This Mini Diffuser Has the Most Pleasantly Subtle Scent and Gets Me So Many Compliments

In any context, there are smells, and then there are scents. In your home, you want the latter. But it’s not as simple a choice as it sounds. A well-curated fragrance can mean the difference between a space that looks nice and a space that feels like home.

Truth be told, I was close to giving up on my own scent search before I tried Aera. I once spilled a fragrance device in my favorite purse. As a result, the bag, its contents, and my clothes spent a few nights in a plastic bag out in my apartment building’s hallway. The smell had immediately taken over my apartment (even the cat seemed disturbed!). However, as soon as I tried the Aera Mini Essential Oil Diffuser, I was hooked.

It may be small and sleek, but the Aera Mini packs a punch. This plug-in version of the brand’s original diffuser is perfect for apartments because it won’t take up any space on your floor or your nightstand. In fact, it works best in rooms under 400 square feet. Aera recommends trying it out in a few different outlets around your space to find out which has the best airflow (I landed on one in my living room). It has five different levels of scent strength, which you can set via the buttons on top of the device, or with the AeraForHome app on your phone. 

But how can it control the levels of scent, you ask? The answer: Duh, it’s microdroplets! (Just kidding — I didn’t know that one either.) That’s because Aera is the first fragrance brand to employ this science, which they call “surround scent.” Like surround sound, the scent diffuses evenly throughout the room, with no obvious source. Because the droplets are so small (in fact, 100x smaller than the average aerosol droplet), they burst quickly and release pure fragrance molecules. I kind of can’t wait to dazzle my guests with that info when they ask why my apartment smells so good.

After years of trying messy, sometimes overpowering fragrances, I fell in love with the subtlety of the Aera Mini. It relies on the natural airflow in the room to disperse the scent, and even better, I can control exactly how much scent is released and when, right from my phone. It was quick to set up, and easy to use – and that alone is enough to make it my new favorite gadget.

Some of my favorite features of Aera Devices are the smart home capabilities available through the AeraForHome app. My air conditioner, air purifier, lights, TV, and cameras are all able to be controlled from my phone, so why not my fragrance too? You can even connect it to your Amazon Alexa, if you have one. I travel fairly often, and I leave my cat Phoebe at home, so being able to control and monitor her environment from afar is important to me. (And nobody likes that kitty litter smell — not even kitties!) My Aera Mini keeps the place fresh for her while I’m gone, and I get to come back to a house that smells like home.  

Another plus for me is just how long Aera’s scents last. Mine will run for 60 days before it needs to be replaced. You can even sign up for a subscription service so you don’t need to remember to order it. I just moved into a bigger apartment than I’ve had in the last five years, and I’m already finding that it can be easy to forget to stock up on all of the household items I need. Out of sight, out of mind, right? I set up subscriptions for all of my pet supplies, from my fish’s filter replacements to my cat’s litter and treats, and it’s made all the difference. I can’t wait to try more of Aera’s 50-plus scents, too. First on my list? The Good Riddance Pet Odor Mini, which is specifically formatted to combat pet odors. 

I’m proud of the home I’ve made for myself (and for my pets!), and I’m constantly looking for ways to make it better, cleaner, and more me. The Aera Mini Essential Oil Diffuser is the solution to a problem I didn’t even know I had. Our sense of smell is deeply connected to the brain’s emotional and memory functions, meaning it’s one of the most important (and most often overlooked) elements of any space or experience. Whether this is your first foray into home fragrance or your 40th, with Aera’s modern technology and creative, quality scents, your home is in great hands.

Buy: Aera Mini Essential Oil Diffuser, $95