The category breaks down into a few different groupings, so it can be a bit tricky to navigate!
For starters, there are candles, a tried-and true choice that just about everyone has had in their home at one point or another. The biggest advantage is that they tend to be the most aesthetically pleasing, with beautiful vessels that double as home decor. Most smaller candles have a burn time of around 20 hours, with regular sizes ranging from 40 to 60 hours, depending on the manufacturer. If you’re really savvy, you can even reuse the container as a stylish vase—recently, I started used the stone toppers for these Tom Dixon candles as coasters after I burned through it. The obvious downside? Constantly lighting these up and then remembering to blow them out, all while keeping it from tunneling and wasting wax.
Next, there are reed diffusers. The biggest perk here is that, unlike candles, you can leave a reed diffuser “turned on,” so to speak, all day long without worrying about potential fire hazards. They also last a bit longer, with a properly maintained reed diffuser easily pushing three to four months in terms of longevity. The trick, of course, is remembering to flip the reeds to keep the good-smelling vibes going.
Finally, there are room sprays. These are all about instant gratification. You don’t have to wait for a candle to start melting or a reed diffuser to start, well, diffusing. Instead, you can just give the room a quick spritz and it’s good to go.
