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When you are looking for the best essential oil diffuser for car usage there are a few things you need to consider.
Some of the questions you’ll need to answer are what kind of power source you’ll need, if you should get an ultrasonic or nebulizing diffuser (because one takes water and the other doesn’t), and what size diffuser will fit in your car’s console or cup holder.
Unlike your typical aromatherapy essential oil diffuser, some car diffusers are powered through the cigarette lighter port or the charging port, some are USB powered diffuser devices, and some will just be battery powered.
If your car diffuser is an ultrasonic diffuser it will take water as well as essential oil, but if it’s a nebulizing diffuser no water will be necessary.
Bottom Line Up Front: If you are looking for my go-to pick (and want to skip the read), I LOVE the wireless Skey Touch diffuser available here.
Top 5 Essential Oil Car Diffuser Comparisons
READ MORE: Best Essential Oils Keep You Wide-Awake When Driving
| Products | Water Capacity | Run-Time Hours | Auto Shutoff | Wireless | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 50 mL (1.69 oz.) | 3 | Yes | No | Review |
 | 60 mL (2.02 oz.) | 4 | Yes | No | Review |
 | 70 mL (2.37 oz.) | 6 | Yes | No | Review |
 | Waterless | 8 | Yes | Yes | Review |
 | 50 mL (1.69 oz.) | 5 | Yes | No | Review |
Best Essential Oil Diffusers for Cars Reviewed
Many people are enthralled with aromatherapy essential oils treatements and using an aromatherapy diffusers for dispersing the oils. Not only are nebulizer and ultrasonic diffusers for your home or office desirable, they are now available for your vehicle.
You can even find a nebulizing oil diffuser or ultrasonic diffuser that have an auto shut-off feature. The auto shut-off feature can help limit your usage, especially when you’re not in the room.
Storage cases for essential oils are handy to have to keep them from touching each other and storing in a dark place inside.
Diffusing essential oils gets rid of foul odors, lift our spirit energy and mental state, and offer various health benefits for our physical body. Nature’s 100% pure essential oils elevate your mood and remove anxiety and depression.
An essential oil diffuser for your car is the best way to get the full benefits that are so therapeutic. Those of us who have diffusers turned on most of the day hate to part with is when driving in the car. There are many types of diffusers to use in the car and other places– especially when you use a versatile usb diffuser– diffusing a cool mist. Using essential oils in your car with the best essential oil diffusers will be discussed in my reviews below.
If you don’t have a cup holder in your vehicle, you could use a clip-on cup holder that would lock into the vent or your door.
All ultrasonic diffusers use water. They are aromatherapy diffusers and a small humidifier from the water, as they release a fine mist into the air. These can be a nice alternative to using a traditional humidifier, as using a scent like eucalyptus can help with congestion when released into the room.
A Note on Motion Sickness
I’m sure we’ve all had motion sickness in our lives. The rollercoaster when a kid can do it, boats, ships, trains, amusement park rides, and planes can do it, and so can cars. When the movement stops, the queasy dizzy feeling will stop too. This occurs when your body, inner ear, and eyes send conflicting signals to the brain. Your inner ear might sense a rolling movement and your eyes cannot see it. Kids between 2- and 12-years-old usually get this sensation. Sitting in the back seat where you cannot see out of the windshield or windows can cause this. If you’re pregnant, you are at risk too. Get a pregnancy pillow, close your eyes and nap.
In addition to other health benefits, spraying peppermint in the car is good for the stomach calming and soothing. Turn off the ignition. Close your eyes and open windows for fresh air. Ginger also has numerous health benefits, and is also good for the tummy. Kids can suck on crystalized ginger slices available at health food stores. They must be refrigerated after opening. Put the peppermint and/or ginger on a sugar cube and suck or chew it.
1. InnoGear USB Car Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser
The InnoGear essential oil diffuser will refresh the air in your car and boasts a color-changing LED feature of 7 mood colors to let them cascade through all colors, or set at your favorite color. LED lights are environmentally friendly. Check it out on Amazon.com® item model number AD51 and see the 2 colors of black or white for the unit itself.
You can also put the unit in your home or office and anyplace you want a heavenly scent. It holds 50 mL (1.69-ounces) of water. Put it in your home or take to work with you. It’s small and portable. Just add 4 to 8 drops of essential oil (not included) in your favorite scent and turn on. It makes no beeping sound and has an auto shut-off feature.
This aroma diffuser plugs into your USB port and will sit in your cup holder in your vehicle. Preserve the fresh air with no other odors. Set it to its continuous mode that will run about 3-hours, or the intermittent every 30-seconds cool mist that will last up to 6-hours running. There are numerous benefits to using to using this humidifier style device. When the water tank level is low, the unit shuts off automatically. The diffuser is made of PP (polypropylene) and ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) plastics and it is BPA-free plastic only.
The dimensions are 3.14-inches wide x 4.72-inches high to fit into your cup holder.
The UL® listed USB cord is 3.6-feet (44-inches). The diffuser is not cordless, does not run on internal batteries, using a USB cord to operate and does not plug into the wall socket.
The adapter is 5-Volts D/C (direct current) at 1000 mA. The USB cable for the car needs a 5-Volt, 1-Amp adapter. For your laptop, use with USB 3.0 port. It comes with only the USB cable so you will need to buy the adapter. Any phone charger with a USB end has the adaptor you need for the cigarette lighter insert.
Be cautious with sudden stops because the water tank might spill over or the diffuser might automatically shut off. Only fill the unit to the Max line and no fuller. The diffuser does not use filters.
Gift-wrapping is available to surprise someone with, your family, friends, and loved ones. You will receive the diffuser, 1 USB cable, a User’s Manual with a 45-day money back guarantee if you are not satisfied and a 1-year Warranty. Add your favorite aroma, and voila: the perfect gift. The diffuser is made in China.
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2. ZAQ Tour the Ultimate Road Trip Ultrasonic Diffuser
The ZAQ Tour model is an essential oil litemist aromatherapy diffuser for your car, SUV, or other vehicles. The ASIN B017J184LY on Amazon.com® comes in black and white with an olive, black, or purple band. It is soft and round and good to take with you traveling operating for 2- to 4-hours or over 5-hours in the intermittent mode, with an auto shut-off feature.
Put in in your office, kitchen, bathroom or anywhere you want the tranquil fragrance of your favorite aroma. The distinctive design acts as a humidifier and prevents tipping while your vehicle is in motion and the car adapter, included in the box, ensures you can always use it on the go. The top locks shut for no spills around the threads, but it will leak through the top where the mist comes out, so don’t brake too hard.
The unit holds 60 mL (2.02-ounces) of water up to the Max line. It is quiet when misting after you add your few drops of your favorite essential oil scent (not included). The ZAQ Tour is BPA-free and made of safe, health-friendly materials.
The measurements are 2.66-inches wide x 5.96-inches tall to fit your cup holder.
Pug the 2-foot UL® listed cord into a USA 110/120-Volt, 50/60 Hz, with 8-Watts power in the wall outlet. For those outside the USA, Canada, or Mexico, you will have to buy a 220/240-Volt adapter to run the unit. It does not use batteries. The 12-Volt D/C adapter is included for your vehicle to plug into the cigarette lighter port. It does not come with a USB cord.
Gift-wrapping is available to surprise someone with, your family, friends, and loved ones. You will receive the diffuser, adapters, a User’s Manual, and a 1-year Limited Warranty. The diffuser is made in China.
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The Navy Penguin, such a cute name brand, is a small ultrasonic diffuser to use in your car or any other place. The ASIN B01C1ZA3Q2 is available on Amazon.com® at an affordable price. It is made from BPA-free plastic. Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in polycarbonate plastics that the Navy Penguin does not use.
Fill it with 70 mL (2.37-ounces) of water and add your favoirte aroma. It is portable, small, and will go with your anywhere anytime. It has a timer and 7 LED lights. The color-changing led lights can be set to one color, cascade through all colors or off. It is very quiet and will shut off when almost out of water or totally out of water. It does not use filters.
The timer can be set for 30-, 60-, 120-, or 180-minutes or to run continually.
The measurements are 3-inches diameter x 5.1-inches tall and it weighs 6-ounces.
Pug the 59-inch UL® listed cord into a USB-supported device. Power output is 5-Volts D/C at 1000 mA.
Gift-wrapping is available to surprise someone with, your family, friends, and loved ones. You will receive the diffuser, USB cable, and User’s Manual with a Lifetime Guarantee. The diffuser is made in China.
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4. Skey USB Car Nebulizer Essential Oil Diffuser, Wireless
The Skey nebulizer diffuser—and remember this type does not use water as does the ultrasonic diffuser. It uses pure oils from your bottles and the aroma is divine and blissful! It is portable to take with you, use at home, the office and in the car. If you have a massage studio, are a physical therapist, or have a Yoga studio, this will fit well there and give your clients a delightful experience. Put in business lobbies such as banks and hotels and don’t forget about dental and doctor offices.
The ASIN B07516Q2ZP on Amazon.com® is a diffuser you will want to check out. The upgraded unit is USB operated to fit into any USB device port.
It holds 2 mL (0.07-ounces) of pure essential oils and never ever add water! Adding water will ruin the device. In a room, the unit will cover about 269-square feet. For your car, you will have an intense aroma. Only use 100% pure essential oils (not included). Do not use perfumed water, lotions, or other oils. You will ruin the unit! The heavier the oil, the bigger the mist.
The outside is made of aluminum alloys and is a silver matte finish with black trim. The inside bottle included is made of glass and must be cleaned after each use when it’s empty. There will be no mist if the tube is clogged from the thicker oils. The diffuser will not tip or spill the contents. Simply drop in your oils then remove the bottle when you want to clean it. Do not fill past the fill line! Be careful cleaning the glass insert.
This unit is a cool mist diffuser using no heater inside to make the mist warm or hot, so do not expect heat when you see the fine mist. If the unit does not turn on, recharge the battery that is the 18650 Lithium ion battery built into the unit at 4000 mA per hour. It recharges from 6- to 8-hours. The power is 1.5-Watts and in the car, the D/C (car battery) is 5-Volts at 1-Amp.
The unit has an auto shut-off after 2-hours of running continuously and when the battery is low. You manually turn it on and off. You will have 1 LED light. The power button is blue. This light will illuminate a steady red when it’s charging and when it’s fully charged, it will be blinking red. Always check the low battery indicator to notice it needs recharging. It will run about 10-hours when fully charged.
The measurements are 2.67-inches x 6.9-inches tall and it weighs 14.72-ounces, just under a pound.
Pug the 39-inch UL® listed cord into a USB-supported device.
Gift-wrapping is available to surprise someone with, your family, friends, and loved ones. You will receive the diffuser, USB cable, and User’s Manual, with a Warranty. The diffuser is made in China.
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5. TEKEY USB Car Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser
The TEKEY ultrasonic essential oil diffuser, Item model number CH001-BLACK, is white with black accents. It holds 50 mL (1.69-ounces) of water that you add your 100% pure essential oils (not included) into. The attractive gooseneck design is cool to look at, the top swivels 360-degrees, for almost any angle, and it fits right into your cigarette lighter with no adapter needed.
It runs quietly, has a very fine mist for aromatherapy. It acts as a humidifier for dry skin and dry air in your car or home. It has an auto shut-off when the water is gone. The diffuser mists about 20 to 30 mL each hour. It runs constantly or intermittently for about 5-hours.
The dimensions are 2.7-inches long x 2.76-inches wide x 8.26-inches tall.
It has a smart port car charger and USB charger. The USB socket is 5-Volts D/C at 2.1-Amps, with working D/C 12-Volts (direct current) and the power is 1.5- to 3.5-Watts.
Gift-wrapping is available to surprise someone with, your family, friends, and loved ones. You will receive the diffuser, a spare sponge, charger, a User’s Manual, and a 1-year Limited Warranty. The diffuser is made in China.
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Essential Oils For Driving
When on long car trips alone or with others, you must be fully awake and watchful in all the traffic we have now, plus wildlife crossing highways, and darting into the streets kids, and pets in town. Sometimes we don’t feel bright-eyed and bushy-tailed traveling cross country with the white lines in the center of the road hypnotizing us to la-la land.
Some essential oils to keep you perky and watchful are:
- Basil
- Lemon
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Ylang-Ylang
If you don’t have an aromatherapy essential oil diffuser, simply put a dab on your temples, wrists, ankles, and feet to keep you wide awake and focused.
You can also blend some oils and put into a small spray bottle if you don’t have an aromatherapy diffuser. The uplifting scent of these blends will stimulate and revitalize you. If you become more tired, take a break, find a motel, and get the good rest you need. Use the following recipe in 4-ounces of water. As tempting as the cool mist may be, spray the air and fabric; never spray near your eyes or passengers’ eyes.
Diffusing essential oils, whether using heat diffusers or a nebulizing diffuser, is a great, chemical-free alternative to using commercial air fresheners in your vehicle.
- Peppermint 110 drops
- Cinnamon 35 drops
- Lime 35 drops
- Patchouli 20 drops
How to Stay Cool on Hot Days
Air conditioners don’t cool the instant you start them on a hot or hot and humid summer day. If your vehicle sat in the sun all day while you worked, it is hot inside. A number of essential oils have a cooling influence to make your body feel cooler.
- Eucalyptus
- Grapefruit
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Lime
- Mandarin
- Melaleuca
- Peppermint
- Roman Chamomile
- Menthol blends are cooling
These oils can be used in your car with a diffuser, small spray bottle, or with wipes put onto your skin for cooling comfort. The refreshing scent can also help perk you up if you’re feeling sweaty and have oily skin. It can also be helpful to keep the essential oils mixed with water in a spray bottle, to apply a cooling mist to your skin on a hot day. Again, be sure to avoid your eyes.
Essential Oils Overview
Increase your energy, improve your immune system, sleep better, increase concentration, and experience many other health benefits. Essential oils will do that for you. They uplift your mood, relieve stress, are calming and sooth your soul. The 100% pure essential oils will get rid of headaches and migraines, chronic aches, and pain, and eliminate skin dryness, nasal and sinus bleeding, and dryness, and improve dry hair. Simply put, the oils in your essential oil diffuser for your car, home, office, or business.
Some 100% pure essential oils to use in your car and home too in alphabetical order—A, B, C, D… are:
Basil – stimulates and eases mind and brain fatigue, is an antidepressant, and calms those traffic nerves so that you are less stressful. Sweet basil is ideal for on the road traveling or just going to and from work during rush hour.
Cinnamon – from the bark of the cinnamon tree it is not only tasty in pastries, it is a sweet spicy fragrance to stay alert, focused without daydreaming on the road. It will dilate blood vessels for increased circulation that can cause headaches when the vessels are constricted. It will help you when you feel fatigued in the rat race with other cars, home, and the office.
Coffee – is available in essential oils. Just the smell can revitalize you when you’re getting tired at the wheel. It can be mixed with vanilla and is a heady aroma smelling like fresh roasted coffee beans. It will get rid of nausea if your tummy is feeling upset. It is therapeutic and not diluted. If you don’t want coffee oil, at least stop for a cup of coffee at a truck stop or restaurant to feel less drowsy.
Frankincense (Boswellia serrata)—is rather pricey but it’s wonderful! Frankincense Serrata helps tone and tighten skin, while promoting balance and healing for a natural, radiant glow. The warm oil not only promotes a healthy immune system, it also supports digestive function, helping to relieve bloat in the abdomen, while promoting healthy urinary and respiratory systems. Any of these conditions can happen when traveling with little to no exercise. Blend with peppermint and orange to keep you alert and awake when driving at night.
Ginger – is by far the best for quieting nausea and the yucky tummy feeling kids get and you too with motion. Put a drop of ginger oil behind your and the kids’ ears when suffering from motion sickness. Ginger oil is very pungent so you might want to blend it with citrus or lemongrass. If that is still too strong, buy some crystalized sliced ginger shown here. It really works!
Grapefruit – a different smelling citrus from the lemon and others will sooth you to your soul to keep you alert to other drivers while remaining calm. It reduces fatigue, headaches, and lethargy when you drive many long hours.
Lavender (Bulgaria)—is a sleep enhancer and is great for sleep being calming. It calms stress and tension and I had second thoughts about putting it here. When used with peppermint for queasy stomachs and nausea it will also keep you alert. If you are out in the desert on those scorching hot summer days, lavender is beneficial on mild sunburns and dry irritated skin. If the kids are getting rowdy, try a bit of lavender to quiet them down and maybe they will take a nap. Put a drop on your finger and rub behind their ears or on a wrist outside.
Lemon – is perfect for hanging with bumper-to-bumper traffic! The intense citrus fragrance will energize and revitalize you with its stimulating components. It reduces mistakes by 54% in offices, so why not eliminate traffic jam errors in judgement too!
Lemongrass – makes an excellent tea for its uplifting, revitalizing, and stimulating abilities. It’s not as strong as peppermint oil and is a weaker substitute for it. This is good with the kids when they are fidgety, impatient, and on edge. The kids usually ask, “Are we there yet,” when they become overly bored and uninterested with long trips. Another great attribute of lemongrass is that it magically eliminates stuffy odorous smells and masks, but not remove, the horrible smell of throwing up, sweat, stinky shoes and feet to have a better car air quality.
Mandarin – is calming and used as a soothing and tranquillizing remedy. It will discharge stress, fear, anxiety, and mental annoyances. It will calm down the kids so they’re not so restless and keep you alert yet calm while driving.
Peppermint – is not only good for an upset tummy, it will keep you stay upright and mentally alert too. It’s too strong for kids to use, so put the mist closer to you rather than them. Just put a drop or two on a cloth or even a tissue and put under your nose if you feel nauseous from disagreeable restaurant food or feel very hot.
Rosemary – is indeed a brain enhancing oil to keep the driver fully alert and wide-awake while driving. You will stay focused and able to concentrate to make cogent driving decisions like when a dog or deer runs in front of your car. It can be too strong diffusing for kids, so again, dab a few drops on a cloth or tissue and put in a pocket or under a collar.
Sweet or Wild Orange – is one of my favorites keeping me on my toes alert with full concentration on driving. It is uplifting emotionally and upsurges my energy level. It smells of citrus with sweeter warm tones of the orange and can also give aid for the kids especially enduring car sickness, nausea, and tummy distress. When you’re hung up in traffic, have a whiff of orange mist from your diffuser.
Tips
Most of the time when traveling or RVing, space is limited due to all the gear you pack. Things get lost, stuffed between and under seats especially when taking the kids and maybe a dog along. Therefore, with planning and organizing you will have a way to keep the most used items handy and in one specific area to find quickly.
- Keep your essential oils in their own bottles, put in a plastic bag, and store in the glove box or middle compartment between the seats if you have one. Seat pockets are good and so are the spaces at the door. Keep one of the cupholders free for your aromatherapy diffuser.
- If you use oils on cloth, handkerchiefs, or tissue, dab them with your oils and put into plastic bags and store with your oil bottles.
- Check out the car diffusers evaluated here and buy one to take with you. They are absolutely wonderful and necessary for road trips!
- Citrus oils are invaluable in congested traffic and on road trips. Citrus will take the edge off the anxiety, frustration, and impatience you feel. Sometimes we even get angry, but never become involved in road rage! Keep your sensibilities.
- Cleaning is easy. Add a little alcohol and let the unit run 10 minutes. Dump that out and add cool water, turn on and run 10-minutes more until the alcohol smell is gone. Use a cotton swab for corners and hard to reach areas, rinse and let it air dry. Read the instructions for the diffusers.
Final Thoughts
Essential Oil diffusers are now more available for vehicles such as your car, SUV, truck, RV, and any other place you want fragrance and therapeutic results when on wheels. We have a lovely Verelily NOVA Nebulizer Wireless Diffuser that you will also want to consider. These units are small, easy to use, and provide wonderful results in your vehicle when going to work or taking a road trip.
You can get your aromatherapy essential oil diffuser in a variety of mediums, including hand-blown glass, wood grain, with lights or without lights, using heat or releasing a cool mist– the options are endless. What remains the same is the ability for your favorite scent to permeate a room and improve your well-being.
Enjoy your daily jaunts around town and all the adventures road trips will give you and your family. The best diffusers for your car or the vehicle you travel in are essential for the problems discussed above. Check diffuser reviews on Amazon.com®, know your budget, and check Warranties too.
Be safe and happy on your journeys. Life is an adventure of the soul.
Sounds perfect to make all my car journeys so relaxing so easy to use
Hi Margaret,
They are the best for cars! I love them!
Melissa
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