A nebulizing diffuser uses between 50 and 1,000 ml of fragrance a month depending on the model, the intensity and the hours of use. A home or small-venue unit uses between 100 and 250 ml a month; a large-area unit, considerably more. The real cost is calculated from the monthly consumption and the price per millilitre of the refill.
This is the question that comes right after «how much does the unit cost». And it is the right one, because you pay for the device once and for the fragrance every month.
What consumption depends on
A cold nebulizer does not evaporate the liquid: it breaks it into microparticles with pressurised air. Consumption does not depend on heat or humidity, but on three things you control:
- Intensity. How much product comes out with each pulse. This matters most: one step down is barely noticeable in the room and makes the refill last much longer.
- Cycle. How many seconds it works and how many it rests.
- Schedule. How many hours a day it is on. An office running eight hours is not the same as a hotel running twenty-four.
The size of the space has an indirect effect: a large venue needs more intensity to be noticeable, so it uses more. And with doors open to the street or the air conditioning on full, consumption rises because the scent escapes before it has any effect.
Consumption and duration by model
These are guide figures for the BENDIS range in daily use at medium intensity. They change depending on how each unit is programmed.
| Model | Coverage | Approx. monthly consumption | How long 250 ml lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| PULSE | 7 m² | 50 ml | About 5 months |
| SENSE | 80 m² | 100 ml | 2 to 3 months |
| LUME | 100 m² | 150 ml | A month and a half or a bit more |
| FLOW | 120 m² | 250 ml | Around a month |
| ORBIT | 600 m² | 300 ml | Three to four weeks |
| ATMOS | 600 m² | 350 ml | About three weeks |
| HALO | 800 m² | 350 ml | About three weeks |
| WAVE | 875 m² | 800 ml | Several refills a month |
| NOVA | 1,600 m² | 1,000 ml | Several refills a month |
If you haven't chosen a unit yet, the guide on which diffuser you need for your square metres will help you narrow it down.
How long a 150 or 250 ml refill lasts
BENDIS refills come in 150 and 250 ml. As a guide, a 250 ml refill lasts about 2 months in a home or small venue at medium intensity, and a 150 ml one about five weeks. For the 150 ml size, allow around 40% less than the table in general. This is not a promise, it is an order of magnitude: the same refill can last twice as long or half as long depending on how the unit is programmed. The maths is simple:
- Divide the millilitres in the refill by the unit's monthly consumption.
- Adjust the result to your real schedule: if you only use it in the afternoons or at weekends, it lasts much longer.
For example, a LUME using 150 ml a month empties a 250 ml refill in a little over a month and a half. A SENSE at 100 ml a month, in about two and a half months.
What drives up consumption without you noticing
- Leaving it on 24 hours when the venue is open for 10.
- Turning the intensity up to maximum on day one because «it doesn't smell». Your nose adapts in minutes; the consumption doesn't.
- Scenting very well-ventilated walkways with the doors open.
- Not setting schedules and leaving the unit running through the night.
- Running a small unit flat out in a space that is too big for it. Moving up a model works out better.
How to make a refill last longer without losing scent
- Set schedules. Switching the unit off when nobody is there saves the most and nobody notices.
- Go down one intensity step and wait 48 hours before judging. Your nose gets used to your own scent.
- Lengthen the pause between pulses instead of raising the level.
- Don't scent areas open to the street. The product escapes there before it has any effect.
- Clean the nebulizer every 3 months. A dirty nozzle performs worse and makes you turn up the intensity for no reason.
The manuals and video tutorials explain how to set schedules from the app on the models that have one, and how to choose your diffuser's intensity gives you the criteria.
How to calculate the monthly cost
Take the price of the refill (always + VAT), divide it by the millilitres it contains and multiply by the millilitres you use each month. That is your real scenting cost, and it is usually quite a bit lower than people imagine before doing the maths.
If you would rather not do the numbers every month, the monthly scenting plan includes the unit and the month's fragrance in one fixed amount: from €29.90 a month + VAT, and €39.90 + VAT for the FLOW. No minimum term, 30 days' notice, and no running out of product mid-month. We compare both in buy a diffuser or pay monthly.
Which refill size to choose
A practical rule: the size that covers between one and three months of real consumption. If it lasts less, you end up ordering every two weeks. If it lasts much longer, the fragrance stays open for too long. The large size usually works out cheaper per millilitre, but only if you will use it up within a reasonable time.
- 150 ml: small units (PULSE, SENSE), an office open for few hours, or if you want to try a new fragrance.
- 250 ml: LUME, FLOW and business units.
Order the next one when a quarter of the refill is left and you won't run out of scent. You can see the sizes in the fragrance catalogue. If you have questions about your case, email us at info@bendis.es with the model, the square metres and your opening hours.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a home scent diffuser use?
Between 100 and 150 ml a month for a model like the SENSE or the LUME, with average use. It depends on the intensity and how many hours it is on.
Does it use more in summer?
A cold nebulizer does not rely on heat to diffuse, so consumption is the same. What changes is perception: in summer the scent is more noticeable and you can lower the intensity.
How do I know the fragrance is running out?
Some models, like the LUME, show the level in the app. For the rest, just check the tank every week at first until you know your consumption rate.
Does an opened refill go off?
Tightly closed and away from heat and sunlight, it keeps for months. What you should avoid is leaving it open in the diffuser for a long time without using it.
Can I switch to another fragrance before the refill is finished?
Yes, but clean the unit with isopropyl alcohol first so that traces of the previous one don't mix in.
Does a neutralizer last as long as a fragrance?
Consumption depends on the unit and the settings, just as with a fragrance. In areas with a constant bad smell it is usually programmed for more hours, so it runs out a little sooner.
