Best Car Essential Oil Diffuser (+ 6 Reasons Why You Need to Have It)

No matter what you drive, you share a common need with thousands of other drivers on the road. That is the need to have a car that has a fresh, uplifting scent that makes your driving and the time you spend in your car a joy. Parents can understand when I talk about car interiors that have served as a diaper changing station, feeding table and let’s not even talk about kids getting sick in the car.

My saving grace has been essential oils and a car diffuser.

Drivers use different methods to try and achieve a nice scented interior and some of them are ingenious. For instance, we know of drivers who are quite adept at creating inspired, non-toxic air fresheners for their cars by using scented wax cubes in a jar that has holes on the top cover. When your car heats up, the wax melts releasing the scent.

Other drivers use a mixture baking soda and essential oils. The baking soda will absorb any bad odor and the essential oil will release a pleasant fragrance. I used to burn scented candles in my car when held up in traffic to combat the smell produced by the exhaust pipes.

A good quality car essential oil diffuser will allow you a myriad of fragrances to work with and varying potency levels. Dispensing these fragrances using a car essential oil diffuser is easy and far more effective than any self-made contraption a driver can conjure.

Why should you use oil diffuser in the car?

Manufactured scents are great but nothing can measure up to the diversity of the pleasant natural fragrances that essential oils can deliver. Apart from the fragrances essential oils also have therapeutic qualities. Using a diffuser allows you to harness all the benefits of the oils.

Here are some problems that can be alleviated by using car diffusers:

1. Sinus relief

Essential oils from eucalyptus, rosemary, peppermint and thyme when used as single oils or as a blend emit amazing fresh fragrances and have natural healing properties that help alleviate sinus symptoms. A car diffuser allows the oil to be easily inhaled as you go about.

2. Relief from anxiety

Aromatherapists have long discovered essential oils are indispensable in relaxing their clients. Essential oils like lavender, chamomile, bergamot and frankincense oils, just to name a few, when used alone or as a blend, have great calming effects to a human beings and this is the very reason they are popular in spa and wellness centers.

A car diffuser allows you to enjoy these fragrances and their effects in the comfort of your car. It is an ideal helper when stuck in traffic or late for an appointment.

3. Anti-depressant properties

Essential oils like ylang-ylang, bergamot and lavender are well documented for their antidepressant qualities. Their pure natural fragrances and healing compound have mood lifting properties that combat negative thoughts.

In case of a bout of depressing thoughts, having a diffuser handy in the car allows you to use the oils whenever you need to calm and relax your thoughts.

4. Moisturized skin and lips

Essential oils are versatile and some like peppermint, lavender and helichrysum have sweet smelling fragrances but also double up as moisturizers for your skin and lips.

Not only will your car have tantalizing fresh scents but by using a car essential oil diffuser, purifies and humidifies the dry air in the car which has a positive effect on your skin and lips aiding them in remaining supple and moisturized from the same oils.

5. Air purification

The air quality in a car is always suspected, especially when the car windows have been closed for some time. A car essential oil diffuser can help you purify the air by using essential oils like tea tree, basil, peppermint, eucalyptus or a blend of eucalyptus and lemon essential oils.

These fragrances naturally purify the air in your car, which lift your mood and keeps you alert.

6. Throat protection

A blend of certain essential oils like clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus and much more are amazing at soothing a sore throat and generally boosting your immune system. If you have a sensitive throat, you can enjoy the natural health benefits of these herbs in the comfort of your car. Treatment does not stop once you leave the house and is nearby when the discomfort flares up at any point during the day.

You can always keep experimenting with different essential oil fragrances and different brands to discover even more fragrances that will quickly find their way into your list of favorites.

How to choose car oil diffuser?

Not all car oil diffusers are made equal. To choose one that allows a good range of options which will give you a chance to fully explore the extensive fragrances from essential oils, there are several questions to answer:

• How potent do you want the scent?
• How long do you want the diffusion session?
• Which oils do you want?
• Do you want an air humidifier and aroma diffuser in one or separated functions?

Once all this is decided you have several options to choose from. You can have a diffuser that can be plugged into your car’s cigarette lighter slot or one that is USB powered. Both are easy to use.

You simply put about 100 ml or the stated amount of water in the diffuser, drop in a few drops of your favorite essential oil and allow it to diffuse the oil.

A car diffuser with a rotating head is better as it allows you to point the header in the desired direction if there is any specific direction you want the scent focused on. Some car diffusers have a head that can rotate on the 180-degree axis.

It is important to note that most diffusers must be used when there is water inside and when the car is running to achieve optimal results.

Below we have compiled a list of some of the best oil car diffusers in the market today.

It’s perfectly sized to fit in the cup holder of the car. A cool feature is the 7 mood light colors that it comes with. They play a part in stress relief while driving. The lights are optional although they will automatically switch off when the water is below the water line to ensure the longevity of the gadget.

Depending on how you want the fragrance inside diffused, you can choose from two modes:

• Ad-lib or continuous mist mode which lasts for 3 hours straight
• 30 seconds intermittent mist mode which will go for 6 hours

What we like

This gadget is of good quality and comes with a 1-year warranty and a return policy of 45 days satisfaction guaranteed or money back within that number of days. It has thoughtful engineering and delivers on efficient diffusion. Ensure that when adding water you do not exceed the 50 ml limit maximum.

When you are using in the car you should use 5V 1A USB adapter. If using with a laptop, please be sure to use USB 3.0 port as instructed on the diffuser manual.

The unit comprises of 3 micro-fiber absorbing pads that are replaceable after extended use and/or when changing out the fragrance.

What we like

The diffusion on this gadget is achieved by a silent fan that projects the fragrant scent of the chosen essential oil into your car interior.

It comes with a USB cord for use with a computer or universal wall adapter. The gadget allows you to keep tabs on the power level by the LED light indicator that shows the power level.

This oil diffuser is versatile and ideal for the car and any other space you would want to promote a healthy fragrant environment.

What we like

This portable USB diffuser is an excellent option for your car as well as any space like a hotel room when you are traveling. The wood grain is quite aesthetically pleasing enhancing the interior of your car.

For people who like intermittent diffusing, the canister features a button for this. It can last for 3 and a half hours when fully charged. It comes with a car charger and an AC plug of home or the office.

What we like

This aromatherapy car oil diffuser is a great aid ensuring your surroundings are healthy fragrant and uplifting. It is small enough to carry around so even in your rental you can create your own personal oasis.

It’s made of BPA-free plastics that won’t get corroded by the essential oils for uncontaminated mist over time.

It can allow you to keep your car fresh for the entire day and even when you park it the scent still lingers.

Furthermore, it will auto shut off when water runs out.

What we like

This option is very visually appealing. It fits perfectly within the confines of the car without being obtrusive. The intermittent setting is perfect for controlling the amount of fragrance you want in the car.

Things you should consider when using essential oil diffuser in a car

For safety, longevity and optimal performance when using an oil diffuser in your car, make sure you adhere to the following:

• Do not exceed the demarcated maximum level of water for the diffuser as instructed.
• Clean the diffuser frequently to avoid clogging. You can do this by simply emptying the water and gently wiping the water tank to dry. The device is not to be washed directly under a tap.
• Leaking when in operation can short circuit the gadget. You want to read the operation mechanism of each gadget carefully before your purchase just to be sure you get the best car oil diffuser possible.

Conclusion

The above-mentioned car oil diffusers are amongst the very best in the market. They are easy to operate, have convenient plugging and a nice looking exterior that adds to aesthetics of the interior of your car.

Their ability to consistently dispense mist and diffuse essential oils is reliable and consistent. Car diffusers remain a great way to make sure your car interior is odorless and continually fragrant with your favorite aroma oil fragrances.

Image credits: Unsplash.com and Amazon.com