome Cordless depend on cold diffusion technology, many models in this category feature integrated humidifiers, and use steam as a sort of distribution agent to help disperse essential oils throughout your vehicle. The maximum runtime of diffusers like this is typically limited by the size of their reservoir, so it’s worth looking for one that can hold a little more liquid, so you can get away with refilling it a little less often. While the Zaq Tour can accommodate only 60 milliliters of water, the Lion Palace i1-Black and SixKiwi Air Freshner can hold 200 and 300 milliliters, respectively.
Nightlights: This feature might be considered less practical for in-car applications, but with so many portable options in this category presenting as viable bedroom models, it’s still a nice touch that many users will find fun, if not useful. The Navy Penguin Cool Mist, Meidi Portable and Lion Palace i1-Black are all equipped with seven colored LEDs, allowing users to select between them. If you think you’d like a nightlight built into your diffuser, but you’re not sure about all these flashy colors, the SixKiwi Air Freshner is a simple model that includes a warm-white nightlight.
Charging Ports: It can’t hurt to have them, especially when your diffuser is likely occupying the 12-volt socket in your vehicle that you’d typically depend on for charging power. While the Lion Palace i1-Black has a single USB port worked into its design, the Vyaime Air Refresher goes a step further and provides two. The Gulaki Multifunction KF4301099 sets itself apart by including a 12-volt DC outlet, in addition to a pair of USB ports.