AromaRoom AP100-B H13 HEPA Air Purifier for Bedroom and Office: A Full Review

My roommate occasionally burns dinner, and living in a small apartment means that burnt oil smell lingers for days. I needed something to clear the air quickly without spending hundreds of dollars, which led me to pick up the AromaRoom AP100-B. If you are hunting for a cheap air purifier for smoke or cooking odors, this little black cylinder is surprisingly capable for thirty bucks. It uses a standard True HEPA 13 filter, which is exactly what you want for trapping fine particulate matter like ash, pollen, and pet dander. I keep it sitting on my bedroom nightstand. On its highest setting, it moves a decent amount of air and clears out lingering kitchen smoke in about an hour. When I switch it to sleep mode at night, the fan drops down to a whisper-quiet 22 decibels, making it easy to sleep next to. There is an aromatherapy pad on top where you can add essential oils, though I found the scent fades pretty fast and mostly just masks odors rather than eliminating them. The RGB ambient light is a fun touch if you like nightlights, but I usually leave it off. The real catch with any budget air cleaner is the long-term cost. While this is a great cheap air purifier for smoke upfront, you have to replace the proprietary filters every three to six months. If you run it constantly in a dusty or smoky room, those filter costs will add up over a year. Still, for small bedrooms or dorms, it gets the job done.