Are you thinking about what neti pot to buy? Then you have probably come across the NoseBuddy. This product review will tell you everything you need to know about it and why this is likely the neti pot you need.
To do neti, yogic nose cleansing, you need a special kind of pot called a neti pot or a neti lota. I have been doing nose cleansing for more than twenty years and have tried many neti pots. NoseBuddy is the best one I have come across.
Indeed, this pot does have a lot going for it. Read this thorough review to learn why I think you should choose it. I describe its benefits and a few minor shortcomings that could be significant to some readers.
Ready to get nerdy about neti pots? Then let’s go.
What is NoseBuddy made of?
NoseBuddy is made in semi-transparent PP plastic (polypropylene). It is a high-quality, non-toxic, medical-grade plastic that is very durable.
You probably already own many objects made in PP plastic. Plastic kitchen utensils, for example. While it is true that it’s nicer to hold a ceramic neti pot in your hand, this kind of plastic is actually pleasant to hold as well.
NoseBuddys feels robust because it has thick plastic walls. Compared to the Rhino Horn, another famous plastic neti pot, NoseBuddy has more than twice the amount of plastic (calculated as container volume divided by weight). NoseBuddy is so solid you never have to worry about breaking it.
| Neti Pot | weight | Volume to weight |
|---|---|---|
| NoseBuddy | 105g | 4,76ml of water per g of weight |
| Rhino Horn | 32g | 9,38ml of water per g of weight |
A porcelain neti pot may look great, but I know from experience that if you drop it on your bathroom floor, it’s finished. I have never broken a NoseBuddy, but I have broken several porcelain neti pots.
Ceramic neti pots the size of NoseBuddy don’t only break easily, some types can even damage your sink should you drop it. I used to be part of the yoga organization that took the initiative to create NoseBuddy. One reason for developing this pot was the number of broken sinks we had to replace in our retreat centre.
Heat resistance
Thanks to NoseBuddy’s quality plastic, it can be run through a dishwasher, even at a high-temperature cycle. You can also disinfect it in boiling water without risking deformation.
PP plastic is used for objects that need to be heat resistant, such as water containers for professional coffee machines. It only melts at about 160 degrees celsius (320°F).
I boiled my NoseBuddy for ten minutes to put it to the test. It suffered no deformation whatsoever.
How long does a NoseBuddy last?
If you take care of your NoseBuddy, it lasts for many years. I have had my current pot for more than five years, and I can foresee it lasting another five. This nose cleanser is unlikely to break unless you try to damage it on purpose.
However, if the surface of the plastic gets scratched, it could end up looking old after some years. The scratches could harbour bacteria, and you would need to disinfect your pot more often. Then it would be time to get a new one.
Size compared to other neti pots
One of the things I love about NoseBuddy is its size. It’s much bigger than most neti pots and holds 500ml of water (roughly 17 oz). That means you can get a good rinse even if you only fill it once.
You can see in this chart how it compares to other popular net pots.
| Neti Pot | Volume |
|---|---|
| NoseBuddy | 500ml |
| Rhino Horn | 300ml |
| Maoever Nasal 300 | 300ml |
| NeilMed NasaFlo | 240ml |
| Himalayan Chandra | 240ml |
I find tiny neti pots annoying. To get a satisfying rinse, you need to fill them up twice (or more). In addition, they don’t rinse well because they don’t provide enough pressure.
However, I know that some people find NoseBuddy to be bulky. It does take up some shelf space, especially if you have more than one, which is advisable for a family since it isn’t a good idea to share neti pots with others.
Its size can also be a disadvantage if you travel and have limited space in your bag. The good thing is that you can squeeze the pot into an overfilled suitcase without any risk of deforming it.
Ease of use
NoseBuddy is a breeze to use, thanks to its intelligent design. Turiya at the Scandinavian Yoga and Meditation School, who designed the pot, got input from dozens of experienced yoga teachers to tweak about its usability.
It’s easy to get the right salt concentration
You rinse your nose with a 0,9% saline solution. Unless you get the amount of salt right, your rinse will be uncomfortable and irritating to your mucus membranes.
The included measuring spoon with NoseBuddy makes it easy to get perfect salt concentration. You simply fill water to the mark on the side of the pot, add a scoop of salt (4,5g), stir a few times, and you are good to go. Since the lota is semi-transparent, you can see when the water reaches the mark.
Whatever neti pot you opt for, please don’t buy one that doesn’t come with a measuring spoon. Relying on premade salt sachets is expensive and unnecessary. Trying to get the right salt concentration with a teaspoon is sure to be inaccurate.
Wondering what salt to use? Then read my article on the best salt for nose cleansing.
Best water flow
A neti pot functions like a water tower. You get pressure, thanks to the weight of the water in the container.
NoseBuddy has gravity working for you to give you good pressure, thanks to its long spout. The spout allows you to get the pot in a position well above your face making the water flow nicely. When I used NoseBuddy the first time, I felt that water reached places inside my nasal cavity that I had never reached before.
The spout is curved, and that is for a good reason. The curve makes it easy to keep the spout tip inside your nostril at an optimal angle as you raise your pot. That means you don’t need to twist your head awkwardly. A good thing if you are prone to get a stiff neck.
Good nostril fit
The nozzle is rounded, and you should get a good fit as long as you have standard-sized nostrils. We all have different sized nostrils in my family, but NoseBuddy works for me, my wife, and our seven-year-old. Even our three years old can use it.
Spill protection
With some neti pots, you have to be careful not to spill water through the top opening as you rinse. With this pot, that is not an issue. The top hole is just the right size.
Cleaning and maintenance
It’s super important to keep your neti pot clean. If your neti lota is dirty, you will get bacteria inside it, and you don’t want to pour that into your nose. Luckily, keeping NoseBuddy clean isn’t difficult.
Just rinse your pot after each use and sterilize it a couple of times per week. The easiest way to sterilize your lota is to run it through the dishwasher. NoseBuddy can stand high temperatures, so you don’t need to worry about deforming the plastic.
I live in Paris in France. Here we have lots of limestone in the tap water. That means that I get limestone sediments in my neti pot after some time. This is however, easy to remove with vinegar.
It’s a big plus that NoseBuddy is semi-transparent. Thanks to the transparency, you can see when the inside of your lota needs cleaning.
How much does a NoseBuddy cost?
A NoseBuddy will cost you around 22 euros (25 USD). That is more than other plastic neti pots. For example, the tinier Rhino Horn sells for approximately 17 euros. You can find low-end plastic pots for as little as five or six euros.
I reached out to Turiya and Mira, who run NoseBuddy. I asked why this pot costs so much more than the competition. They say their first priority was to make a quality product with superior functionality rather than cutting corners to keep costs down. They wanted to create a product they would want to use themselves.
NoseBuddy uses top material, and it’s produced in a high-end plastic factory in Sweden. Contrary to what you might think, Turiya says that quite a bit of manual work is involved in making the pot. They drill the top hole and the opening in the spout by hand. In addition, all mold joints are polished by hand.
In my opinion, this pot gives excellent value for your money. Other neti pots may be cheaper, but they won’t last as long, and they aren’t as easy to use. Nose cleansing only works if you do it, so it makes sense to get a pot that makes it easy and enjoyable to get it done.
Reasons to get a NoseBuddy
1. It gives you a superior rinse
Thanks to the long spout and the large volume NoseBuddy rinses better than all other neti pots on the market.
2. It’s easy to use
Thanks to the measuring spoon and the large container NoseBuddy is super practical.
3. It’s solid
You won’t break your NoseBuddy unless you want to.
4. It’s hygienic
Thanks to the semi-transparent plastic, the pot is easy to keep clean.
Reasons not to get a NoseBuddy
While it’s difficult to beat the NoseBuddy in terms of functionality, some people have objections.
1. It’s plastic
Despite the advantages, some people don’t want plastic products.
2. It’s bulky
NoseBuddy is light, but it’s a large neti pot. If the size is a crucial factor, for example, if you want to transport your neti pot in a small handbag or you don’t have much space on your bathroom shelf, then NoseBuddy might not be your best option.
3. The spout has the shape of a phallus
I think this is a silly objection, but I have seen several mentions in Amazon reviews. To some, the spout resembles an erect penis. If that’s a deal-breaker for you, go for a non-offending alternative, like the Rhino Horn.
4. Price
Compared to other plastic neti pots, this one isn’t cheap. If money is a crucial factor, you might want to opt for a different lota.
Final verdict
No neti pot will give you a better rinse than NoseBuddy. It’s the pot I recommend to all my yoga students. If you want a neti lota that gets the job done, look no further.
