  We consider almost Einstein solitons $(V,\lambda)$ in a Riemannian manifold
when $V$ is a gradient, a solenoidal or a concircular vector field. We
explicitly express the function $\lambda$ by means of the gradient vector field
$V$ and illustrate the result with suitable examples. Moreover, we deduce some
geometric properties when the Ricci curvature tensor of the manifold satisfies
certain symmetry conditions.
