Candle warmers and oil diffusers are a perfect, convenient, and mess-free way to make your home smell great. If you are new to both these devices and don’t know how to choose one, you are at the right place! This article offers insight on candle warmers vs oil diffusers to make that choice easier.
We all love fragrances! A fragrant surrounding is relaxing and enjoyable. Sometimes, they may be reminiscent of our wonderful memories or create new ones when we are with our loved ones. The fragrance emitted through essential oils not only triggers a particular mood but is great for our well-being too.
So how do you diffuse these fragrances in your home and enjoy the aroma? The answer lies ahead!
Two popular devices that help you to create a fragrant ambiance at your home are candle warmers and oil diffusers. So, without keeping you waiting, I am going to start my discussion on candle warmers and oil diffusers.
What Are Candle Warmers – And How To Make The Best Of Them?
Candles, a source of light and warmth have, over the years evolved beautifully as a medium to spread scents too. Yes, I am talking of scented candles. The sight of a flickering candle and its pleasant aroma diffusing around makes a perfect setting for any occasion.
But sometimes, you may not want to use or burn a candle. Here if you get to know of something that can provide the same aroma as a scented candle without burning and in a convenient, hazard-free way, won’t you love it? It’s the candle warmer.
Candle warmers, also known as wax warmers or wax melts, are an improvised way to melt your favorite candle or wax blocks to diffuse their fragrance. You can actually enjoy the scent of essential oils and benefit from their healing properties without a flame.
While they can work with wicked candles, it’s best to use wax blocks specifically made for warmers. Keep those expensive candles for when you need them and use scent-infused wax blocks with the warmers.
Candle warmers melt the wax with the heat generated through electricity. You place the wax on the ceramic plate at the base of the candle warmer and plug it in the socket. As the plate warms, the scent-infused wax melts away slowly, spreading the scent of oils.
There are other methods of generating heat as well. For example, some warmers use incandescent lamps to generate heat, while also adding beautiful touches of light.
Keep them in your bedroom and relax as you enjoy the fragrance of essential oils. Use them in your drawing room and create an impression on your guests. Go ahead and use them during your exercise and yoga sessions with a carefree mind as they are flameless.
Candle Warmers (Wax Melters) Can Make Your Candles Cost-Effective
Scented candles are fairly expensive, therefore seeing layers of wax left unused when it’s time to dispose of the candle is a bummer.
Is there a way to overcome this problem? Or should you dump it? Here’s an idea: use that wax in a wax melter. Candle warmers are a cost-effective way to melt your wax evenly and every bit of it. It’s simple, efficient, and cost-effective.
Prevent Candle Tunneling With Candle Warmers
Candle tunneling can be very annoying for you when your candle carries a good price tag. Tunneling occurs when the flame around the wick burns only a limited amount of wax while leaving the wax around the edges.
The flame creates a vertical tunnel towards the bottom as it burns down while leaving the scented wax around wasted.
Here candle warmers are a blessing for your new and tunneled candles as well. When you place your scented candle in a candle warmer, it heats the jar slowly from the base and this melts the wax evenly. Thus, the fragrance keeps releasing till the whole wax melts down.
Alternatively, if you see no good way to manage the tunneled wax, use it directly with a candle warmer.
Candle Warmers Can Help With Candle Scent Throw
Scent throw is important to how scented candles work. When you use a candle warmer to diffuse the hot throw around, it smells stronger and lasts longer as compared to the normal candle-burning process. This is because the candle warmer heats the wax slowly, unlike when you burn a candle with a flame. Moreover, no smoke interferes with the intensity of the scent throw.
The hot throw doesn’t last long when you blow off the candle. But, with a candle warmer even after you switch off the device, the scent stays on because your candle stays warm for an hour at least.
Do Candle Warmers Or Wax Warmers Have Aesthetic Beauty?
Yes, many of them are available in designs that give a glowing dancing flame while releasing the scent. You can also find them in the design of lampshades or lanterns that give a classic look to the warmers.
Modern designs are creative and great at their jobs. You’ll find wax melters available in plenty of designs and styles to suit your taste and requirements.
The Two Most Common Styles Of Candle Warmers
- Ceramic Plate: The most common candle warmers use a ceramic plate for burning the wax. When you plug in the electric socket, it heats the plate which melts the wax of the candle placed on the plate.
- Incandescent Lamps: Many wax melters use light bulbs to melt the wax. Apart from providing heat, they also function as light sources. While the appearance can vary based on design, they can be simple lamps, lampshades, or have intricate patterns.
Pros And Cons Of Candle Warmers That You Should Know
Benefits Of Candle Warmers
- Wax warmers usually are quite handy and travel-friendly.
- They have a good scent throw. Once the warmer starts releasing the scent, it spreads and covers a larger room too.
- Unlike candle burning or oil diffusers, wax melters provide scents for a while even after the power is turned off.
- Candle warmers are quite hassle-free.
- You can diffuse oils using a candle warmer too.
- As compared to oil diffusers they are quick in unlocking the fragrance.
- They add to your decor.
Limitations Of Candle Warmers
- Overheating of the candle may damage the chemical composition of oils.
- They need an electric plug-in to work.
- Be careful before touching the ceramic plate as it is very hot.
- They are delicate devices and need care.
Having discussed candle warmers in detail, now I am going to discuss oil diffusers, which too are quite popular with the consumers and have positive feedback.
What are Oil Diffusers And Why They Make Sense
Simply put, oil diffusers are another conducive and quite safe method that unlocks the aroma of essential oils. Diffusers break the essential oil into small molecules that evaporate in the air and make your surroundings fragrant.
They also purify the air in your room as some of the oils are strong enough to do so, according to some aromatherapy experts.
There are different kinds of oil diffusers available in the market and to help you make a suitable choice, let’s see a few:
Heat Diffusers
When you use this diffuser, you first dilute the oil with the right proportion of water. The next step is to pour this mixture into a diffuser and plug it into the socket to heat the oil. This gradually evaporates and releases the scent through the small opening of the diffuser. In some diffusers, you can use a tealight candle to heat the essential oils to diffuse their aroma.
Evaporative Diffusers
These diffusers are sometimes confused with heat diffusers as both break the oils into vapors. However, their mechanism is quite different. A heat diffuser uses heat to work, while an evaporative diffuser uses a wick or a pad to evaporate the oil by giving it a larger surface area.
Many evaporative diffusers use a fan to increases the intensity of the scent in a more controlled manner. Some, like reed diffusers simply rely on physics and a larger surface area to make it work.
Ultrasonic Diffusers
These diffusers have an ultrasonic plate at the base, which breaks the oils into molecules and disperses the scent. You fill the basin with a mixture of oil and water. A small disc under the basin vibrates and sets the ultrasonic waves to release the mist which fills your room with scent.
The mist is very refreshing and cool as it doesn’t use heat.
Nebulizing Diffusers
The last one is a nebulizing diffuser which overpowers all three types in a few ways. The best thing about using this diffuser is that you can use essential oils without diluting them with water.
The Pros And Cons Of Oil Diffusers To Guide Your Decision
Benefits Of Oil Diffusers
- They are specifically designed for essential oils.
- Ultrasonic or evaporative diffusers don’t need electric heating.
- Best suited for aromatherapy.
Limitations Of A Oil Diffuser
- Some of the essential oils can be harmful to children and pets.
- Mixing the oils and water in the right proportion is very important for the intensity of scent to maximize.
- You may find it inconvenient as the process of scent diffusion is elaborative.
- Some diffusers may cause unwanted indoor humidity.
Converging Points Of Candle Warmers vs Oil Diffusers
Both devices are a great way to deliver the fragrance of essential oils and benefit from their aromatherapeutic properties. With candle warmers you make your candle burning quite cost-effective and a perfect way to release the scents of oils. Oil diffusers are a great alternative to dispense with candles. Both the devices run parallel on certain points that I mention ahead:
- Being flameless they are soot free.
- You can use any variety of oils and enjoy the scents.
- They are environmentally friendly.
- Available in different designs, they add to home decor.
- They are used at places where burning a scented candle is restricted.
- Both of them make a good gifting option for your loved ones.
Candle Warmers Or Oil Diffusers – Which Is Better?
Essential oils are a natural way to enhance your surroundings with fragrance and benefit from their health benefits. The article discussed candle warmers and oil diffusers as one of the many choices available to you that enable you to use essential oils. However, when it comes to choosing between candle warmers vs oil diffusers, I suggest that both are amazing in their spheres.
Both are quite convenient ways to make your home fragrant. Just keep the safety guidelines in mind and enjoy the scents, while being responsible towards your loved ones.