Aura is a ceramic diffuser that turns water and a few drops of fragrance oil into a fine, even mist. The glazed shell is hand finished, so the surface carries small variations from piece to piece, and the form is closer to a plain vessel than an appliance. A pool of soft ambient light sits inside it, which means it reads as a small lamp as much as a diffuser once the rest of the room is dim.

The mist is ultrasonic and quiet in use, fine enough that it disperses without leaving a damp patch on the shelf beneath it. The unit switches itself off when the water runs low, so it can be left running through an evening without being watched. It arrives with a power adapter and a quick start guide, and comes in three glaze finishes: Crystal Cream, Blue Watercolour and Pastel Floral.

It is sized for a bedside table, a bathroom shelf, a hallway console or the corner of a living room, and the low glow makes it a reasonable night light in a bedroom. Fill it with clean water, add a few drops of oil, then empty and wipe the tank between fragrances so scents do not muddle. Treat the scent as atmosphere in a room, a pleasant thing to sit with rather than a treatment for anything.

• Material: Hand finished glazed ceramic shell
• Mist: Ultrasonic, whisper quiet
• Light: Soft ambient glow
• Safety: Switches off automatically when the water runs low
• Finishes: Crystal Cream, Blue Watercolour, Pastel Floral
• In the box: Diffuser, power adapter and quick start guide