An electrostatic atomizer (100) includes a spray electrode (1), a reference electrode (2), a control circuit (24) for controlling a value of a current at the reference electrode (2), and a high-voltage generator (22) for applying a voltage between the spray electrode (1) and the reference electrode (2). The control circuit (24) controls the value of the current at the reference electrode (2) so that the value of this current can be higher than a spray current corresponding to a prescribed spray amount of a substance.