An atomizer is a device which converts a stream of liquid into a fine spray. Atomizers are used in the perfume and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in kitchens and for cleaning supplies. Most people use an atomizer of some form or another at least once a day, although it might be known by another name. Squirt bottles, inhalers for medications, cooking sprays, and perfume bottles which emit a mist are all atomizers.

An atomizer has several components. The first is a bottle containing the substance to be atomized. A tube is designed to fit into the bottle and connect to a nozzle. When someone wants to use the atomizer, they can squeeze a bulb attached to the atomizer or depress the top of the nozzle to create a flow of air across the nozzle which pulls the liquid up the tube and through the nozzle. As the liquid passes through the nozzle, a screen causes it to disperse in a fine spray.

Typically, an atomizer is used to dispense something in small, controlled amounts. An atomizer for medical use is probably the most precise type of atomizer, because it is designed to deliver a metered dose of the medication to the patient. Other atomizers are less exact, but they still dispense far less material than other delivery methods, such as pouring the material from an open topped bottle.

When used for perfume, an atomizer creates a light, even spray which covers a reasonably large area. As a general rule of thumb, perfume should not be smelled by anyone except the person wearing it, or people who are in very close physical proximity with that individual. An atomizer helps to dispense a small amount of perfume so that the wearer is not drenched in it. Perfume atomizers are often made from glass and other ornamental materials, so that they are decorative as well as functional. Glass atomizers for perfume are available at some specialty stores.

In cooking, atomizers are extremely useful for dispensing small amounts of ingredients. Many cooking oils come in atomizers to create a fine spray which will cover a cooking pan, and other ingredients come in atomizers so that cooks can add a dash of flavor to a dish. Bartenders sometimes use atomizers to add a faint flavor to a drink without overpowering it. Many companies sell atomizers designed for the kitchen which can be filled by consumers with a substance of choice.

When purchasing a substance that comes in an atomizer, you may want to see if the atomizer can be refilled. Many cleaning supplies, for example, come in atomizers and in bulk containers. Since atomizers are more expensive, you may want to refill the atomizer from a bulk container and reuse it, rather than purchasing a new atomizer every time you run out of something. This also helps to reduce waste, and is better for the environment. In the case of medications, atomizers are usually part of a throwaway package, so that they will not become contaminated with substances which could hurt patients.