Candle warmers/lamps have become popular in recent years. We often get questions about these, and we quickly realized that most people were running into the same issues. We did several tests with five different warmers using candles of our own and candles from other brands.
If you can’t smell your candle under a candle warmer, or if the smell isn’t strong, we have a few tips and tricks that can help!
NOTE: THESE ARE ONLY SUGGESTIONS. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURERS INSTRUCTIONS ON ANY WARMER/LAMP AND CANDLE. IF OUR GUIDE DIFFERS IN ANY WAY TO WHAT THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTS, THEN PLEASE FOLLOW THEIR INSTRUCTIONS.
SAFETY
First and foremost, make sure your candle warmer is safe! A lot of candle warmers on the market have not been properly tested for safety. This is especially true with some (not all) that are sold on online marketplaces.
AIRFLOW
Our first tip is to consider airflow. Airflow is always your friend! A candle warmer heating a candle in the corner of a stuffy or humid room will always be less noticeable than a candle in the middle of an open room. We find that most people put their warmers on side tables or bookshelves. Reconsidering placement can make a huge difference. Make sure the lamp/bulb on your candle warmer isn't too close to your candle. Not only does this reduce airflow but it can also make your candle too hot.
SURFACE AREA
Like airflow, surface area is your friend. Don't expect a one-inch diameter candle to fill a room even if it smells great when it's not lit. A two-inch diameter candle works great for most bedrooms and bathrooms, but you won't get as much out of it in a large living room. Consider a candle that is large enough for the room size you're in.
TEMPERATURE
Turn it down, turn it down, turn it down! It may seem counterintuitive, but higher heat will not give you a better result. The highest heat setting on all of the adjustable temperature candle warmers we tested was too hot for every candle we tried. Some people may disagree with us and swear that higher heat works better. To be fair, it does work better initially, but it doesn't last long.
When people can't smell their candle under their warmer right away, they turn it up. This works fast and suddenly they can smell it. The problem is as time goes on it gets too hot too fast and you'll start to burn through your fragrance before it has time to disperse properly in the air. It might take longer to get a good scent at a lower temperature, but your candle will perform better. If you must use high heat, use it sparingly and only at the start of warming a candle, and then turn it back down. If you can get a full melt pool on the lowest heat setting, then there is no need to turn your candle warmer up.
HOW TO REMOVE UNSCENTED WAX
If you can no longer smell your candle after warming it then it’s time to remove some of the surface wax. Always let your candle cool a bit and make sure it’s safe to handle before grabbing the jar.
Pouring Method:
Some people like to pour the wax out once the fragrance is gone. This works, but it can be messy. It’s also easy to pour out too much wax. If you’re warming your candle properly then the bottom portion of the melted layer should have fragrance left in it. The pouring method removes that layer so your candle might not last as long.
Cotton Balls:
Another popular method involves using cotton balls to absorb the melted wax. We love the idea of this because it’s easy and mess-free but not all cotton balls are the same. Most work great but some can leave small fibers and debris in the wax. For safety reasons, make sure your candles are always free of debris.
Syringe/Pipette:
Another option involves using a pipette or an irrigation syringe to remove the surface layer of wax. If you try this make sure your syringe or pipette is new and that it has a larger opening (it can be reused for this purpose again but always start with a new one). Wax is thicker than most liquids so smaller sizes won’t work. Empty the syringe or pipette before the wax hardens into a container to be disposed of.
Spoon Method:
Our final method is the spoon method. To do this, turn your warmer off and keep an eye on your candle. As soon as the wax begins to harden and right after it turns white (or once it has turned back into a solid if your candle contains dyes), grab a plastic spoon and scrape the top layer of wax off. The wax will be soft making it easy to scoop. Your candle will look rough but that will go away once it’s melted down again.
