Do you know what a candle warmer lamp is? They are super popular right now and there’s a reason – they’re great! Here’s everything you need to know plus my favorite picks for the best candle lamps!
What if I told you there’s a way to enjoy your favorite jarred candles with no flame and they’d last longer.
Sounds good right?
Well, there is a way and it doesn’t require you to buy special candles because you can use the ones you already own!
Candles are a great way to create a cozy ambiance while enjoying some aromatherapy. And did you know that of all the senses, smell most readily triggers memories and can influence emotional responses, and affects overall feeling? This effect is so strong and so common, did you know that it actually has a scientific name? It’s called the Proust effect.
But open-flame candles don’t work well in homes with small children, pets, or even some buildings with strict regulations. And that’s where candle warmer lamps come in!
My Experience with a Candle Warmer Lamp
If I know I’m going to be home for a couple of hours, I almost always have a candle burning. I love the scent and the cozy feel!
In fact, I just recently splurged on the 3-wick Capri Blue Volcano, which is one of my all-time favorite scents!
It seems that I passed my love of candles onto my eldest, as his senior year was spent doing homework in his room with a candle burning.
So when he went off to college and couldn’t bring a candle with him, he was sad! (Darn those pesky dorm rules that say no open flames!) Lol
So when he asked me for a candle warmer for Christmas, I had no idea what he meant. I had visions of the old-style candle candle warmers that used tealights to melt wax beads or wax bars that were scented.
NO!
Those are NOT the candle warmers we’re talking about today! The latest TikTok viral sensation are electric candle warmer lamps. That’s right, no flame needed!
But no, candle warmers are trending all over social media and there’s a reason why. They work.
Well, okay there are other reasons why people like them and I’m sharing all of the details with you below. I’ve now purchased two and this is my review after trying them and comparing them to burning a candle with a flame.
What is an Electric Candle Warmer Lamp?
A candle warmer lamp melts a candle without an open flame. Basically, it’s a lamp with a shaded (halogen) bulb that sits over the top of a jarred candle. The heat from the lamp melts the wax and releases the fragrance of the candle.
Candle lamps melt the candle from the top-down, not to be confused with candle warmer plates, which melt from the bottom up. This article is specifically about the lamps.
Benefits of a Candle Lamp
No Open Flame
Great for homes with pets or kids or buildings with strict regulations, like dorm rooms. And if you’ve seen those double and triple dorm rooms, you know they could use a fresh scent!
Smoke
If you blow out a candle, you’re left with smoke, which disrupts the scent of the candle. With a candle lamp, the wick is never lit so there’s no smoke.
Soot
I have my jar candle in my favorite hurricane candle holder but after many hours of burning a candle, the glass is covered in soot and needs to be cleaned. Even if there’s no glass, that soot is going somewhere!
Even Wax
Using a flame on a candle requires that you burn a new candle for a few hours minimum to ensure that the wax melts evenly across the candle so that it will continue to burn evenly. Even then, sometimes the wax tunnels down the middle, and you’re left with a ring of wax. The candle lamp burns the candle evenly, even with a new candle, and avoids tunneling.
Longer Lasting
The lamp seems to burn a bit more slowly than a flame, so a candle will last longer.
Two-in-One
A candle lamp is essentially a piece of home decor. You get the ambient glow of a lamp with the added bonus of a candle scent! Many candle warmer lamps come with a dimmer switch to control the brightness and some even offer a timer.
Compatible
No special beads or candles required. Candle lamps work with almost any size candle by using an adjustable neck on the lamp. So yes, you can use your favorite candle!
Cons of a Candle Lamp
Electricity
Candle lamps do need to be plugged in, so they work best on desks, consoles, countertops, side tables, etc. I usually have a candle burning on my coffee table, so a candle warmer doesn’t work there because the power cord would be in the way of foot traffic.
Scent
Based on my experience, I felt that since the candle was burning slower, the scent wasn’t quite as strong as when I used a flame (but I was using it in a large, open area). The candle lamps might be best suited for smaller areas like bathrooms, bedrooms, home offices, etc.
A Note About Scent
Have you ever bought a candle that smells amazing in the store, but one you bring it home and light it, you really can’t smell it? There’s a reason for that…
In the candle world, the term “throw” refers to the strength of a candle’s scent. Cold throw is the smell when the candle isn’t lit. Hot throw refers to the scent when the candle is burning.
Four things affect the candle’s throw: the size of the wick, the type of wax, the container itself, and the quality of the fragrance oils.
This is why some candles smell great both when cold and when burning, while others only smell good when cold (or some not at all!).
The reason I’m mentioning this is because if you get a candle that doesn’t have a good hot throw, it won’t emit a strong scent either when lit or when under a candle lamp, and that isn’t the fault of the lamp.
Best Candle Warmers lamps
As of the time I’m writing this, Amazon has the best selection of candle warmer lamps. There are wooden bases, meal bases and even marble ones! You can find glass shades, metal ones, or even linen.
Below, I’ve rounded up my favorite candle lamps for the home. There are some really cute designs for girls, though, that offer shades that look like flowers and pretty pastel colors.
Sources left to right top to bottom: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 – 11 – 12 – 13 – 14 – 15
Frequently Asked Questions
Are they safe?
Yes! There’s no flame and many candle lamps have timers so they’ll automatically turn off.
Do they work?
They do! I personally tested it with my favorite candle and can confirm that melts the wax and releases the scent of the candle.
Does the wax melt?
Yes, the wax melts from the heat of the light. It melts more evenly across the top than lighting a candle wick, which reduces the likelihood of tunneling.
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Once you use a candle lamp. can you still light the candle or does the wick sink in the candle?
Great question! I used the candle lamp and the next day lit the wick with no problem. Once the wax cools from the lamp, the candle looks no different than it does when you burn the wick.