[Advertisement – this is a paid partnership with Briiv, but all words and opinions are my own]
If you’ve been reading this blog or following me on Instagram for any length of time, you might be aware that as an asthmatic, I’ve long been worried about the damaging effects of indoor air pollution. But you might also know that I’ve found an effective way to tackle it: the stylish and sustainable Briiv air purifier, which has the air-cleansing power of 3,043 houseplants.
Made in the UK, Briiv was the brainchild of a group of design-industry professionals who wanted to devise a product that not only improves our immediate surroundings, but is also as close to circular as possible. The result is an air purifier that produces 80.57% less CO2 over its lifetime than any other model on the market and consists of 90% natural and renewable materials such as moss and cork. Even the plastic bits use a bio-plastic derived from rice husks which fully biodegrades.
And it really does work. I first reviewed the original Briiv air purifier back in 2022 and found it so useful that I shared more about my experiences in a follow-up post a year later. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, the company has now launched an even more powerful model, the Briiv 2 Pro, and I jumped at the chance to put it to the test, too.
So, is the Briiv 2 Pro even better? How does it differ from the original? And does it make a noticeable difference to air quality around the home? Read on to find out…
How Briiv air purifiers work
Briiv now offers three different models: the original Briiv, the Briiv 2 and the Briiv 2 Pro. They all basically work in the same way, with air being sucked in at the top and passing through three filtration layers before coming back out at the sides. Moss captures large particles, a coconut-fibre disc traps bacteria and mould spores, and a nano matrix filter beneath catches harmful fine dust. Together, these layers are effective against smoke, VOCs, pollen and other allergens. They also deal with the tiny PM2.5 particles from traffic fumes and wood-burners, which penetrate deep inside the body and are known to contribute to lung disease, heart problems, dementia and more.
The differences between the original Briiv, the Briiv 2 & the Briiv 2 Pro
The three models look similar, have four speed levels and share the same environmental credentials, but there are some notable differences. The Briiv 2 and Briiv 2 Pro can both filter more air per minute (68 cubic feet rather than 51), meaning they’re quicker at cleaning and able to cope with larger spaces. They also have a built-in well for essential oils and can double as fragrance diffusers. What’s more, they use a different type of moss, Yorkshire sphagnum. It’s hardier than the reindeer moss used in the original model and can therefore be washed to prolong its lifespan.
The big difference between the Briiv 2 and the Briiv 2 Pro is the level of control and automation they offer. All Briivs can be connected to the Briiv app and scheduled to switch on and off at specific times, but the Briiv 2 Pro has the added advantages of an AI-driven sensor and an automatic air-filtration setting known as ‘Canary Mode’. This means it continually monitors for pollutants and can be programmed to spring into life whenever the air quality drops beneath a certain level. In addition, it can talk to other units (including the Briiv 2 and any original Briivs made after November 2023) and instruct them to turn on, too.
Setting up & using the Briiv 2 Pro
Setting up my Briiv 2 Pro took seconds – I just put the moss in the glass dome, plugged it in and voilà! Connecting it to the Briiv app was also easy, and I can now see all sorts of data about the air in our home in real time. As for ‘Canary Mode’, I’ve programmed it to activate whenever the air quality falls from ‘Good’ to ‘Fair’ (you can choose ‘Poor’ or ‘Bad’, or turn this mode off altogether, if you prefer).
I now keep my original Briiv in our bedroom, as I always like to make sure the air in there is as clean as possible before we go to bed and have it scheduled to run for an hour from 10pm. The Briiv 2 Pro, meanwhile, moves around the house so that it can monitor and clean the air in whichever space is in use – whether that’s my home office when I’m working during the day, the kitchen when we’re cooking, or the living room when we’re relaxing in the evening or at weekends. Eventually I’d like to invest in more units to give full coverage without having to do this, but in the meantime it’s lightweight and portable enough that it’s not much of a hassle.
My verdict on the Briiv 2 Pro
I’d already noticed a massive difference in air quality around the house over the past three years from using the original Briiv, but ‘Canary Mode’ on the Briiv 2 Pro is fantastic – especially at this time of year, when so many people nearby are lighting up wood-burners. By the time I notice the smell of smoke, the harmful particles will have already seeped in through vents and gaps around doorways, so setting the Briiv 2 Pro to come on as soon as it detects them is a huge reassurance. At the moment this happens most evenings (which just goes to show how many pollutants are entering our home before we’re even aware of them), but it’s quiet enough that it doesn’t stop us watching TV or listening to music at the same time.
I’m sure ‘Canary Mode’ will prove very useful come summer, too, responding to pollen surges before they cause major symptoms for my hay-fever-sufferer husband. I also like the fact it automatically kicks in whenever there are fumes from cooking, cleaning products or traffic, and I don’t have to remember to switch it on myself.
The fact that the moss can be washed is another big plus for me. The reindeer moss in our original Briiv can be shaken out, but it does accumulate dust over time and needs replacing every now and then. The Yorkshire sphagnum should last much longer, and personally I think it looks a little prettier, too.
As for the fragrance well, I don’t use it often as I tend to light scented candles throughout the day, but I have tried adding an uplifting peppermint and eucalyptus oil on mornings when I feel particularly sluggish. It’s noticeable rather than overpowering, and I really like the overall effect.
Which Briiv should you buy?
So, which of the three Briiv models would I recommend getting?
If you’re buying one unit only, I’d definitely go for the Briiv 2 Pro so that you can make use of ‘Canary Mode’. If you’re buying more than one, it’s worth ensuring at least one of these is the Briiv 2 Pro so that they can all be linked up – Briiv has a handy calculator to help you work out how many units you need for the size of space you want to cover, as well as various package bundles.
But rest assured that even if your budget won’t stretch to the Briiv 2 Pro (£399), the original Briiv and Briiv 2 models (both £329) will still provide excellent performance. On full power, the former will improve the air quality in a 36sqm space in an hour, while the latter will deal with a 22sqm room in just 11 minutes. They’re also very efficient when it comes to running costs, with replacement filters coming it at £35 per year and the average electricity spend at only £3.64 per year.
Finally, I think it’s important to state that even though this review is part of a paid partnership, I would never recommend a product that wasn’t any good. Both my original Briiv and my new Briiv 2 Pro have made a massive difference for me and my husband, and they get used every single day. We wouldn’t want to be without them!
Order the Briiv, Briiv 2 and Briiv 2 Pro air purifiers here.
All photography by Abi Dare
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