Looking to elevate your everyday environment with aromatherapy? Whether you’re hoping to relax, focus, or simply make your home smell divine, the debate often comes down to one question: diffuser or candle? Both create beautiful aromatic experiences, but which is better for your space?
That’s why we are here to break down the differences between aromatherapy diffusers and candles for you while exploring different types and helping you decide which is best suited to your home, lifestyle, and wellness goals.
Aromatherapy candles are crafted with essential oils that release a gorgeous fragrance as the wax melts. Here at AromaWorks, our candles are made from natural soy wax and are infused with pure essential oils to help you transform any room into a tranquil, peaceful space.
Best For: Setting a mood, creating ambience, unwinding after a long day.
Editor’s Choice: Soulful - With notes of frankincense, juniper berry and bay, this grounding blend is perfect for evening rituals.
Diffusers disperse essential oils into the air to promote wellbeing through scent and come in two main types:
Reed: Natural rattan reeds soak up the oils and slowly release their aroma.
Electric: These use water and ultrasonic waves to emit a gentle, scented mist.
Best For: Continuous scent, flame-free environments, consistent aromatherapy throughout the day.
Editor’s Choice: Nurture - A calming blend of may chang, sandalwood, and roman chamomile that lingers for hours.
|
Feature |
Candles |
Reed Diffusers |
Electric Diffusers |
|
Scent Intensity |
Immediate and stronger in smaller rooms |
Subtle and continuous over longer periods |
Immediate, adjustable intensity with continuous diffusion |
|
Ambience |
Adds warmth, light and ritual |
Sleek and minimal for modern homes |
Modern and functional with ambient mist |
|
Safety |
Requires supervision due to open flame |
Flame-free and safe for homes with children and pets |
Flame-free, safe, and with a built-in timer for automatic turn off |
|
Longevity |
Burns for set hours, dependent on candle size (18 - 40 hours typically) |
Can last several weeks or more, depending on usage and the number of reeds used |
Single use - Varies depending on how much water is added. Overall use - Should last for years |
|
Mainteance |
Minimal - just trim the wick after each use |
Very low - flip reeds every few days |
Wipe the inside with a paper towel after use, and top up water/oil as needed |
Beautiful Ritual: Lighting a candle invites calm and mindfulness.
Strong Scent Throw: Perfect for making a big impression quickly.
Aesthetic Appeal: Adds elegance and decor to your space.
Great For Evenings: Ideal for winding down or during a bath.
Top Tip: To get the most out of your candle, allow the wax to melt fully to the edges on the first burn to prevent tunnelling and maximise scent throw. For more advice on candle care, read our journal.
No Flame Needed: Ideal for homes with pets, kids, or busy schedules.
Long-Lasting Fragrance: Enjoy days (reed) or hours (electric) of scent.
Customisable: Electric diffusers can be cleaned and topped up with any of your favourite aromatherapy oils.
Therapeutic Benefits: Electric diffusers also increase humidity, supporting respiratory health.
You love relaxing rituals and ambient lighting.
You want a stronger scent in a short amount of time.
You’re setting the mood for a bath, dinner, or cosy night in.
You prefer continuous, low-maintenance fragrance.
You have children, pets, or shared living spaces.
You enjoy using different aromatherapy oils for mood support.
If you can’t decide, you don’t have to! Candles and diffusers each bring their own unique benefits, and when used together, they can create a beautifully layered fragrance experience that transforms your space throughout the day.
Morning: Place a reed diffuser in your hallway or bathroom for gentle, all-day freshness.
Afternoon: Use an electric diffuser in the living room or workspace to enhance your mood with the right essential oil for your day.
Evening: Light an aromatherapy candle to unwind, reflect, and ease into a restful evening.
This dual approach allows you to enhance different spaces with fragrances that support your mood and daily rhythm.
Diffusers are flame-free, low-maintenance, and ideal for a continuous scent, making them great for everyday use. Candles create a stronger, more atmospheric fragrance, perfect for relaxing rituals. Which is best for you depends on your needs and space.
Candles burn for a set number of hours, while diffusers typically offer longer-lasting fragrance, especially with consistent use. Longevity varies by type and usage.
Yes - layering scent with both creates a richer fragrance experience. Just choose complementary scents to avoid overpowering the space.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to home fragrance. Whether you choose a soothing candle, a refreshing diffuser, or both, what matters most is how the scent makes you feel. At AromaWorks, we believe in scent as self-care, and our collection of natural aromatherapy candles, essential oil blends, and diffusers are designed to help you feel your best every day.
Discover our full range of home fragrances and find your perfect scent match today.
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