Reed diffuser on a wooden plate, home fragrance styling

A reed diffuser uses porous sticks to slowly draw scented liquid up and release it passively into a room, while bakhoor is burned incense, wood chips soaked in oud oil and fragrance, that’s actively heated to produce fragrant smoke.

How each actually works

A reed diffuser is passive and continuous, sitting quietly in a room and releasing a steady, gentle scent over weeks with no need for heat, flame or attention once it’s set up. Bakhoor is active and ritualistic by comparison, chips are placed on a charcoal disc or electric burner, heated until they smoke, and the fragrant smoke fills the room quickly and intensely for a shorter, more concentrated burst, usually used deliberately rather than left running continuously.

Which suits which situation

Diffusers suit a constant, low-level background scent for everyday living, hallways, living rooms, bathrooms. Bakhoor suits occasions, guests arriving, a special gathering, or simply wanting to fill a room with a deep, traditional scent for a specific stretch of time. Our home fragrance guide and bakhoor guide cover both properly, and our diffusers and bakhoor burners ranges are worth browsing, alongside the complete guide to perfume.