[Advertisement – this is a paid partnership with Duux, but all words and opinions are my own]
Living in a Victorian house with a ground-floor damp issue (one of the many items on the ever-growing list of things to be fixed!), I’ve always assumed that the air I breathe on a daily basis is fairly humid. But after waking up regularly with a sore throat and itchy eyes, it began to dawn on me that the atmosphere in the upstairs rooms is, if anything, a little too dry.
After a bit of online research I realised a humidifier could be the answer, and it turns out they have all sorts of benefits. Not only do they make indoor environments more comfortable – especially during winter, when heating dries things out even more – they can also reduce static electricity, dry skin, headaches, snoring and fatigue. They can even help keep plants healthy, and ease the stuffy nose brought on by allergies, hay fever and colds. The hunt was therefore on to find one that could integrate into my home – something stylish yet effective, not the kind of bulky plastic eyesore you’d normally expect from gadgets like this.
Step forward the Tag Ultrasonic humidifier from Dutch brand Duux, which has been making products to improve air quality for more than 20 years. From an aesthetic point of view, it was a hit as soon as I took it out of the box: pared-back and understated, with sleek curves, matt white or black casing, wood-effect legs and a leather strap for lifting up the top cover. It’s slotted perfectly into my minimalist décor, and it’s the kind of thing I’m happy to leave out on display even when it’s not in use.
But is it actually any good…? Well, yes, very. First of all, the Tag doesn’t emit steam but a cold, fine mist. It’s therefore perfectly safe around children and pets, and it doesn’t leave a film of water over nearby surfaces. It has a tank capacity of 2.5L so it can operate continuously for up to 10 hours (most others I’ve come across only hold 100-300ml), and you can add essential oils so that it doubles as an ambiance-enhancing aroma diffuser. Most importantly, though, it uses up to 80% less energy than traditional humidifiers – an important consideration as utility bills rise and we all become more aware of our electricity consumption and environmental footprint.
The Tag is ideal for bedrooms, as it’s very quiet with no electronic buzz or ongoing humming sound. It does make a gentle burbling noise, which reminds me of a stream – actually quite relaxing to drift off to, although on the first night I forgot I’d turned it on and woke in the small hours thinking I’d left a tap running somewhere in the house! The mood light underneath can also be switched off if you want total darkness, and should you happen to sleep long enough for it to run out of water it will shut down automatically rather than beep at you. (It doesn’t have to sit by the bed to be effective, by the way, as it works in spaces up to 30sqm – I just put mine on the nightstand as there’s a convenient plug socket there.)
I’ve been using my Tag overnight for a couple of weeks now, normally with a few drops of Duux lavender oil to aid relaxation. There are two mist settings and even the lowest one makes a noticeable difference to the air. Even though I still wake up regularly (I have ongoing issues with insomnia), I now rarely find myself having to reach for a glass of water – and my eyes and throat feel a lot less scratchy and irritated come morning. As for the oil, it’s just strong enough to be perceptible without being overwhelming.
As the Tag is lightweight enough to move from room to room, I’ve also started switching it on in my little home office – another upstairs space with dry air – while I work during the day. It’s definitely helped reduce the stuffy head and tired eyes that I get if I spend too long in there staring at my computer screen, and I just swap the lavender oil for something that helps me focus. At the moment I’m using zingy eucalyptus, which opens the airways and kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria in the air (ideal for winter cold season), but come summer I’ll switch to citronella, which has the added benefit of keeping insects at bay.
The humidifier is very simple to set up, although I found there’s a bit of a knack to tightening the tank cap correctly. It’s also easy to maintain and clean, and there’s a replaceable filter cartridge to catch any bacteria and limescale – a must-have in hard-water areas such as Bristol.
All in all, I’m really impressed with the Tag Ultrasonic and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. It’s the perfect balance of form and function and, as mood is always an essential consideration around the home for me, the aroma diffusion is the icing on the cake. Having never before realised the benefits of using a humidifier, I’m definitely a convert!
The Tag Ulstrasonic humidifier is available to buy here and is priced at £99.99.
All photography by Abi Dare
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