Start with three: Lavender for evenings, Peppermint for mornings, and Sweet Orange as an easy any time scent. They are gentle, forgiving, and pair well with each other, so you can build a simple diffuser routine without a shelf full of bottles.

Usually the label, not the liquid. A bottle at £4 and a bottle at £14 can come from the same distillery. The gap is retail markup, marketing spend, and packaging. What actually matters is that the oil is single origin, unblended, and the Latin name is on the bottle.

For a small home diffuser with a 200ml water tank, three to five drops is plenty. Start with three, add more only if the scent feels too light. More drops will not make it smell better, just heavier, and can be strong in small rooms.

Some are safer than others, and cats are the most sensitive. Diffuse in a well ventilated room, run diffusers for short sessions of 30 to 60 minutes, and always give pets the option to leave. Never apply oils to their fur, food, or water, and check with your vet if your pet has a health condition.