We tested 3 Wax Warmer Lamps so you don't have to

Have you ever wondered whether an Electric Candle Warmer Lamp is something you should try? They're not cheap, so it's a bit risky buying one just to try it out, so we decided to buy three and put them to the test. To be honest it's a month in and we're still testing them as the fragrance release from the candles is simply so long lasting.

We've tried them with our very own Essential Oil Candles, we've tried them with budget candles from Aldi and we've even experimented with a filling a 200g jar with a mix of our own Soy Wax for Melts and Fragrance oils. The results have been very very good, some better than others but all in each candle warmer lamp has worked well.

Here's what we found:

All three Candle Warmer Lamps were bought from Amazon. 1 & 2 are adjustable in height and No.3 is fixed. All were chosen to suit our decor, there are many of these available, we just picked these as we loved the way they looked. We chose three all in a similar price bracket although No.2 has increased in price considerably since.

1. Price £34.99 | Make MQFORU
2. Price £39.99 |  Make Grandis
3. Price £29.99 |  Make Pyntop

The first thing to note is that each of the Warmer Lamps came with two or more 50W GU10 lamps but we noticed is that some of the lamps produced less heat than others. GU10's lamps are easily changeable however they are available as Spots or Floods of varying degrees. The tighter the focus, or spot, the hotter the candle will get as more light is focussed on the candle itself. No.3 didn't seem to be melting the candle very fast so we chose a tighter angled spotlight from our collection of GU10's, yes we have a few due to my love of lamps and home decor 😆 We had a similar experience with No.1 & 2 but these are adjustable in height so moving the lamp closer to the candle was all that was needed.

NB: These will ONLY work with Halogen GU10 Lamps not LED.

Switches / Control
All of the Candle Warmer Lamps are dimmable and have timers which makes them very safe and easy to control.

1. Dimmable 2/4/6 Hr Timer
2. Dimmable 1/2/4 Hr Timer
3. Dimmable 2/4/8 Hr Timer

Dimming the lamp will produce less heat so it's up to you to find your preference. We found that on full output, with a new candle, the depth of melt was around 1cm across all of them. No.3 Struggled to melt the wax originally but was ok once we had changed the lamp to a tighter spot. 1cm may not seem a lot but believe us when we say the scent throw from the wax is really very good, even using cheaper candles that struggled to throw a scent when actually lit.

Build Quality
We found that each of them has a similar build quality and feel but our preference would be No.1 or 3 in that order. 

Performance
Overall each of the three performed very well. The differences being how quickly the wax melts and to what degree. Scent throw from all of the candles we tested was excellent, even when using a 2/3rds burnt candle.

How long does a Candle last?

Well, we've written this after 1 month of testing and we haven't really found any of the candles we've used have lost their fragrance fully yet. Our best guess is that one 30cl candle will last for many many weeks and even if melted every night. It's important to remember too that only the top 1cm or so of wax is melted during each session (see image). Once that stops smelling you can dispose of the top layer and start again with the same candle.

Would we recommend buying one?

That's a resounding yes from us. Here's all the things to consider.

1. Safety: Candle warmers eliminate the risk of an open flame, reducing the potential for accidents. This can make them a safer option, especially in households with children or pets.

2. Fragrance: Candle warmers very effectively release the fragrance of the candle without burning it. This can be a good option if you enjoy the scent of candles but are concerned about the emissions associated with burning especially the soot produced by paraffin wax candles.

3. Longevity: Since the candle isn't burning, it can last a lot longer when used with a warmer. 

4. Aesthetics: Some people appreciate the ambiance of a real burning candle, including the flickering flame. Candle warmers may not provide the same visual appeal but you can buy warm or cool lamps for them to help with the ambiance.

5. Cost: Candle warmers might save money in the long run because the candle wax lasts longer. However, the initial cost of a candle warmer is a real consideration.

6. Variety: There is a wide variety of candle warmers available. Choose one that suits your preferences and fits the size of your candles.

7. Environmental Impact: If environmental concerns are a priority, using candle warmers may be considered more eco-friendly since there is no combustion, and thus, no associated emissions.