If you’re new to aroma therapy, you may end up confused and unable to choose when it comes to an essential oil burner vs diffuser.
Both seem like terrific options.
But of course,they’re not the only means you can use essential oils to spread a pleasing aroma inside a room or a home.
This post, its photos and table include links to products on other websites. If you purchase something through these links we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
How to Use Essential Oils
Just want to enjoy the aroma of the essential oils?
You can always simply inhale the drops directly after sprinkling a few drops of the essential oil in a handkerchief.
Or you can inhale after a few drops of essential oil in boiling water.
You can relax after using some essential oil in your bathwater.
You can put some essential oil into your massage oil and then get a nice, soothing rubdown.
Spread the Scent
However, any choice over an essential oil burner vs. diffuser is a great way to spread the scent in a room.
That way, everyone can relax and enjoy the terrific aroma.
Essential Oil Burner vs. Diffuser: Key Differences
Both are popular methods of spreading the aroma of the essential oil into a room or home.
However, they differ in several crucial factors that may affect your choice.
Oil Burner Methodology
With an essential oil burner, the design of the device usually involves a candle and a container for the essential oil.
This is why some refer to this dilemma as the essential oil diffuser vs. candle debate.
You light the candle, which heats up the essential oil.
The essential oil then evaporates into the air to infuse the area with the scent of the essential oil.
It’s true that there are some electric essential oil burners, but the candle often adds to the relaxing vibe.
Oil Diffuser Methodology
Meanwhile, the diffuser turns the essential oil into a mist that spreads all around the surrounding area.
The mist consists of tiny droplets that float in the air, to suffuse the room with the pleasant aroma.
In many cases, you can just add water to the diffuser to dilute the essential oil.
You don’t have to manually diffuse the essential oil either, as if you’re using a spray.
Many diffusers are electric-powered, and they can diffuse the essential oil automatically.
Safety Concerns
With the essential oil diffuser vs. candle showdown, obviously the candle is the most concerning when it comes to safety.
Since the burner uses a candle, this method needs a bit more care when you use it.
This may not be the optimal choice when you have lots of frisky pets or kids in the room.
You also may not want to sleep with the candle burning, as that’s definitely a fire hazard.
You need to make sure that the device doesn’t overheat.
Snuff Out the Candle
It’s best if you make sure that you snuff out the candle once the essential oil has completely evaporated.
If that happens, then you can end up with a rather unpleasant smell instead.
In fact, it’s best if you don’t leave it unattended.
Safer Diffuser
On the other hand, the diffuser is much safer.
However, you still need to keep the hyperactive kids and pets away.
They can bump on your diffuser and spill the essential oil (and also break the device).
Ease of Maintenance
Diffusers are comparatively easy to maintain.
They don’t need too much care, and some are basically maintenance-free.
With burners, the main issue is the melted wax from the candle.
You need to clean off the melted wax, and you may have to deal with some soot as well.
The best oil burner should let you do this with no real trouble.
How Long You Can Use Diffuser
Since you can just plug in a diffuser, you can use it for as long as you want.
The main limitation is the amount of oil and water you have left in the diffuser.
But even when you run out of the oil and water, you can still leave the diffuser unattended.
This is why this is a great option for use during the night.
It’s also best if you want to leave it unattended.
How Long You Can Use Burner
With the burner, the main limiter is the length of time for the candle to get used up.
Plenty of burners use tea light candles that tend to burn out quickly.
This is best used during the day, when you can check on it constantly.
Location
With the burner, you just need to place it where there is no draft to snuff out the flame.
With diffusers, you generally have an electric cord to deal with.
That means you have to place it near a power outlet.
Noise
Sometimes a diffuser can be rather noisy, though the excellent options are quiet enough.
There’s no noise issue with the burner, which makes it the optimal option in the essential oil diffuser vs. candle debate if you want absolutely silence.
(Of course, there will be lots of loud screaming if you let the candle cause a fire!)
Design and Mood
Truth be told, both types of devices can come in rather terrific, soothing design that certainly offer a restful vibe to any room.
Still, the light of the candle in the diffuser adds a nice touch.
If you’re planning on a nice candle-lit dinner, this is certainly one way to go.
Availability
There was a time when essential oil diffusers weren’t all that common.
Even today, you may find that more stores offer essential oil burners than diffusers.
But if you’re buying online, you don’t have any problems finding what you need.
You’ll also have a wide range of options to choose from.
Our TOP 5 Essential Oil Burner vs. Diffuser Options
Sure, if you go online shopping then you’ll certainly find a lot of picks to choose from.
The main problem is that not all the products that come out in your Google search may be the best for your needs.
So, to make sure you get the best value for your money, you may want to start with this list of recommended options.
We picked the best examples regardless of whichever you choose in the essential oil burner vs. diffuser showdown.
We also made sure that each once comes in a design that’s pleasing to the eye.
1. Gifts & Decor 57070396 Earth-Tone DOLLOP Oil Warmer, Black
“Lovely Little Oil Burner”
Our Rating: 4
This is one truly terrific design, especially if you’re partial to folk art.
You have a thin metal rod that goes up to 7.62 inches before it curves downwards.
The curved end is where you place the teardrop-shaped ceramic vase.
The stem of the rod is a disk that measures 4 inches in diameter.
There’s an area in the middle where you put in your tealight candle.
Colors
Each one is individually painted by hand, and you have several colors to choose from.
We picked the moss-green color, which feels more natural and outdoorsy.
But some may go with the black vase with blue highlights.
Usage
All you need to do is to add some water to the vase along with the essential oil.
Maybe start with just 2 drops in the water.
Place the candle on the stem and light it, and protect it from drafts.
If you place this by a window, then the wind can keep the flame away from the vase.
It may even snuff the flame out.
Buying the Candle
Try to go with a slightly taller tealight candle, so you can make sure the flame evaporates the essential oil in the vase.
You’ll have to buy your own tealight candle as well.
But with a nice candle, it can stay lit for maybe 2 to 3 hours.
You can also enjoy the aroma after about 15 minutes from lighting the candle.
2. Gifts & Decor Modern Art Oil Burner Contemporary Asian Candle Aroma
“Oil Burner with Transparent Dish”
Our Rating: 4.5
This time, the design is quite different.
It looks like a table with elongated legs.
The elevated tabletop is a glass dish, where you put in your essential oil.
There’s a shelf right by the base of the legs, where you place the container in which you out in your candle.
Dimensions
The whole thing stands 4½ inches high, while the glass plate measures about 3⅞ inches in diameter.
The 4 legs have globes at each end, so they function as the “feet” of the table.
You also have the globes up top, to support the glass dish with a rather substantial depth.
At the bottom shelf, there’s an open container for the candle.
Materials
The overall visual effect is quite calming, though at first it may seem a bit flimsy.
But the frame is made with metal to make it more durable than you may think at first.
The frame is actually heavier than you think, so it won’t topple with the slightest bump.
Plenty of people also prefer essential oil containers made of glass instead of ceramic.
That way the oils are less likely to seep into the bottom of the dish.
How to Use
Just put some water in the dish and add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil.
Light the candle to heat the essential oil and relax.
When the candle is fully melted, throw everything out from the candle container and put in a fresh candle.
If you’re going with the burner in the essential oil diffuser vs. candle faceoff, you need to make sure you don’t have to worry about drafts.
Aesthetics
The look of the burner is modern, with a lot of Zen vibes because it’s simple.
It will look great in any home, especially a place with a contemporary interior design.
You can just place this on a shelf or a table, and it will act as a great centerpiece to any room.
3. Gifts & Decor Modern Art Style Tealight Candle Holder Scented with Oil Warmer
“Burner That Catches Your Eyes”
Our Rating: 4.5
Here’s another one that uses a candle.
The reason why we don’t have any option for the best electric oil warmer is that the candle is rather crucial for a more relaxing fee.
This one comes with a more avant-garde look to the design, but it sure looks elegant.
More to the point, the design seems meant to energize the mind even as it relaxes your soul.
Once again, you have a stand that supports a sleek glass dish up top.
But the support consists of shiny sculpted silver rods swirling upwards to give you a fascinating look that merits more than just a quick glance.
Elegant Design
The dish up top is made of clear glass instead of ceramic, while the swirling rods below are made of iron.
Because of the clear glass and the sleek rods below, you get a very airy vibe that can certainly calm you down.
In addition, the overall look is undeniably sophisticated, and it works for any modern home or condo.
It will stick out in a rustic interior design scheme, yet it won’t look out of place either.
Just place it on the mantel or shelf, and it will boost everyone’s spirits by the scent it spreads and by its fascinating swirls.
Size
The dish is 5 inches in diameter, while the base diameter is only slightly smaller.
That way, it doesn’t look fragile at all.
The base has a center rod going through the middle in which you have the container for the tealight candle.
The device also stands just 3.75 inches high, so the flame can surely heat the essential oil in the glass dish.
You can use the larger round “mega” tea lights so the flame lasts longer.
Just make sure you add more water to the dish, as the flame may get too close to the dish.
Maintenance
You do need to take care you don’t bump into this, so you don’t damage the glass dish.
The good news is that even if you break the glass dish, you can simply get a replacement for it online.
The glass is also easy to clean afterwards.
4. InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser
“Soothing with Cool Nightlight”
Our Rating: 4.5
If you don’t want to deal with the melted wax and open flame, then you have a pretty clear choice in the essential oil diffuser vs. candle showdown.
You just need to plug this in, which does mean you need to use it near an electrical outlet.
Different Light Options
With this diffuser, you have 7 different colors to choose from.
Plug it in and turn it on, and then it lights up nicely, so you don’t miss out on the brightness you get from a burner.
The colors can cycle or you can pick the one color you want.
In fact, you can even adjust the brightness of the light.
That’s great when you’re using this as a nightlight in your bedroom or for meditation.
You can even turn off the light completely.
Misting Modes
You also have the option of not using the misting function at all, when you just use this as a lamp.
But if you do want to use it with your essential oil, you have 2 misting options to choose from.
You can have it misting continuously, which means the water runs out in about 3 to 4 hours.
But you can opt for intermittent mist, so that it mists only every 30 seconds or so while it pauses in between.
That way, the water can last for 6 to 8 hours.
Auto Shutoff
The main rule is that you only fill the container with water up to the max level indicated.
That way, you get a larger and more effective mist.
If you exceed the recommended water line, you get low or no mist at all.
The good news is that this will automatically shut off when the water runs out.
That way, it won’t overheat.
Not Too Large
The device isn’t all that large, with a base of about 3.9 inches.
At the base, you find the buttons for the light and misting functions.
The design slight tapers inwards as it goes up to a height of 5.5 inches.
5. Anjou 500ml Essential Oil Diffuser
“With Patented Oil Flow Design”
Our Rating: 5
This comes in a tear-drop shape, with a small opening up top.
But you can take off the top part from the base, so you can put in the water more easily.
The whole thing gives you a simple look, but you can go for a wood finish that makes the diffuser look great.
500ml Capacity
Unlike shallow glass dishes on burners, this diffuser can accommodate half a liter of water.
That means you can get the aroma consistent for up to 12 hours on average.
Patented Oil Flow System
Part of the reason why it can last that long as that it uses special technology.
You don’t add the drops of essential oil to the water directly.
Instead, there’s a special tube in which you can put in up to 1.5ml of essential oil.
That’s about 30 to 40 drops.
High/Low Misting Modes
You can opt for high mode, which can last for 6 to 10 hours.
But the misting can last for 11 to 15 hours if you set it for low mode instead.
Timer Settings
Or if you want, you can set the timer to shut down the diffuser in 1, 4, or 8 hours.
Don’t worry if you use up all the water while you’re sleeping.
When the tank is empty, the diffuser automatically shuts itself off 5 seconds afterwards.
Blissful Silence
Some folks don’t like diffusers because they can be noisy.
But here the noise is set to below 30 decibels.
To give you an idea of how quiet that is, a library is normally at a 40-decibel level.
Lights
This also cycles through 7 gentle lights, but you can turn off the lights if you want.
Conclusion on the Essential Oil Burner vs Diffuser Debate
If you’re an office manager or worker, it may seem strange to think about picking between essential oil burner vs diffuser when you’re thinking about your office paraphernalia.
But you may be surprised at how well this works in an office setting.
In today’s world, this may be more effective than your choice of inspirational quote posters or office paintings to improve the vibes of your office.
Lovely Aesthetics
If you’ve even glanced at the pictures on our list of top options for essential oil burner vs. diffuser, you may have noticed that each one looks lovely.
That’s not a coincidence, since the very point of aromatherapy is to sooth your senses, energize your mind, and uplift your mood.
The look of the aromatherapy product adds to all these effects.
Of course, it’s also crucial that you take some time and effort to pick the right essential oil for your needs.
You need to check that you only get pure essential oils as well, or else you don’t benefit from essential oils fully.
That way, whichever you pick in the essential oil burner vs diffuser showdown, somehow you always come out ahead!
Leave a Reply