Scented Candles, You're Dead to Me Since I Used the Vitruvi Move Diffuser

• Reach: 19/20
• Functionality: 15/20
• Ease of Use: 19/20
• Appearance: 16/20
• Value: 15/20

TOTAL: 84/100

Scented candles have always made me feel a bit uneasy. Sure, the scents are lovely, the containers make for a beautiful tablescaping moment and they’re always a dependable gift—but what about that open flame around little kids and animals? Or what if I tire of the scent before the whole candle is done? And how can I be sure I’m not going to burn down the house? Those concerns are now dunzo since I discovered the Vitruvi scent diffuser.

The Vitruvi Move diffuser is a seven-inch tall cylinder that you fill with two ounces of water spiked with a few drops of essential oil. Once you plug it in, you can enjoy a scented micromist while the device is on its charging base, or take it off the base and place it wherever you want to deodorize your home. There’s an optional glowing light bisecting the shaft of the diffuser, which is nice if you use it in your bathroom or bedroom. Since the Vitruvi micronizes its mist using high-speed vibration rather than heat, the device isn’t hazardous if knocked over, the way a candle would be. And the scent permeates up to 500 square feet.

Perhaps my favorite thing about the Vitruvi Move diffuser is the way it allows me to play with home scents by simply swapping out the essential oils and blends I use with it. For work days, I’ll plug in the Refresh Diffuser Blend Set ($55), which contains four .17-ounce blends including citrusy “Boost” and herbal “Pacific” blends. Pro tip: Vitruvi’s Instagram stories has a series of posts on how to pair scents for custom fragrances (for example, 15 drops of “Golden Blend” and 10 drops of “Eucalyptus” oils creates “Spring Bath,” a refreshing scent that smells like a spa visit).

If there’s any downside to the Vitruvi Move diffuser, it's that the device doesn't run for the entire time I set it for when it's detached from its base. It has four- and eight-hour settings, after which the diffuser turns itself off (a nice safety measure). But my diffuser barely made it to three hours once it was off its charging base, which was honestly fine, because that’s usually enough time for the citrusy scent to pleasantly permeate my living room. Additionally, I took a few points off for the diffuser’s price—$200 is a bit steep after all, and I’d like for more people to be able to enjoy these scents.

Overall, this diffuser makes me feel more soothed and serene when I have it running in my home, and whichever scent I'm using. It makes me feel happier to know that I've taken a few moments to focus on my self-care by making my surroundings smell a bit fresher and calmer...no open flames necessary.