Reed diffuser or aroma diffuser: which makes the better gift?

We hand-picked every gift in this guide from the range we stock. For each one, we looked at who it suits and what it does, so you can match the gift to the person you are buying for.

We also aimed for a good mix of kinds and budgets. That gives you two reed diffusers and an aroma diffuser with timer, so you can pick the style that suits your person and your budget.

Want to see more? Browse every gift in our Home fragrance gifts range, or try Aroma diffusers and Housewarming gifts.

A reed diffuser is a glass bottle of fragrance with fibre or rattan reeds. You place the reeds in the bottle, and turning them now and then gives a stronger scent. Our Agnes + Cat and Essential Oil versions both work this way.

The Palermo is different. It is an electric aroma diffuser with a 120 ml water tank, a USB cord of 100 cm and four LED colours. Its timer runs for one, three or six hours, and it switches off when the water runs out.

Reed diffusers are the simpler gift, with a scent that works quietly from the shelf. An aroma diffuser suits someone who wants light and a timer too. Here are our picks, each a lovely way to bring fragrance into the home.

Agnes + Cat 140 ml Reed Diffuser (£18.49)

A pretty piece for the home that feels like a warm welcome. This 140 ml glass reed diffuser has fibre reeds and gives over three months of continuous fragrance, so it keeps scenting the room long after the day. You can choose from seven scents, from Rhubarb Rhubarb to Japanese Bloom, so it is easy to match the person you are buying for. The embossed box has a protective sleeve. Turn the reeds now and then for a stronger scent. It measures 8 x 6 x 30 cm. It suits housewarmings, birthdays and thank-you gifts, and it is a lovely pick for Mum or for a friend who has everything else. It is also a simple gift to choose: just pick a scent you know they will like.

Best for: Housewarmings and thank-you gifts.

Essential Oil Reed Diffuser, 200 ml (£14.99)

Our pick for scent lovers who like to choose their own. This 200 ml reed diffuser is made with essential oils and comes in a glass bottle with Indonesian rattan reeds. There are six scents to pick from, including Cinnamon & Clove, Lime & Ginger, Lavender & Fennel and Peppermint & Frankincense, so you can match the gift to their taste. The six scents give you plenty of choice for a range of tastes. Turn the reeds for a quicker release of scent, which helps the scent fill the room sooner. Size varies by scent, so check the size before you buy. It suits new homeowners, a thank-you for a friend, or a gift for Mum who loves a bit of fragrance. A simple way to bring a lovely scent home.

Best for: Scent lovers and new homeowners.

Palermo Aroma Diffuser with Timer (£16.99)

A stylish upgrade to an everyday thing, this Palermo aroma diffuser brings light into the room as well as fragrance. It is an ultrasonic diffuser with a 120 ml water tank, an LED light in four colours and a timer you can set to 1, 3 or 6 hours. It switches off when the water runs out, so the timer and auto off do much of the work for you. It is USB powered with a 100 cm cord, and the box includes a user manual. The diffuser is 10.5 cm tall and 13.5 cm across. It makes a practical gift for a mum, a friend or a coworker who likes a little light and scent in their space. It is also a good pick for someone who enjoys a bit of light in the evening. Pick a colour, set the timer and let it do the rest.

Best for: Coworkers and friends who like light.

	Agnes + Cat 140 ml Reed Diffuser (£18.49)	Essential Oil Reed Diffuser, 200 ml (£14.99)	Palermo Aroma Diffuser with Timer (£16.99)
Capacity	140 ml	200 ml	120 ml
Size	8 x 6 x 30 cm	30 x 10 x 10 cm (Cinnamon & Clove); 30 x 10 x 14 cm (Sage & Rosemary); 30 x 10 x 16 cm (Lemon Verbena); 30 x 10 x 19 cm (Peppermint & Frankincense); 30 x 10 x 12 cm (Lime & Ginger); 30 x 10 x 8 cm (Lavender & Fennel)	10.5 cm tall, 13.5 cm diameter
Material	Glass bottle, fibre reeds	Glass bottle, rattan reeds	Plastic
Best for	Housewarmings and thank-you gifts	Scent lovers and new homeowners	Coworkers and friends who like light
Delivery	Standard dispatch	Standard dispatch	Standard dispatch

Our pick is the Agnes + Cat 140 ml Reed Diffuser for most people. It comes in seven scents, from Rhubarb Rhubarb to Japanese Bloom, and gives over three months of continuous fragrance. It needs no power and comes in an embossed box with a protective sleeve. It suits housewarming gifts, Mum, her, thank-you gifts and birthdays.

• Choose the Agnes + Cat 140 ml Reed Diffuser if you want a scent that needs no power and suits a housewarming.
• Choose the Essential Oil Reed Diffuser, 200 ml if you want six scents, from cinnamon and clove to lime and ginger.
• Choose the Palermo Aroma Diffuser with Timer if they would like an electric diffuser with four LED colours and a timer.

Every gift travels by tracked UK delivery, straight to their door if you like. Delivery is the sum of your parcels, from £3.95 each (some items travel free), and free over £60 on most gifts: we pay the first £6. Each product page shows the expected delivery dates before you pay, and you can add a free e-card with your own message at checkout. See delivery for the details.

For housewarmings and thank-yous, pick a glass reed diffuser; for someone who likes lights and timers, pick a USB aroma diffuser with timer. Pick your favourite above, add a free e-card with your message, and we'll send it straight to them. More ideas: Flame, jellyfish or volcano aroma diffuser: which to buy? · Housewarming gift ideas · Scented candle gift ideas.