The White Company is one of my go-to brands for home fragrance, from its signature Seychelles scent to its new Tuscan Grove candle. That’s why the retailer’s electric motion sensor diffuser was top of my wishlist when it launched last year.
This smart diffuser is similar to The White Company’s sell-out electronic diffuser, but with a couple of major differences. Firstly, it has a clever motion sensor that releases a fragrance whenever it detects movement, and it’s a plug-in to save you precious tabletop space.
The White Company motion sensor diffuser: The need-to-know
The diffuser comes with an instruction guide, a bottle for fragrance oils, a plug, two additional US/EU plugs, and seven cotton filter sticks that help diffuse the oil. Fragrance oils are sold separately for £10 each, with each bottle lasting approximately six weeks.
The diffuser has two settings: a daytime mode that releases fragrance twice within a two-minute cycle as it notices movement in a room, and a scent mode that releases twice every hour during the day.
Cleverly, the diffuser also monitors the natural light to determine whether it’s nighttime, when it diffuses twice in a 30-minute cycle instead of every two minutes. It also has an on/off switch if you’d rather turn it off overnight.
A low-level light automatically glows whenever you’re nearby, creating a calm, homely welcome into the room. It’s silent too, so it won’t disturb you when you’re settling down for the night.
The White Company motion sensor diffuser: An honest review
I placed the diffuser in my small hallway and larger living room. I tested a few fragrance oils, but my favourite is the warming Amber scent, packed with sweet cedar and spicy ginger notes.
The set-up took less than five minutes — I simply filled a bottle with fragrance oil and a filter stick, popped it into the diffuser, and it was ready to go. Once plugged in, the smell filled my narrow hallway within seconds. Incidentally, I hosted friends the same day, and they complimented the scent as soon as they walked through the front door.
After a week of enjoying ‘Amber’ in the hallway, I moved the diffuser into my living room to see how it would fare in a bigger area. The diffuser effectively filled the space, and I could smell it even when I wasn't sitting nearby. It wasn’t quite strong enough to permeate other rooms in the house — but its portability allowed me to transfer it to other areas as needed.
The motion sensor delivered a fresh aroma regularly, as promised, and I liked that it took little effort to get my home smelling good.
Typical of The White Company’s signature refined style, the discreet design blended easily into my decor and has been a pleasing addition to my home. The automatic low-level light was an appreciated extra that helped enhance the soothing ambience.
The White Company motion sensor diffuser: The verdict
I’d recommend this diffuser to any home fragrance fans — it does exactly what it says on the tin.
I loved that it switches on when you’re close by, rather than constantly running throughout the day, meaning my favourite oils last longer and less energy is used running the plug-in. I also appreciated how I could move it around my home when a space needed a refresh.
At £65, it’s a little pricey for a plug-in but your home will smell heavenly. It’s worth noting that you’ll need fragrance oils every couple of months, but they tend to last longer than scented candles, which have average burning times of 40-80 hours. Plus, you can switch up your home fragrance with the seasons.
You can pick up the motion diffuser now at The White Company. Fragrance oils are also available here.
