Humidifier vs. Diffuser: What Is the Difference?

Many people most likely use humidifiers and diffusers interchangeably if they are unaware of their unique roles. Both improve air quality, so it’s easy to mix them up. However, they are still distinct even if their benefits overlap; knowing the difference can help get the best out of them.

Everybody knows the importance of quality air. The air that is too dry can cause sore throats, chapped lips, dry skin, colds, cracked furniture, and even higher energy bills. Humidifiers add moisture while a diffuser disperses essential oil. However, some use air humidifiers for essential oil.

Humidifiers contain reservoirs of water dispersed into a mist that filters out into the air, raising humidity, whereas a diffuser disperses the scent of essential oil. As many people can’t differentiate them, this write-up explores the differences between the devices to help customers decide which is best for them.

Differences between humidifiers and diffusers

Models: One of the key differences is the model of both humidifiers and diffusers.

                                                          Humidifier models

The Air humidifier people buy online has 2 major model types: warm and cold mist humidifiers, expanded to include steam, ultrasonic, evaporative and impeller models. These model function in different ways.

A steam humidifier boils water to create a warm mist that disperses into the room; very good for allergies but should be avoided by parents with little children. An evaporative humidifier pulls water up to evaporate into the air using a wicking filter in a reservoir of water.

An ultrasonic humidifier, more like an ultrasonic speaker, turns water into a cool mist by using vibration at high frequencies to break water into droplets that are dispersed into the room.

An impeller humidifier uses a cool operating method where a spinning disk breaks water into small droplets sent as a cool mist into the air above the humidifier.

                                                           Diffuser models

Like humidifiers, there are different types of diffusers: evaporative, reed, nebulizing, heat, and ultrasonic diffusers.

In an ultrasonic diffuser, the essential oil is added to water. It uses vibrations to break them before it is diffused into the air. A nebulizer blows air across the top of a tube containing essential oil, dispersing it into the room around it.

A heat diffuser relies on heat to evaporate oil, causing them to break and disperse it out into the air. An evaporative diffuser uses airflow from a fan to evaporate out into the room.

Conclusion

Knowing the difference between humidifiers and diffusers can help get the best of each product instead of just overlapping their functions.