Are Candle Warmers Worth It? Here’s What the Experts Say

Fragrance trends come and go, but one swipe through social media will tell you that candle warmers are here to stay. This fragrance-meets-decor accessory has become a hit on TikTok and Reddit for its design that mirrors a table lamp, all while heating your favorite scented candles evenly sans an open flame. For AD’s first-ever Scent Week spotlight, we dove deep into this topic to help design and fragrance enthusiasts alike find the best candle warmer lamps to elevate their home decor.

Kudzi Chikumbu—a lifestyle and home fragrance influencer also known as Sir Candle Man across his socials—has covered this topic extensively on his platforms and considers them a “magical” addition to a home setup. “You turn them on, and the lamp lights up and heats up enough to melt the top of a candle that you place under it,” he says. “It’s basically a way to enjoy the benefits of a candle without the flame, which is great if you have cats or kids around.”

To get even more technical, John Cagle, vice president of the National Candle Association, says that these warmer lamps essentially spur the fragrance diffusion process of a candle, using heat to allow fragrances in the wax to evaporate into the air. “If the base of the candle fits the base of the lamp, and the top of the candle vessel is below four to six inches from the warmer lamp heat source, any candle would be effective for the fragrance to [disperse],” he adds.

With all this in mind, shoppers and experts alike are loving these home appliances to preserve the lifespan of their votives—lit candles run out faster from wax being consumed by flames—and add a little ambiance along the way. Cagle says popular candle lamp features include timers that can turn it off automatically, as well as adjustable heights since candles should be four to six inches away from the warmer heat source. Otherwise, Chikumbu has found that most candle warmers are basically the same functionality-wise, except for the design. He reaches for ones with a midcentury-modern or contemporary design in his home, particularly with a dimmer switch to set the mood at any given time. Here are the picks we found that have a basic, streamlined style and others that boast a stronger design POV to blend into your space.

Things to keep in mind

Fragrance might fade over time

So can a flameless fragrance warmer actually fill your living room, bedroom, and every space in-between with aromas effectively? Absolutely. “I sometimes find it just as potent as when burned traditionally,” says Chikumbu, noting that it takes about an hour tops to heat the candle—no tunneling in sight. “The only issue is that over time, because you’re not burning the wax and it’s not being picked up by a wick, the strength of the fragrance in the melted wax will diminish.” He adds that since the fragrance evaporates from wax melts, eventually the fragrance won’t be as strong.